Lee pushes school choice expansion and more education funding in address

NASHVILLE — Governor Bill Lee prioritized education in his State of the State address, arguing that expanding school choice and bolstering public‑school funding can coexist.

Lee described a Shelby County family, Ariel Munson and her sons, as an example of how choice programs can change outcomes: he noted her son Steven was accepted as “the 1st ESA student” and that another son will graduate with scholarship offers. “Every family,” Lee said, “should have choice.”

The governor also pledged additional funding for the TISA formula and said the administration has increased public‑education funding by more than $1,800,000,000 since he became governor. He cited last year’s largest annual teacher pay raise in state history and said more support to retain teachers at the district level is forthcoming.

What happens next: Lee said he will work with legislators to enact further changes to education funding and school‑choice policy; he did not offer bill language or a legislative schedule in the address.