Freedom to Teach initiative, other measures can help alleviate teacher shortage, federal funding uncertainty

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As nearly a million students across Tennessee return to classrooms, the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) is offering solutions to the mounting challenges facing Tennessee’s public schools, including the threat of federal funding shortfalls, a worsening teacher shortage, and the urgent need to respect and retain educators.

“Teaching is both a calling and a cornerstone of our communities,” said TEA President Tanya T. Coats, a 28-year veteran educator from Knox County. “But right now, too many uncertainties are putting undue strain on educators and threatening the quality of education our students deserve.”

Federal funding uncertainty has already begun to impact Tennessee school districts. McNairy County, for example, temporarily announced eliminating essential after-care programming before the school year even began, directly affecting families who rely on schools not only for education, but also for safe, consistent childcare. Fortunately, the funding was restored but that uncertainty causes parents and educators enormous stress.

“Steep cuts to federal programs like TennCare and SNAP contained in a new federal law would jeopardize Title I funds, which are vital for serving economically disadvantaged students,” Coats said. “That’s why TEA is calling on state lawmakers and the governor to act. We need a firm commitment that any cuts to federal education funding will be backfilled by the state. Our students deserve the best public education system, regardless of where they live, from Memphis to Mountain City.”

Tennessee’s public schools are entering the new academic year with thousands of unfilled teaching positions. In many districts, schools are relying on long-term substitutes and emergency permits just to staff classrooms.

“The problem goes deeper than vacancies: it is a crisis in the educator pipeline,” Coats said. “As fewer college students are entering teacher preparation programs, we know that nearly half of new teachers leave the profession within five years due to burnout, low pay, and lack of support. Veteran educators are also leaving, citing heavy workloads and insufficient respect for their work.”

That’s why TEA is advocating for a comprehensive solution grounded in the “4 Rs”:

• Recruit: Make teaching attractive through competitive salaries, affordable degrees, and clear career pathways. A student at a Tennessee university should not have to work two part-time jobs just to afford their student teaching semester (an unpaid requirement that forces many to delay or abandon their dreams).

• Respect: Restore dignity to the profession and stop scapegoating teachers for systemic issues rooted in funding shortfalls. Tennessee’s public-school teachers plan every lesson according to Tennessee state standards, adapt to every child’s needs, communicate with parents, coach teams, run after-school clubs – and still get blamed for problems far beyond their control.

• Retain: Support educators with manageable workloads and professional mentorship. In some schools, one teacher might be writing IEPs for more than 30 students and teaching a full course load, while mentoring a new hire and coaching a sport. That’s not sustainable.

• Reinvest: Fund schools adequately – not just in buildings, but in people and resources. When a classroom doesn’t have enough desks, when teachers spend $429 per year on average on supplies like pencils and paper out of their own pocket, when schools can’t afford interventionists and counselors – those are reinvestment decisions.

Supporting the Freedom to Teach

“The Tennessee General Assembly has the power to enact policy changes that will help make teaching a desirable career again and will make existing teachers feel appreciated,” Coats said. “We are glad a committee is meeting right now to discuss teacher compensation, how to recognize good teaching and the proper use of testing. TEA supported the Freedom to Teach initiative during the last legislative session and looks forward to the committee producing its report and any recommendations it contains.”