Throughout his tenure, Governor Lee has emphasized workforce development and invested heavily in Career and Technical Education (CTE), expanding programs that prepare students for in-demand careers and support Tennessee’s economy. Those investments have earned broad bipartisan support and delivered real results for students, families, and employers.

In his 2026 State of the State address, the governor again highlighted the importance of workforce development. But the budget that followed sends a conflicting signal.

Rather than continuing to build on prior CTE investments, the governor’s proposal prioritizes expanding vouchers while leaving additional funding for CTE and after-school programs behind. That shift puts at risk one of the most successful education strategies of his administration.

CTE programs live almost entirely in public schools and depend on sustained public investment for equipment, facilities, and trained educators. Diverting resources away from those schools weakens career pathways and long-term workforce readiness.

The governor’s legacy on workforce development is at a crossroads. The question now before the General Assembly is whether Tennessee will continue strengthening proven public-school programs that connect students to careers or allow short-term voucher expansion to erode long-term workforce investments.

The choice is clear. So are the consequences.