State investing more to educate children
|
Back to school is also an exciting time for me as governor. This is our chance to measure how well we?ve upheld our commitment to keeping education our No. 1 priority in Tennessee. This year, I believe we have made real progress.
With support from the General Assembly, we invested $366.5 million in our children?s education, spending that will strengthen Tennessee?s public education experience at every level ? from pre-K classrooms to college campuses.
We kept our foundation strong, fully funding the Basic Education Program and adding $35 million for at-risk students. We invested in our teachers, with salary increases and a bonus for K-12 teachers totaling $63.6 million.
To give our students a head start in reading and prepare them for the rigors of school, we funded 227 new pre-K classrooms. That means that 13,500 four-year-olds across Tennessee now have the chance to earn a quality early childhood education ? and I?m committed to seeing that number grow every year.
To bring rigor and relevance back to Tennessee?s high schools, we?re starting a new, innovative concept: the creation of a residential math and science high school. Additionally, tenured Tennessee teachers can now access up to $2,000 in state scholarships to pursue an advanced degree in math or science.
We invested in salary raises and $600 million worth of construction projects on campuses across the state, part of our mission to bring first-rate teaching and research opportunities that will continue to attract the best and brightest to our public colleges, universities and technical institutions.
Lastly, we did something new this year ? the launch of Tennessee?s first sales tax holiday, designed to help families across the state save money during their back-to-school shopping. I?m proud we were able to give something back to our hardworking families, who do so much for our state.
These investments will help open the door to success for our children. Ultimately, they will improve the lives of every Tennessean, because an investment in our future leaders is also an investment in ourselves.
After all, when our children succeed, we do, too.
If you have questions or comments about this issue or any other, please email me at [email protected].