How to weigh in on state school funding

Town halls planned for public comment period

The Tennessee Department of Education will host eight public town halls as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to revamp how it funds schools.

The eight town halls will take place across the department’s eight regions and will be both in-person and livestreamed.

Earlier this month, Gov. Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced the launch of a 90day “public comment” period to review the state’s current funding formula, the Basic Education Program (BEP), and explore creating a new student-based funding model.

The effort includes 18 subcommittees and a central steering committee, which will meet bi-monthly over the next four months, surveys and the town halls.

All members of the public, including parents and families, teachers, students, elected officials, business leaders and community members are invited to participate.

Schedule of the public town halls

Wednesday, Oct. 27: Mid-cumberland Region

h Location: Merrol Hyde Magnet School, 128 Township Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075 h Time: 5:30 p.m. CT

Thursday, Oct. 28: Southwest Region

h Location: National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St., Memphis, TN 38103 h Time: 5:30 p.m. CT

Monday, Nov. 1: South Central Region

h Location: University of Tennessee — Southern; Gymnasium, 433 West Madison St., Pulaski, TN 38478 h Time: 6 p.m. CT

Tuesday, Nov. 2: East Region h Location: University of Tennessee — Knoxville, Student Union, 1502 Cumberland

Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916) h Time: 6 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Nov. 3: First Region h Location: Niswonger Performance Arts Center, 212 Tusculum Blvd., Greeneville, TN 37745 h Time: 5:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, Nov. 4: Southeast Region h Location: The Howard School, 2500 Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37408 h Time: 5:30 p.m. ET

Monday, Nov. 22: Northwest Region h Location: Gibson County High School, 130 Trenton Hwy, Dyer, TN 38330 h Time: 5:30 p.m. CT

Tuesday, Nov. 30: Upper Cumberland Region

h Location: Jackson County Middle School, 170 Blue Devil Lane, Gainesboro, TN 38562 h Time: 5:30 p.m. CT

Details about how to RSVP or join virtually to follow.

Members of the public are also invited to submit comments and questions before or after the town halls via email to tnedu.funding@tn.gov.

For more information, visit: www.tn.gov/education/tnedufunding.

Meghan Mangrum covers education for the USA TODAY Network — Tennessee. Contact her at mmangrum@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.

STEPHANIE AMADOR/THE TENNESSEAN Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn announce a process to create a new funding formula for education.

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