TNFIREFLY FOCUS
Where Do They Stand
on Education?
Every outlet tracks polls and money. Only TNFirefly breaks down what each candidate's platform means for Tennessee's 1 million public school students, 70,000 teachers, and the families who depend on them.
Why This Matters Right Now
Governor Lee's final budget proposes doubling school vouchers to 40,000 students and raising teacher starting pay to $50,000 by 2027. The next governor will inherit these programs and decide whether to expand, modify, or eliminate them. Over 50,000 families applied for 20,000 voucher slots this January alone. Education is the defining issue of this race, and the Republican primary candidates are deeply split on vouchers.
📊 What Voters Say — TSS Statewide Poll, Feb 2026
A new statewide survey of 500 registered voters reveals where Tennesseans actually stand on these education issues:
87%Want accountability for schools
82%Support open enrollment
81%Say testing matters
64%Say money isn't spent well
Source: Tennesseans for Student Success Statewide Survey · 500 RV · ± 4.4%
Issue 01
School Choice & Vouchers
Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship program provides $7,300 vouchers for students to attend private schools. Gov. Lee wants to double the program to 40,000 students. This is the sharpest dividing line in the Republican primary.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
Strongly Supports Expansion
Blackburn has made the Education Freedom Scholarship program a central plank of her education platform. She appeared in Americans for Prosperity radio ads alongside Glenn Jacobs promoting vouchers during the 2025 special session. She compares her fight for school choice to her early 2000s campaign against a state income tax.
"A parent shouldn't have to win the lottery to have a choice in their child's education. I won't stop until every student in Tennessee has an equal opportunity to succeed."
John Rose
Republican
Supports — With Emphasis on Public Schools
Rose supports school choice and vouchers but consistently pairs that support with emphasis on strengthening the public school system. He describes education as "clearly the most important challenge and opportunity facing our state" and frames choice alongside, not instead of, public school investment.
"We want parents and children to have choice, but we've got to make sure that we do everything we can to strengthen our public education system."
Monty Fritts
Republican
Would Suspend Vouchers
Fritts is the outlier in the Republican field. He calls the voucher program "fiscally irresponsible" and "unconstitutional" and has pledged to suspend it. His campaign website states he would "end fiscally irresponsible, unconstitutional voucher programs." This puts him directly at odds with Blackburn, Rose, and the broader Republican establishment.
Jerri Green
Democrat
Opposes — Prioritizes Public Schools
Green's campaign centers on public school investment with the signature message: "We fund what we value — and it's time Tennessee starts valuing public schools again." She has expanded pre-K programs and youth programming in Memphis and frames vouchers as diverting resources from the public system.
TNFirefly Analysis
The voucher issue creates a three-way split in the Republican primary: Blackburn as the full-throttle expansion candidate, Rose as the "both/and" candidate trying to thread the needle, and Fritts running directly against the program. With 50,000+ families applying for 20,000 slots, demand clearly exists — but the program remains deeply polarizing in rural districts where private school options are limited. The next governor will likely face pressure to expand the program further while managing pushback from public school advocates.
Issue 02
Teacher Pay & Education Leadership
Tennessee ranks in the bottom half of states for teacher pay. Gov. Lee's final budget proposes a $50,000 starting salary by 2027. The current Education Commissioner, Lizzette Reynolds, was not certified to teach in Tennessee when she was appointed — a controversy that has shaped this race.
John Rose
Republican
Strongest Position
Rose has made teacher leadership his signature education issue. His first campaign promise was to appoint an Education Commissioner with Tennessee teaching experience — a direct contrast to the current commissioner. The son of a public school teacher, Rose describes teachers as the backbone of the education system.
"I love our Tennessee teachers, and that's why as governor, I promise to appoint a Commissioner of Education who has Tennessee teaching experience."
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
No Specific Position
Blackburn has not made specific commitments on teacher pay or commissioner qualifications. She endorsed Speaker Sexton's work on education but her campaign has focused more on school choice than teacher compensation or leadership structure. As a U.S. Senator, state teacher compensation was outside her direct purview — this is an area where her state-level positions may develop as the campaign progresses.
TNFirefly has not identified public statements on teacher pay specifics from this candidate. We will update as positions are clarified.
Jerri Green
Democrat
Supports Increased Investment
Green has framed her campaign around valuing the people who serve Tennessee children. As a council member, she increased funding for first responders and public services. Her education platform centers on the idea that investment in teachers is investment in students. Specific pay targets have not been published yet.
TNFirefly Analysis
Rose has the clearest differentiation on this issue. His commissioner pledge is both a dig at Gov. Lee's appointment of Lizzette Reynolds and a signal to teachers that he takes their profession seriously. Blackburn's campaign has prioritized school choice over teacher compensation — as the race develops, TNFirefly will be watching for additional details on her state-level education workforce positions. Lee's proposed $50K starting salary sets a benchmark that the next governor will be measured against.
Issue 03
Public School Funding (TISA)
The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (TISA) replaced the decades-old BEP funding formula in 2023. Gov. Lee's final budget includes $170 million in new TISA funding. How the next governor handles public school funding alongside expanding vouchers will define Tennessee education for a generation.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
No Specific Position on TISA
Blackburn's education focus has been primarily on school choice. She has not publicly addressed TISA funding levels or proposed changes to the formula. As a federal officeholder, she has had limited engagement with state funding mechanisms.
John Rose
Republican
Supports Public + Choice
Rose has consistently emphasized that choice and public school investment must go together. While he hasn't committed to specific TISA funding levels, his rhetoric around "strengthening our public education system" suggests he would maintain or increase public school funding alongside school choice programs.
Jerri Green
Democrat
Supports Increased Funding
Green's core message is public school investment. She would likely push for increased TISA funding and has been critical of what she sees as the current administration prioritizing vouchers over public schools.
Monty Fritts
Republican
Fiscal Conservative Approach
Fritts' opposition to vouchers is framed in fiscal terms — he calls the program fiscally irresponsible. This suggests he would redirect voucher funding back toward public schools or general fund priorities, though he hasn't committed to specific TISA increases.
Issue 04
Pre-K & Early Childhood Education
Tennessee's voluntary Pre-K program serves a fraction of eligible children. Research consistently shows early childhood education delivers the highest return on investment of any education spending.
Jerri Green
Democrat
Strongest Position
Green has a track record on early childhood. As a Memphis City Council member, she expanded pre-K access and youth programming. Her campaign centers childcare and early education as kitchen-table economic issues for working families.
Adam "Ditch" Kurtz
Democrat
Free Pre-K For All
Kurtz lists education as his "#1 priority" and supports free pre-K for all Tennessee children. He would fund education expansion through marijuana legalization, with tax revenue directed to public schools. The most specific education funding mechanism of any candidate.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
No Specific Position
Blackburn has not publicly addressed pre-K expansion as a campaign priority. Her school choice advocacy focuses on K-12 vouchers rather than early childhood programs.
John Rose
Republican
No Specific Position
Rose has not made pre-K a campaign focus. His education platform centers on K-12 teacher leadership and the commissioner appointment.
Issue 05
Charter Schools
Tennessee has over 100 public charter schools, mostly in Nashville and Memphis. Recent TCAP data shows charter students gaining in math and ELA proficiency. The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission has authority to authorize new charters statewide.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
Supports
Blackburn has called for removing barriers to open public charter schools. Her broader school choice philosophy encompasses charters as part of the educational landscape alongside vouchers and traditional public schools.
John Rose
Republican
Generally Supportive
Rose supports parental choice broadly, which includes charters. However, charter schools have not been a primary campaign focus. His emphasis remains on public school teacher leadership.
Jerri Green
Democrat
No Specific Position
Green has not specifically addressed charter schools. Her focus on funding public schools could indicate skepticism about charter expansion, but she has not taken a public stance.
Issue 06
Workforce Readiness & Career Training
Tennessee is an automotive manufacturing hub. Nashville was recently selected for Amazon's Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance. The state needs workers trained in industrial trades, IT, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
John Rose
Republican
Emphasis on Job Training
Rose has highlighted the need for education to "equip students for the jobs of tomorrow." As a businessman and former Agriculture Commissioner, he frames education through an economic development lens. He also supports Trump's plan to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education, which he says would give states more autonomy to design career-relevant programs.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
No Specific Position
Blackburn has not outlined specific workforce readiness proposals. As a federal officeholder, she has focused more on national policy than state-level career training infrastructure.
Jerri Green
Democrat
Jobs & Wages Focus
Green's campaign emphasizes wages and economic opportunity. She has voiced support for organized labor, including UAW workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant. She frames workforce readiness through the lens of living wages and worker protections alongside training.
Issue 07
TCAP Testing & Academic Standards
Tennessee's TCAP assessment has been controversial among parents and educators. The state recently adopted new ELA standards. Testing policy affects teacher evaluations, school ratings, and student advancement.
All Republican Candidates
Republican
No Specific Positions
None of the Republican candidates have made TCAP testing reform a campaign issue. This is notable given the program's controversy among parents. Testing policy will likely be shaped more by the appointed Education Commissioner than the governor directly.
Democratic Candidates
Democrat
No Specific Positions
Democratic candidates have not addressed TCAP testing reform in their campaigns. Green's broader education platform focuses on funding rather than testing policy.
TNFirefly Analysis
The silence on testing from all candidates is notable. TCAP remains a frustration point for many Tennessee parents and teachers. This is an area where voter questionnaires and debates could force candidates to take positions. We'll be tracking this closely as the primary approaches.
Issue 08
School Safety
Following the Covenant School shooting in 2023, school safety has been a defining issue in Tennessee. Nashville schools recently expanded weapons detection systems to all high schools. Tennessee has not passed significant gun safety legislation since the tragedy.
Jerri Green
Democrat
Strongest Position
Green is a three-time gun violence survivor and the former statewide election lead for Tennessee Moms Demand Action. As a council member, she launched Tennessee's first free gun lock-by-mail program, reducing gun thefts from cars by over 20%. She frames school safety as inseparable from broader gun safety policy.
John Rose
Republican
Mental Health Focus
Rose has pledged support for mental health resources as part of his campaign platform. He is a strong Second Amendment supporter and constitutional carry advocate. He would likely approach school safety through hardening measures and mental health rather than gun restrictions.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
No Specific School Safety Position
Blackburn has not outlined specific school safety proposals for her gubernatorial campaign. School safety has been a growing concern for Tennessee families, and this is an area where her state-level agenda may develop as the campaign progresses.
Issue 09
Federal Role in Education
President Trump has called for dissolving the U.S. Department of Education. Tennessee receives significant federal education funding. The next governor will need to navigate potential changes in federal education policy and funding streams.
John Rose
Republican
Supports Dissolving Dept. of Ed
Rose explicitly supports Trump's plan to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. He frames it as returning power to states and describes states as "laboratories for democracy" that produce better solutions through local control and experimentation.
Marsha Blackburn
Republican
Aligns with Trump Administration
As a close Trump ally who has supported his education agenda in the Senate, Blackburn would be expected to support federal education devolution. She has not made specific statements about how Tennessee would absorb functions and funding currently handled by the federal department.
Monty Fritts
Republican
Anti-Federal Overreach
Fritts campaigns against the "Nashville establishment" and federal overreach. He supports challenging Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court decision requiring schools to educate undocumented students — indicating he favors limiting federal mandates on state education policy.
Issue 10
Higher Education
Tennessee's public universities include the UT system, Tennessee Board of Regents schools, and TSU. The TN Promise program provides two years of free community college. University funding, DEI policies, and campus culture have become political issues nationally.
All Major Candidates
All Parties
Limited Positions Available
Higher education has not been a major campaign focus for any candidate. Rose has connections through Tennessee Tech and his family's agricultural scholarship program. As the campaign progresses and debates occur, we expect candidates to be pressed on university funding, TN Promise continuation, and campus policy issues.
TNFirefly Analysis
Higher education is a sleeper issue in this race. TSU's financial challenges, potential federal funding disruptions, and the future of TN Promise all need a governor's attention. Expect this to surface more prominently after the filing deadline when the field is set and debate pressure mounts.
This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an education journalism outlet covering all 95 Tennessee counties. All information is sourced from public records, official filings, and verified reporting. We do not endorse candidates. Factual information is clearly separated from analysis. Learn more about our standards.
