Skip to Main Content

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement: Direct, Outcomes, and Weighted Funding

Graduation hat on coins money in the glass bottle on natural green background, Saving money for education concept

May 2026

Authors: Allison Pams and Joe Francis

Direct Funding
Outcomes Funding
Weighted Funding

OREA has updated its TISA funding infographics for the 2025-26 school year.

In 2025-26, Tennessee school districts received:

• approximately $1.95 billion in weighted funding,

• more than $482 million in direct funding, and

• approximately $94 million in outcomes funding through the TISA formula.

Each funding component serves a distinct purpose:

• Weighted funding provides additional funding based on individual student needs (e.g., students with disabilities, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students) and is funded through a 70 percent state and 30 percent local split statewide.

• Direct funding provides targeted support for priority areas, such as K-3 literacy, career and technical education (CTE), and charter schools. Direct funding is 100 percent state-funded.

• Outcomes funding provides additional funding based on student academic performance and is 100 percent state-funded.