Tennessee education

Source topic or question: Proven in practice.

Candidate campaign source

End the waitlists in those five programs. Pay TCAT instructors competitively, because you can’t scale a program you can’t staff. Cover credential exam fees for every high school student who earns one. Double registered apprenticeships in four years.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Proven in practice.

Candidate campaign source

That means access to textbooks, course outlines, and instructional materials. Notification when a school employee suspects a crime has been committed against your child. Consent before graphic sexual content, and the right to remove your child from instruction you object to. Discipline for any employee who tells a child to keep something from their parents.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Ensure there are LGBTQ+ affirming counselors in every high school

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Set up a Special Education Equity Fund to ensure no students fall through the cracks as the Trump Administration cuts critical services for students with disabilities and special needs

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Strong Public Schools Fully funded classrooms. Respected teachers. Honest education—not censorship and political interference.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Use all possible medicaid dollars within schools to make sure students have the supports they need

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Start a dedicated childcare and early education fund, to include investments in afterschool and summer care programming for households making less than $75K a year

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

DEFUND THE VOUCHER SCAM Tennessee is robbing public schools of $1.1 billion over five years to fund private vouchers that largely go to wealthy families. That money could be used to raise teacher pay, wipe out half the school repair backlog, and increase classroom resources.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Fully fund K-12 public education—not siphon dollars into unaccountable voucher schemes

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Tennesseans deserve immediate relief. On day one, we will deliver:

Candidate campaign source

Restore Expert Leadership: Appoint a Commissioner of Education with classroom experience and a Commissioner of Health grounded in science.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Set up a “Teach Every Student” fellowship to encourage more teachers to go into special education

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Health care

Candidate campaign source

Implement AI literacy in classrooms to teach kids to spot deepfakes and protect their mental health

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: What I Stand For

Candidate campaign source

Common-Sense Laws Background checks. Red flag laws. Gun locks. Because no parent should fear sending their child to school.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Raise teacher pay and restore respect to the profession

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Public safety, firearms, and justice

Candidate campaign source

Provide free gun locks and safe storage education statewide

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Expand access to school counselors, nurses, and support staff

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Launch Public Service Year Program for high school graduates

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Ensure every public high school provides mental health screenings any parent can opt their child into

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

Invest in universal pre-K, special education, and rural schools

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Policies That Deliver, Not Partisanship That Divides

Candidate campaign source

We fund what we value—and it’s time Tennessee starts valuing public schools again.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reproductive rights and health care

Candidate campaign source

Require every public college in the state to provide for women’s health and reproductive needs

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Energy, water, technology, and environment

Candidate campaign source

Governing decisions will focus on government issues like the economy, education, safety, roads, water, and energy.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

End the school voucher experiment The 2025 school choice program was divisive and arguably unconstitutional, sending public dollars to families who could already afford private school while public schools fell behind. Lauren will protect public school funding and redirect that money to early childhood education.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Any education reform should be shaped by the classroom teachers who have to carry it out.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Energy, water, technology, and environment

Candidate campaign source

Lauren is the only major candidate in the governor's race calling for a statewide moratorium on new data center construction until the Legislature enacts real siting standards covering water use, distance from schools and public institutions, and mandatory community input. When a data center was proposed next to the Nashville Zoo, Lauren signed the petition opposing it, because Tennesseans deserve a say before bulldozers show up. Tennessee needs rules in place before the next site is chosen, not damage control after the fact.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: National security, foreign policy, and veterans

Candidate campaign source

Lauren will work to remove barriers that prevent new voters, including students and military members, from using absentee ballots.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Lower the Cost of Living for Working Families

Candidate campaign source

Tennesseans should be able to afford their lives through honest work. Government should focus on lowering everyday costs for families while making sure the companies profiting most from Tennessee's growth pay their share toward the roads, schools, and power grid – infrastructure that benefits everyone.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Center teachers in policy Any education reform should be shaped by the classroom teachers who have to carry it out.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Lauren will invest in trade education in high schools and expand pathways to Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) scholarships, especially for electricians and grid technicians needed to modernize Tennessee's energy infrastructure.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Let schools be different Not every child learns in the same way. Tennessee should diversify public school options to include more Montessori, Nature, and STEAM schools, so students in every county find a public school built for how they learn.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Give kids their childhood back Tennessee should have phone-free schools bell to bell, and more free play and real-world responsibility during the school day.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Protect students with disabilities Tennessee should protect students with unique learning needs and expand access to learning environments for those who are not thriving in a mainstream classroom.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Lauren taught in a classroom. She understands how No Child Left Behind passed down unfunded mandates for excessive testing and paperwork while stripping creative freedoms from teachers who should be recognized for their expertise.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Tennessee should have phone-free schools bell to bell, and more free play and real-world responsibility during the school day.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Invest in high school trade education, expand TCAT scholarships — especially for the electricians and grid technicians Tennessee's energy future depends on — and offer professional licence pathways for high school students.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Tennessee ranks dead last in the nation in per-pupil funding, and over 40% of rural districts have no private school at all. Lauren will invest in the schools nearly a million Tennessee students actually attend.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Lower the Cost of Living for Working Families

Candidate campaign source

Redirect private school voucher dollars into an early education fund for childhood centers near major employers so young parents can stay in the workforce.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Cut excessive benchmark testing Standardized tests shouldn't outweigh a teacher's judgment about what their students need.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

As a former elementary school teacher who followed her mother into the profession, Lauren knows firsthand what Tennessee's educators give to their students, and what they're up against. She is committed to multiplying Tennessee's assets in order to better fund the salaries of teachers and paraprofessionals. Tennessee faces a growing shortage of qualified educators. Thousands of classrooms are now staffed by teachers on emergency permits or teaching outside their trained subject, with the gaps hitting special education, math, and science hardest. Centering teachers in our education policies, along with better pay and working conditions, are how we recruit and keep the qualified teachers every Tennessee child deserves.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Not every child learns in the same way. Tennessee should diversify public school options to include more Montessori, Nature, and STEAM schools, so students in every county find a public school built for how they learn.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Support workforce development partnerships between unions, employers, and trade schools

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

The school choice program established in 2025 was deeply divisive and arguably unconstitutional. It helped some students, but mostly widened the gap between rich and poor kids, sending public dollars to families who could already afford private school while public schools fell further behind. That's why Lauren wants to protect public school funding and redirect that voucher money to early childhood education, fulfilling the constitutional responsibility Tennessee has to its taxpayers. She supports using those funds to add 50,000 daycare and preschool slots across the state by 2030, giving every Tennessee kid a strong start no matter what their family earns.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Pay and support our teachers With thousands of classrooms staffed by teachers on emergency permits or teaching out of subject, Lauren, a former teacher herself, will better fund salaries and ease the burdens left over from No Child Left Behind.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

The 2025 school choice program was divisive and arguably unconstitutional, sending public dollars to families who could already afford private school while public schools fell behind. Lauren will protect public school funding and redirect that money to early childhood education.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Energy, water, technology, and environment

Candidate campaign source

Tennessee's rapid growth has left the state with a $83 billion infrastructure backlog in roads, schools, and water systems, while developers profiting from that growth are rarely required to help cover its cost. Lauren supports giving all Tennessee counties and municipalities the authority to charge proportionate-share impact fees on large new developments, with exemptions for affordable housing and small infill projects. She will require infrastructure impact assessments before permits are issued for large developments, and direct a share of real estate transfer tax revenue back to the counties where it's collected, dedicated to local road, water, and school projects.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Health care

Candidate campaign source

Lauren will conduct a full assessment of Tennessee's prison system, both public and private partnerships. She will invest in behavioral health services and education resources for those incarcerated due to substance abuse to reduce recidivism rates, keep families together, and save taxpayer dollars by working toward the elimination of private prison contracts in the state.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Lower the Cost of Living for Working Families

Candidate campaign source

Add 50,000 daycare and preschool slots by 2030 Redirect private school voucher dollars into an early education fund for childhood centers near major employers so young parents can stay in the workforce.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Fund our public schools Tennessee ranks dead last in the nation in per-pupil funding, and over 40% of rural districts have no private school at all. Lauren will invest in the schools nearly a million Tennessee students actually attend.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Public education, vouchers, and child care

Candidate campaign source

Lauren strongly supports shifting Tennessee's funding for Education Freedom Scholarships to early childhood education funds and budget measures that expand affordable early childhood education for families in Tennessee. By transferring private school voucher funding to expand early childhood centers, Lauren will add 50,000 daycare and preschool slots across the state by 2030. These funds will support businesses that offer on-site daycare, while the state's investment will grow the workforce, expand the economy with dual-income households, and relieve financial pressure on growing families with young children.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Tennessee ranks dead last in the nation in per-pupil funding, spending thousands less per student than the national average, even while sitting on record budget surpluses. Yet public schools are where the vast majority of Tennessee children learn, and in much of the state they're the only option: over 40% of rural districts have no private schools at all. Tennessee also has one of the highest per-capita homeschooling rates in the country, a sign that too many families feel public schools aren't meeting their needs. Lauren believes the answer is to invest in the schools nearly a million Tennessee students actually attend, giving every child, in every county, a real opportunity to succeed.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Reimagine Tennessee Education

Candidate campaign source

Build real career paths Invest in high school trade education, expand TCAT scholarships — especially for the electricians and grid technicians Tennessee's energy future depends on — and offer professional licence pathways for high school students.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Energy, water, technology, and environment

Candidate campaign source

Halt data center construction until Tennessee sets the rules Lauren is the only major candidate calling for a statewide moratorium until the Legislature sets real siting standards for water use, school distance, and community input.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Education, child care, and workforce training

Candidate campaign source

Lauren will protect Tennessee children with disabilities affected by federal changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. She will expand school vouchers specifically for students with unique needs that cannot be met in the mainstream classroom, ensuring every learner has a path to the support and services they require.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Strengthening parental rights

Candidate campaign source

Having reared two children and now as a grandmother of four, Marsha believes that parents – not government bureaucrats – know what’s best for each individual child. Whether it’s protecting their child online or having the loudest voice in their education, parents should always be empowered to do what’s best for their family. She’ll do everything she can to return power back to Tennessee parents. That’s why Marsha supports school choice.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: Fighting woke anti-American curriculum

Candidate campaign source

Marsha believes we should never teach our children to hate America or to oppose one another based on race or gender. She will always fight to stop woke policies of teaching Anti-American curriculum in Tennessee schools. She’ll stand up for education – not indoctrination – always.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: The Tennessee Skills Guarantee

Candidate campaign source

Every student should leave school with something real in their hands.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 17, 2026

Source topic or question: TAX FAIRNESS FOR WORKING PEOPLE

Candidate campaign source

The result is a tax system that asks teachers, nurses, tradespeople, and small business owners to shoulder a larger share of the burden while some billionaires pay lower effective tax rates than many middle-class families.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Fully fund IDEA (special education)

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Give teachers the support they deserve including competitive pay, smaller class sizes, classroom resources, and the professional respect that reflects the importance of their work.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: INVEST IN EAST TENNESSEE AND RURAL AMERICA

Candidate campaign source

Support hospitals, school districts, roads, internet connectivity, and water and sewage systems for rural areas where the local tax base can’t support adequate infrastructure.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Restore and strengthen the U.S. Department of Education and Protect and expand Title I

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Education should never be treated as a profit opportunity. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live or how much money their parents make.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: TAX FAIRNESS FOR WORKING PEOPLE

Candidate campaign source

INVEST IN EAST TENNESSEE AND RURAL AMERICA Support hospitals, school districts, roads, internet connectivity, and water and sewage systems for rural areas where the local tax base can’t support adequate infrastructure. All Americans deserve the quality community services that we enjoy in our urban and suburban areas.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Provide universal school meals

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Support tuition-free community college, reduce the cost of public universities and make student loan repayment more manageable so education opens doors instead of creating decades of debt.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT

Candidate campaign source

PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED Public education is essential to opportunity, economic mobility, and a functioning democracy.Public dollars must go to public schools, and education must be accessible from early childhood through higher education.The Problem:For decades, public schools have been underfunded while teachers are expected to do more with less. Many schools struggle with outdated textbooks, overcrowded classrooms, aging buildings, and shortages of counselors, nurses, and support staff.Instead of addressing these problems, some Tennessee politicians have chosen to divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools through private school voucher programs. These programs reduce funding available for the schools that educate the overwhelming majority of Tennessee children while offering little evidence that they improve educational outcomes.In rural communities like those throughout Tennessee's First District, public schools are often among the largest employers and serve as the heart of their communities. Weakening them hurts entire towns.Education should never be treated as a profit opportunity. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live or how much money their parents make.The Facts:Tennessee ranks below the national average in per-pupil spending despite recent increases. (source)Teacher shortages continue across Tennessee and the nation, particularly in rural communities and high-need subject areas. (source)Students who have access to smaller class sizes, experienced teachers, counselors, and early childhood education generally achieve better academic outcomes. (source)An estimated 70% of the vouchers dished out in 2026 went to students already enrolled in private schools (source)Federal Title I funding provides additional support to schools serving low-income communities. Reductions to these programs disproportionately affect rural and economically disadvantaged districts. My Plan:Fully fund public education. Public schools should have the resources they need to succeed before taxpayer dollars are diverted elsewhere.Restore and strengthen the U.S. Department of Education and Protect and expand Title IFully fund IDEA (special education)Expand school-based mental health servicesProvide universal school mealsGive teachers the support they deserve including competitive pay, smaller class sizes, classroom resources, and the professional respect that reflects the importance of their work.Expand early childhood education. Support tuition-free community college, reduce the cost of public universities and make student loan repayment more manageable so education opens doors instead of creating decades of debt.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Expand school-based mental health services

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Fully fund public education. Public schools should have the resources they need to succeed before taxpayer dollars are diverted elsewhere.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Federal Title I funding provides additional support to schools serving low-income communities. Reductions to these programs disproportionately affect rural and economically disadvantaged districts.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: PUBLIC EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY FUNDED

Candidate campaign source

Public education is essential to opportunity, economic mobility, and a functioning democracy.Public dollars must go to public schools, and education must be accessible from early childhood through higher education.

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 16, 2026

Source topic or question: INVEST IN OUR EDUCATION

Candidate campaign source

INVEST IN OUR EDUCATION

Statement date not recorded · Profile reviewed Sep 17, 2026