Last month, Governor Lee called on the Commissioners of state departments to present their 2023 budget requests and efficiency plans. As the uncertainty of state finances in the wake of expected Covid-19-related economic disruptions recedes further into the past, state budget hearings have somewhat returned to normalcy.
On June 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a letter to TennCare asking the state to make several changes to the TennCare III waiver. The changes that CMS is requesting address some of the most prominent issues with TennCare III for Tennesseans with disabilities. This happened because so many of you spoke up, submitted public comment and organized.
The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (TISA) was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee on May 2nd, 2022. TISA is Tennessee’s new public-school funding formula and replaces the 30-year-old “Basic Education Plan” (BEP). The state of Tennessee and the Department of Education is currently accepting public comment on the details of TISA. It's important that our community have access to materials that can help explain how TISA will change public school funding in Tennessee and what that means for students with disabilities.
Early intervention works! We applaud DIDD for its successful advocacy to extend TEIS services beyond the federally required age of three. However, we would like to take the opportunity to submit public comment that kids should be able to start services after the age of three, continue receiving services until after age five, and that a family-friendly implementation will include a grace period rather than a hard cut off for eligibility in the extended option and multiple public points of access for information and guidance.
After much analysis and discussion, we have determined that, for students with disabilities, the benefits of the proposed TISA public school funding formula outweigh the impact of our concerns. With this conclusion, we have agreed to sign on to the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education’s TISA endorsement statement.
We will continue to engage lawmakers, the Department of Education and other allies and advocates on TISA. Including throughout the rulemaking process.
