Spatial Justice in Education Finance
The Tennessee Center for Educational Finance and Policy (TNEFP) conducts justice-oriented research on school funding to inform equitable policy through advanced geospatial analytics.
INSTITUTIONAL MISSION
The Tennessee Center for Educational Finance and Policy (TNEFP) conducts research on school funding to inform equitable policy. We use geospatial modeling to isolate hotspots of inequity that impact community safety and family resilience.
15 +
YEARS OF IMPACT
$47M
FUNDING MANAGED
METHODOLOGY & FRAMEOWRK
The Science of Inequity
Our work utilizes a Critical Geography of Race (CGR) framework. We look at the land to understand how historical policies manifest in modern funding deficits. By applying advanced geospatial modeling, we isolate hotspots of inequity that serve as predictors for family instability and youth violence.
Geospatial Risk Modeling
Mapping how 'receiver city' dynamics in military-connected communities impact family resilience and youth violence prevention.
Longitudinal Analysis
Evaluating fifteen years of school finance data against historical redlining patterns to identify systemic structural risks.
Data Stream Active
36.5298° N | 87.35958° W
Analysis: Montgomery County Inequity Predictive Hotspot Analysis
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Rajah E. Smart, Ed.D.
Dr. Smart is a measurement scientist and the Principal Investigator of the TNEFP. Currently an Assistant Professor at Middle Tennessee State University, he leads a research agenda focused on the spatial determinants of finance, health, and safety in military-connected communities. Dr. Smart specializes in using geospatial modeling to identify hotspots of inequity that impact community resilience.
Univ. of Michigan
Data Science
Faculty
Strategic Alignment
Research Veritcals
Finance Equity
Modeling the correlation between historical housing policy and current public school funding deficits to ensure fiscal transparency.
Community Safety
Investigating spatial determinants of youth violence and family instability to drive proactive community interventions.
AI & Policy
Developing ethical frameworks for the practical application of emerging AI technologies in professional workflows and regional innovation.
Board & Leadership
The Team
Felicia M. Smart
Project Associate
Raven Lindsey, MBA
Officer
Jarvis Richardson
Officer
Deborah Shine, M. ED
Officer
Amy Wassmann
Officer
T
Advancing spatial justice through rigorous educational finance research and policy analysis across Tennessee.