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References

For generations, school funding in America has often been a story of haves and have-nots, reinforcing the very inequities it should be designed to overcome. In 2022, Tennessee took a bold step to rewrite that story. With the passage of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, the state retired its 30-year-old funding system in favor of a new, student-centered model. Backed by a historic $1 billion recurring investment, TISA promises to direct resources where they are needed most—funding students based on their individual circumstances and unique learning needs.  

But is a new formula enough? Our in-depth analysis of Michigan's school finance system reveals a cautionary tale: even policies written in race-neutral language can perpetuate deep-seated inequities when they fail to account for the legacy of housing segregation and vast disparities in local property wealth. This raises the critical question for Tennesseans: Will TISA break the cycle, or will it inadvertently continue a legacy of unequal opportunity?  

The answer demands more than hope—it requires rigorous, independent evaluation. This page introduces a comprehensive research framework designed to do just that. By applying a critical, data-driven lens to the new law, we can measure TISA's real-world impact on students and communities. This is our blueprint for accountability—a tool to test the promise of TISA and ensure that this historic investment translates into a tangible reality for every child, in every classroom across the state.

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