FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tennessee Educational Funding and Policy Officially Launches to Address Systemic Inequity

CLARKSVILLE, TN – March 13, 2026 – Dr. Rajah E. Smart today announced the official launch of the Tennessee Educational Funding and Policy (TNEFP), a new nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing equity in school finance through rigorous spatial analysis. Following approval from the Tennessee Secretary of State (CO54645), TNEFP is now authorized to begin its mission to inform public policy and promote equitable funding models across the state.

As Middle Tennessee undergoes an unprecedented period of metropolitan expansion, the structural frameworks of educational funding must be examined with fresh precision. TNEFP enters the policy landscape as an independent voice grounded in the intersection of Critical Geography and Race (CGR).

"Our mission is to bridge the gap between high-level academic research and the tangible needs of Tennessee's students," said Dr. Rajah E. Smart, Founder and President of TNEFP. "By standardizing the application of Critical Geography and Race through our Spatial Echo framework, we can identify how historical policy decisions continue to resonate in today’s educational outcomes. We are not just looking at numbers on a spreadsheet; we are mapping the geography of opportunity in our most rapidly growing corridors."

Regional Focus and Methodology

TNEFP will prioritize longitudinal study and policy evaluation in the high-growth metropolitan regions of Nashville

TNEFP

. The organization's signature methodology, the Spatial Echo, allows researchers to identify the "vibrations" of past systemic inequities that persist within modern resource distribution (Soja, 2010). This data-driven approach aims to provide legislators and district leaders with the context necessary to ensure school funding keeps pace with urban and suburban growth.

Leadership and Governance

The organization is led by a founding Board of Directors with deep expertise in education, research, and policy coordination:

• Dr. Rajah E. Smart, President and Treasurer

• Felicia M. Banks, Secretary and Project Associate

• Raven Lindsey, Officer

• Jarvis Richardson, Officer

• Amy Wassmann, Officer

  
  

TNEFP operates as a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation (pending) and is committed to the highest standards of transparency. All governing documents, including the organization's Charter and Bylaws, are available for public inspection at the TNEFP principal office in Clarksville.

About Tennessee Educational Funding and Policy

Tennessee Educational Funding and Policy (TNEFP) is a nonprofit think tank that conducts independent research regarding educational finance and systemic inequality. Our work informs public stakeholders and promotes equitable funding models to improve educational outcomes for all students in Tennessee. For more information, research reports, or to support our mission, visit www.tnefp.org.

References

Ladson-Billings, G., & Tate, W. F. (1995). Toward a critical race theory of education. Teachers College Record, 97(1), 47–68.

Soja, E. W. (2010). Seeking spatial justice. University of Minnesota Press.

Tate, W. F. (2008). Geography of opportunity: Poverty, place, and educational outcomes. Educational Researcher, 37(7), 397–411.