Tennessee has received nearly $8 million in federal funding to strengthen teacher leadership, mentoring and staffing programs, with an emphasis on schools facing the greatest needs.
The Tennessee Department of Education announced it was awarded more than $7.9 million through the federal Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program. Tennessee was among approximately 20 grant recipients nationwide.
The funding will support Tennessee’s Instructional Leadership & Educator Development Grant, an initiative designed to test strategies for improving educator recruitment, development and retention in high-need schools.
Eligible school districts and public charter schools will be able to use the initiative to develop teacher leadership and mentoring opportunities, strengthen educator evaluation systems, implement strategic staffing models and provide incentives for educators.
“We’re excited about what this grant opportunity could do for our incredible teachers across the state,” Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds said. “Tennessee is committed to ensuring that all students have access to highly effective teachers in every classroom.”
The state also plans to use educator evaluation and workforce data to track how the programs are implemented and measure their results.
The Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program provides competitive grants to states, school districts and eligible partnerships to develop or expand performance-based compensation and human capital management systems, particularly in high-need schools.
The program is designed not only to reward effective educators, but also to create opportunities for teachers and principals to take on additional leadership responsibilities while remaining connected to schools and classrooms.
Previous projects funded through the federal program have included teacher career ladders, leadership positions, peer coaching, professional development and financial incentives designed to attract and retain effective teachers and administrators in high-need schools.
The program has supported approximately 160 projects nationwide, reaching more than 2,000 schools in over 300 urban, suburban and rural school districts across 36 states and Washington, D.C.
Federal officials announced the 2026 grant competition in April, with approximately $60 million expected to be awarded nationally.
Under Tennessee’s project, leadership and mentoring programs will be combined with strategic staffing and educator incentives in an effort to build a stronger pipeline of teachers and school leaders.
The initiative also places an emphasis on retaining experienced educators and giving effective teachers opportunities to advance professionally without necessarily leaving the classroom for administrative positions.
State education officials said the broader goal is to ensure students in high-need schools have greater access to effective teachers while developing systems that can be expanded across Tennessee if the pilot strategies prove successful.
