Impartial policy insights for a thriving Tennessee
Tennessee, USA
Joined January 2016
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Health insurance coverage plays an important role in the well-being of Tennesseans and their communities.
Our latest brief takes a closer look at how Tennesseans get health insurance and changes in coverage over time.
Learn more: buff.ly/HO0VmNb
Fall is here, and our Nov. 6 policy summit is just around the corner. Join us as we dig into the policy issues shaping Tennessee.
Housing affordability is a growing concern across Tennessee.
Our latest Spotlight 2027 brief explores the state’s housing challenges and policy choices as population growth outpaces supply.
Learn more: buff.ly/PvbBeDA
📢 We're hiring an External Relations Associate!
Help grow our audience, support events and media outreach, and make public policy information accessible to Tennesseans.
Learn more & apply: sycamoretn.org/jobs
Meet our newest team member, Katja Vinha!
Katja joins The Sycamore Institute as a Senior Policy Research Analyst and brings 15+ years of applied research experience.
Get to know Katja: buff.ly/40NF6yo
Statewide, estimates of both the share and number of Tennessee households that may have struggled to afford basic needs under the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) household survival budget declined from 2019 to 2024.
Meanwhile, the statewide poverty rate fell during the same time period, but due to population growth, the number of people in poverty went up. buff.ly/ENjVRht
In 2024, about 1.2 million households in Tennessee (or 41%) may have struggled to afford basic needs—a decline from 2019—but the rate and trend varied by county. buff.ly/ENjVRht
Most wages and incomes in Tennessee have also grown faster than inflation since 2019. buff.ly/ENjVRht
The costs for many major categories of household spending have increased faster than inflation in recent years. buff.ly/ENjVRht
Basic needs in Tennessee cost significantly more than federal poverty thresholds. buff.ly/ENjVRht
Tennessee has enjoyed years of strong revenue growth, but what comes next?
Join Sen. Raumesh Akbari, Peter Muller, and Sen. Bo Watson on 11.6 as they discuss the state's fiscal outlook and the road ahead.
Early bird ticket sales end tomorrow (9/25).
🎟️ buff.ly/N4B8il6
One month away! What does housing look like in Montgomery County and what comes next?
Join Sycamore and the Clarksville Association of REALTORS® Attainable Housing Community Coalition on 10.20 for a discussion on housing. Learn more and register: buff.ly/CItCHRw
K–12 education is Tennessee’s largest state-funded expense. So where does all that funding go? Our recent Spotlight 2027 brief takes a closer look at K–12 education funding in Tennessee. Learn more: buff.ly/pQtSI4s
State policymakers have prioritized investments in teacher pay, but Tennessee still lags behind other states. buff.ly/fXIso6r
Do you think the Tennessee State Budget is confusing? You're not alone! Our latest Spotlight 2027 brief, “Understanding Budget Basics,” breaks it down so you can see how it all works. buff.ly/3sPKpu4
Federal funding plays a targeted role in K-12 education in Tennessee.
Federal funding for K-12 education is targeted to certain student populations and programs. buff.ly/fXIso6r
Local fiscal capacity is a defining feature of public school funding in Tennessee. A county’s required local contribution is based on its share of total fiscal capacity across all 95 counties, not its individual funding needs. buff.ly/fXIso6r
K-12 education is the largest expense from state revenues in Tennessee’s budget—making up over a quarter of state spending.
buff.ly/fXIso6r
