Tennessee State Board of Education
Dr. Gary L. Nixon, Executive Director
The Basic Education Program (BEP)
Overview of the Basic Education Program (BEP)
The Basic Education Program (BEP) is the funding formula through which state education dollars are generated and distributed to Tennessee schools. Click here for a general and non-technical overview of the BEP.
2009 Minimum Salary Schedule and BEP allocations
Minimum salary schedule
BEP Final Allocations
The BEP "Blue Book"
The Board annually reviews and approves school system allocations generated through the BEP formula. The BEP Blue Book (updated for FY10) is a commonly referenced document outlining, in technical detail, the major categories and components of the BEP.
The BEP Review Committee
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-1-302(4)(a) specifies that the State Board of Education shall establish a review committee for the Tennessee basic education program (BEP). This committee is directed to meet at least four times a year and regularly review the BEP components including the preparation of an annual report on or before November 1 of each year.
Copies of the most recent reports and minutes are available below.
November 1, 2009 Report
November 1, 2008 Report
2008 Appendices
A. Salary Disparity
B. Administrative and Instructional Technology
C. Senate Joint Resolution 1180 & BEP 2.0
Archived Reports
2007 BEP Review Committee Annual Report
2006 BEP Review Committee Annual Report
2006 Report Summary (Presentation)
2005 BEP Review Committee Annual Report
2004 BEP Review Committee Annual Report
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Appendices
A. Salary Disparity
1. Total Teacher Compensation Methodology
2. Total Teacher Compensation Summary
3. PowerPoint Presentation
4. Salary Equity Analysis, Exhibits 1 - 9
5. Regional Disparity Methodology
6. Regional Disparity Summary
7. Regional Disparity Analysis
8. Regional Disparity, Regions Defined
B. BEP Administrative and Instructional Technology
1. Members of the sub-committee
2. Cost to reach U.S. instructional computer average
3. Cost of immediate priority recommendations
4. Extended priorities
C. Senate Joint Resolution 1180 & BEP 2.0
1. Local Budget Survey
2. Discussion Points
3. Fiscal Scenarios
4. Maintenance of Effort Options
5. Roll Call Vote
6. Maintenance of Effort Options Amendment
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2008
October 29, 2008 Committee Minutes (forthcoming)
October 15, 2008 Committee Minutes (forthcoming)
September 19, 2008 Committee Minutes
August 21, 2008 Committee Minutes
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2007
2007 Total Teacher Compensation Analysis:
Total Teacher Compensation Analysis
Regional Salary Disparity Analysis
Governor Bredesen's "BEP 2.0" speech (May 3, 2007). You can also listen to a portion of the address here.
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2006
Oct. 23, 2006 Committee Minutes Minutes (FINAL)
Oct. 11, 2006 Committe Minutes Minutes (FINAL)
Sep. 28, 2006 Committee Minutes Minutes
Aug. 30, 2006 Commitee Minutes Minutes
Apr. 2006: BEP Resolution presented to the Board, with the approval of the commisioners of education and finance and administration. This resolution was presented to the legislature for approval.
Jan. 2006 Presentation to Select Oversight Committee
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2005
October 17 , 2005 BEP Review Committee Meeting Minutes
September 16, 2005 BEP Review Committee Meeting Minutes
August 24 , 2005 BEP Review Committee Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2005, BEP Review Committee Meeting Minutes
- The funds generated by the BEP are what the state has defined as sufficient to provide a basic level of education for Tennessee students. This basic level of funding includes both a state share of the BEP and a local share of the BEP.
- The BEP has three major categories (instruction, classroom, and non-classroom), each made up of separate components related to the basic needs of students, teachers, and administrators within a school system.
- Student enrollment (average daily membership) is the primary driver of funds generated by the BEP.
- There are 45 BEP components most of which are based on student enrollment (ADM). For example, students per teacher, assistant principals per school, or dollars per student for textbooks.
- Unit cost adjustments (salary, health benefits, insurance) are essential to maintaining a similar level of funding from year to year, due to inflation. For example, in 2006 over 100 million new state dollars were required to maintain full funding of the BEP.
- The funds generated by the BEP are divided into state and local shares for each of the three major categories (instructional, classroom, non-classroom).
- The state and local share for each school system is based on an equalization formula that is applied to the BEP. This equalization formula is the primary factor in determining how much of the BEP is supported by the state vs. the local district.
- The equalization formula is driven primarily by property values and sales tax, applied at a county level. For example, the state and local equalization shares for County System A would be the exact same state and local shares for City System A, within the same county.
- All local school systems are free to raise additional education dollars beyond the funds generated by the BEP.
Contact Information
Art Fuller, Research Associate
State Board of Education
art.fuller@tn.gov
(615) 532-2822
