Politics & PolicyCOVID and SchoolsCOVID Stimulus

Tennessee will get another $2.5 billion in federal stimulus funding for schools. Tell us how your district should spend its share.

By 
Marta W. Aldrich
 | March 15, 2021, 9:19pm UTC
A young boy wearing a white shirt, khakis and a red and grey Shelby County Schools backpack walks into a school’s front doors.
Students and parents are screened entering Vollentine Elementary School in Memphis on March 1, 2021. The return marked students’ first day back since Shelby County Schools shuttered school buildings a year earlier due to the pandemic. (Joe Rondone / The Commercial Appeal)

Tennessee schools are about to be on the receiving end of a historic windfall of federal cash — nearly $2.5 billion, to be exact. 

We’d like to know how you think school leaders should spend it. 

Last week’s passage of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan adds billions more to the $1.5 billion the state already has received for education from the first two stimulus plans approved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn calls the total a “stunning amount of money,” with high-poverty districts getting the largest shares.

District leaders will have a lot of flexibility on how to spend the latest federal investment, but must dedicate a fifth of it to learning recovery programs like summer school, after-school tutoring, and extending the school day. The rest can go for other pandemic-related needs. 

We want to hear from students, parents, and educators about the greatest needs you see as Tennessee seeks to recover from the pandemic. Please take our brief survey and let us know if we can follow up with you.

The Latest
Student sit-ins, teacher departures: What’s happening at Columbia Secondary School?

Columbia Secondary is reeling from an exodus of teachers and student-led protests. The turmoil comes as a new principal has shifted the school’s culture and curriculum.

By 
Seyma Bayram
 | June 30
I’ve witnessed how news and communities can become disjointed. At Chalkbeat, I want to try a few things to help.

Growing up in a mischaracterized city and researching news deserts painted a clear picture that reporting is not a one-way street.

By 
Florian Knowles
 | June 30
Layoffs of 161 Chicago Public Schools workers could be just the start of budget cuts

Reductions target crossing guards and central-office employees. Trimming a $734 million deficit would require bigger moves.

By 
Reema Amin
 | June 30
You’re invited: Hear back-to-school stories from the Indianapolis community and share your own

Indianapolis educators, parents, and students will share their stories of back-to-school at this story slam co-hosted by Chalkbeat Indiana on Aug. 21.

By 
MJ Slaby
 | June 30
Here’s why child care advocates are praising NYC’s new budget deal

The $10 million child care pilot program is expected to create hundreds of new seats in high-need communities. The spending blueprint would also boost funding for preschoolers with disabilities.

By 
Alex Zimmerman
 | June 27
Educators rethink inclusive lessons as Supreme Court lays groundwork for nationwide religious opt-outs

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious parents seeking the right to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ material. The decision will change how teachers approach inclusivity in their classrooms.

By 
Norah Rami
 | June 27