Supplemental Grant Helps Schools Fund First to the Top Initiatives

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education has announced that seven school systems will receive funding to encourage compensation reform and enhance school turn-around strategies.

 

First to the Top funding allows the department to create a competitive supplemental fund totaling $1.5 million over the course of the next four years, $375,000 per year, for innovation in school districts whose share of funds is within the bottom 20 percent of total Local Education Agency First to the Top funds.

 

“We recognize that these initiatives play an integral part in shaping our vision for our students and schools across the state,” Education Commissioner Tim Webb said. “The opportunities that this funding will provide will strengthen each school’s ability to meet the needs of all students and provide a quality education.”

 

First year recipients of the Competitive Supplemental Fund grant include:

 

·         Bradford Special School District

·         Dayton City Schools

·         Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District

·         Lexington City Schools

·         South Carroll County Special School District

·         Trousdale County

 

·         Williamson County Schools

·         Bradford Special School District

 

For year one, this competitive portion of the First to the Top grant offered up to 28 school districts the opportunity to supplement their Scopes of Work to address compensation reform and school turn-around strategies. Grants were awarded based on the strength of the proposed expenditures to develop alternative salary schedules and/or to turn around low-performing schools. Expenditures for this competitive funding may include professional development, planning, personnel, and equipment.

 

For more information, contact Amanda Maynord Anderson at (615) 532-7817 or Amanda.Anderson@tn.gov.

 

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