Seeding Success will be closed from Friday, Dec. 19th, 2025 to Monday, Jan. 5th, 2026. We look forward to seeing you in the new year! Have a safe, warm, and happy holiday season. ☃️❄️

🏛️ In this update, we explain the new Workforce Pell Grant and how Shelby County can take advantage of the change to make sure local families actually gain living-wage work. 🔗 Read here: www.seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate12/12/25 #workforce #pellgrant #policy #newsletter

Last week, the Shelby County Community Schools Partnership came together to review our impact and celebrate the end of Year 3 of the Full-Service Community Schools grant! Thank you for supporting students and their families throughout the year. 💚🧡

Children benefit from Pre-K across a lifetime, with positive effects on third-grade reading, high school graduation, postsecondary success, & adult earnings. To make the case for Pre-K, we need long-term data.
Data is vital infrastructure. 🔗 Learn more: seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate12/5/25

🏛 This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced interagency agreements to move several offices currently under the purview of the Department of Education to other federal agencies. 🔗 Get the full update (2 min read): www.seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate11/21/25 #DepartmentofEducation

🏛 The Shelby County Delegation of State Legislators met for a two-day retreat to hear from local governmental entities, businesses, and nonprofits about their requests for the upcoming session of the General Assembly. 🔗 Full update (3 min read): www.seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate11/14/25

54 Tennessee colleges and universities are ready to welcome YOU! TN Direct Admissions connects you directly to acceptance and financial aid. 🔗 Explore your options: CollegeforTN.org/Direct-Admissions/
#Memphis #Tennessee #ShelbyCounty #college

EVERY student is college material. TN Direct Admissions proves it — with automatic acceptance to dozens of Tennessee colleges and universities, just for you. CollegeforTN.org/Direct-Admissions/
#Memphis #Tennessee #college

🏛 The Memphis 2025 Poverty Fact Sheet shows that Memphis still has the highest poverty rate for children in the nation. More than four in 10 children in this city live below the federal poverty line. 🔗 Learn about our plan of action here: www.seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate11/7/25

Skip the applications & fees and start planning your future. 📩 TN Direct Admissions helps you discover where you’ve already been accepted! Discover today: CollegeforTN.org/Direct-Admissions/

@MLK50 recently released an interactive map of open local food pantries to help people experiencing food insecurity during the ongoing government shut-down. 🗺️ Find the list and interactive map here: https://loom.ly/-7lJ1Ik #Memphis #ShelbyCountyTN #foodpantry

🏛 The federal government has been shut down for over one month and could become the longest shut-down in history if it continues through Nov. 5th. 🔗 See the full policy update (3 minute read): www.seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate10/31/25

🏛 Data from early October shows that chronic absenteeism is declining at Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Rates have dropped from 31.1% last year to 24.2%, which could potentially lead to better outcomes for students.
🔗 Learn more: seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate10/24/25

🤔 How often do you get to make a positive impact with a couple of clicks? #MoreforMemphis is a plan to make sure everyone in our city can get essential services and resources. ✍️ Sign our Letter of Support NOW to tell local leaders to invest in our schools and communities! #Memphis #takeaction

🏛 Routine testing in MSCS schools uncovered lead levels above state standards in 24 district schools, mostly in kitchen sinks. Also, auditors arrived in Memphis last week for a state-funded audit of MSCS spanning back to 2021.
🔗Get the full update: www.seeding-success.org/news/policyupdate8/15/25

🏛️ In this edition, Porter-Leath is partnering with dozens of local organizations and First 8 Memphis to expand Head Start services, xAI is donating millions of dollars in facility upgrades to MSCS, and we show you how to review legislation. 🔗 Read here: loom.ly/53pDpPc

🏛️ The Shelby County Board of Commissioners has voted to advance a resolution that could change MSCS board elections to align with those of the Shelby County Commission.

🔗 Get the full update here: www.seeding-success.org/news/school-...

🏛 Last week's update: The Memphis City Council passed the “Pre-K for All” ordinance—which provides free pre-K seats to low-income families by expanding eligibility to three-year-olds and removing the income requirement—on its third reading.

Full update here: loom.ly/kSl2t-w

Yesterday, we joined our partners at First 8 Memphis for a team building activity to get to know each other better and find opportunities for collaboration. We loved seeing everyone's creative sides and learning how their personal experiences have led them to their current roles!