xAI, Head Start, and How to Read the Law | Weekly Policy Update
Porter-Leath has been awarded federal funding to expand its Head Start services for Shelby County and will serve an additional 2,920 children ages 3-5 years old in partnership with First 8 Memphis and dozens of local providers. Porter-Leath is now enrolling children at over 30 locations and hiring staff to serve children and families.
xAI, the company at the center of several news stories related to air pollution in South Memphis, is donating millions to facility upgrades to be used in four high schools in xAI’s surrounding area.
Also in this edition: learn how we review upcoming legislation!
Exciting News: Pre-K For All Passes | Weekly Policy Update
The Memphis City Council passed the third and final reading of the “Pre-K for All” ordinance this week, joining the Shelby County Commission in creating the state’s first ever local, universal pre-kindergarten program.
Additionally, the council advanced a proposal which would add $1.5 million in funding for the first year of implementation of Pre-K for All. This followed an additional $2 million provided by the Shelby County Commission this week for the same purpose. This will bring the total annual local funding for pre-K to approximately $21 million.
Pre-K for All: Weekly Policy Update
Great news: Momentum continues as First 8 Memphis shepherds a “Pre-K for All” joint ordinance through the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Board of Commissioners. This week, the county unanimously passed the ordinance on its third and final reading, leaving just one reading by the city council before the ordinance is fully adopted. This is a historic moment that builds on a long community effort to provide a high-quality early education to every child in Shelby County.
[Photo courtesy of Circles of Success]