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.
Good News for Hospitality Hub!
A couple of weeks ago, Hospitality Hub, a local nonprofit organization that aids Memphians experiencing homelessness, recently broke ground on a new project on the site of the old Manassas High School building in North Memphis. The organization plans to build 20 “cottages” for use in housing those who need it, with a goal of 60 such structures by the end of 2025. After the groundbreaking, Kelcey Johnson, Executive Director of Hospitality Hub, said that the organization will next set its sights on helping those in need in Southeast Memphis.
While the new Hospitality Hub location is welcome news in addressing a critical issue facing too many Memphians, the necessity of this kind of intervention follows a truth that we can all see throughout the city: Quality, affordable housing is becoming so scarce that it has turned into a full-blown crisis.
Refresher on Community Schools: Weekly Policy Update
A community school is a public school that acts as a hub for the neighborhood, offering both educational services and broader community resources. It integrates academic learning with supports for student and family well-being, like health care, social services, and expanded learning opportunities. What has this model looked like in practice in Shelby County over the last couple of years, and what measurable outcomes are we seeing?
Budget Season: Weekly Policy Update
Budget season for Memphis and Shelby County has entered full swing! Mayor Paul Young presented his proposed budget to the Memphis City Council for fiscal year 2026 in April, while Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Interim Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Rod Richmond presented their respective budgets to the Shelby County Commission last week.
A Very Early Look at the 2026 Elections: Weekly Policy Update
Following the passage of a bill in the General Assembly which would allow for certain changes to county level elections, Shelby County Commission Chairman Michael Whaley announced this week that he will soon be introducing an ordinance to formally adopt the state’s recommendation.
The bill, which has not yet been signed into law by Governor Bill Lee, would allow the county to align school board elections to be on the same schedule as general county elections. If adopted, this will make several changes to our county elections. We explore those changes in this edition of the Weekly Policy Update.