School Board Elections Might Look Different | Weekly Policy Update
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners has voted to advance a resolution to change Memphis-Shelby County school board elections to align with those of the Shelby County Commission. This would put all nine MSCS board seats on the November 2026 ballot and truncate the terms of those elected in 2024.
The change is expected to increase voter turnout in school board elections. In the previous August 2024 election, only 13% of registered voters cast a ballot. Memphis school board elections have had turnout as high as 39% in 1980, but 13% in 2024 is a near-all-time low, edged out only by the 12.2% turnout in 2004.
What could $10 Billion do? | Weekly Policy Update
In early June, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright sponsored a nonbinding resolution requesting that the federal government designate Memphis and Shelby County as a “priority community” when considering federal funding allocations for localities.
Wright’s resolution follows the logic of decades of research on the causes and effects of crime: Violence is high in places with persistent poverty due to a lack of opportunity, creating a cycle of poverty and crime that persists through generations.
You can read more about it in the Justice & Safety portion of the More For Memphis strategic plan.
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?
Weekly Policy Update | April 11, 2025
This is the third newsletter in our four-part series about the proposed state intervention in Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
In this issue, we explore what needs to change about our current education system.
Weekly Policy Update | April 4, 2025
This is the second newsletter in our four-part series about the proposed state intervention in Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
In this issue, we outline the history of transformation efforts in the various iterations of our school system, including key initiatives and funding sources that have shaped the educational landscape.