A Tennessee task force investigating the potential use and denial of nearly $2 billion in federal education money is scheduled to meet five times, receiving input from seven different groups with public hearings scheduled to begin Monday. be.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) created a committee in September to consider whether the state can afford to deny federal education funding. did. Tennessee received $1.89 billion in federal funding for schools last year, but that funding could shrink slightly if funding related to the COVID-19 Relief Fund for schools dries up.
Sexton said he believes the state should consider denying the funding, citing federal Department of Education orders related to the funding.
But neither Sexton nor McNally have yet told reporters what federal mandates or restrictions they oppose.
State Sen. John Lundberg (R-Bristol) and state Rep. Debra Moody (R-Covington) will co-chair the special committee.
The remaining members are state Rep. John Regan, R-Oak Ridge. Timothy Hill, Republican Blountville; William Slater, Republican Gallatin; Ronnie Glynn, D-Clarksville. and Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald. Bill Powers, R-Clarksville; and Ramesh Akbari, D-Memphis.
The schedule is as follows.
Monday, November 6th, starting at 2pm
- Tennessee State Comptroller Office of Research and Educational Accountability
- Tennessee Fiscal Review Commission
Tuesday, November 7th, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
- Sycamore Institute
- Input from the Hawkins County Schools Superintendent, Jackson Madison County Schools Superintendent, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools Interim Superintendent.
Wednesday, November 8th, 9am to 11am
- US Department of Education
- National Conference of State Legislatures
Tuesday, November 14th, 9am to 11am
- Tennessee Department of Education
Wednesday, November 15th, 9am to 11am
- Tennessee State Comptroller Office of Research and Educational Accountability
