TN Department of Education Announces Dropout Prevention Grants

Thursday, April 02, 2009 | 06:13am

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Education Commissioner Dr. Timothy Webb announced today nine school systems will receive funding to improve public awareness and combat student dropouts through the Model Dropout Prevention grant.

Each school system will receive $6,000 for improvement or expansion of dropout prevention services, outreach or program evaluation. Each district, listed below, submitted a detailed grant proposal and plan for use of these funds.

“If children are not in school, it’s impossible for them to learn the skills they will need to be successful college students and members of the workforce,” Commissioner Webb said. “These grants allow districts to customize a program that works for their community, in turn supporting students who need a boost to stay in school.”

The Tennessee Model Dropout Prevention program was created by state statute to encourage and support locally-based, interdisciplinary initiatives to combat the many complex problems that lead Tennessee children and youth to drop out of school. Examples of initiatives encouraged under the Model Dropout Prevention program are after-school tutoring programs and school/community partnerships focused on student academic success.

Districts that received the Model Dropout Prevention Grant include:

DeKalb County
Kingsport City
Claiborne County
Polk County
Bradley County
Johnson County
Oneida Special Schools
Tullahoma City
Metro Nashville Davidson County

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us
###

Press Releases | Education