Metro Schools and Beacon Center Spar Over COVID Funding

Metro Nashville Public Schools fired off a scathing response this week to a new Beacon Center report that’s critical of the way school districts across the state have been spending their COVID relief money.The Beacon Center reviewed data on the $3.4 billion Tennessee school districts received from t

Sky Arnold

Originally published Thursday, August 25, 2022 · Updated Jun 9, 2026·2 min read

Metro Schools and Beacon Center Spar Over COVID Funding

MNPS is not using ESSER funds for private tutoring, that is being funded by Music Makes Us.
Artists-in-Residence provide much needed instructional support to improve academic outcomes and student engagement in visual and performing arts classrooms.
Elementary Design funding will assist the district in moving to the K-5 / 6-8 model that parents have been wanting for many years and studies show improves academic and SEL outcomes for students.
Tennessee is a reimbursement state, meaning that we must first spend local operating funds before we draw down a reimbursement from the state. This requires significant documentation and reporting, and there is a lag between when funds are encumbered, spent, or reimbursed. The deadline for ESSER 3 spending is July of 2024.

Beacon Center ESSERMetro Nashville Public SchoolsMNPSTSS:Capitol

Written by

Sky Arnold

Sky is a veteran broadcast journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering news across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Tennessee. He spent years reporting on Tennessee government and education for Fox 17 News in Nashville and WBBJ in Jackson. A University of Oklahoma graduate, Sky brings seasoned expertise and a strong commitment to factual reporting.

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