Dear Friend,

Learning requires a sense of safety that many of us take for granted. For a growing number of Tennessee students, that safety is not guaranteed and it’s changing what school looks like for them and their peers.

At the end of August, Tennessee experienced one of the largest immigration enforcement actions this year. In Memphis, more than 120 people were detained, leaving children without the parents, uncles, aunts, siblings, and guardians who show up for them every day.

Students in the community are now walking to the school bus aware that immigration enforcement is active nearby, sitting in classrooms distracted by something far removed from their assignments, and carrying a concern that has little to do with math homework and everything to do with whether their family will still be together when the day ends.

Research on immigration enforcement and schools points to a consistent pattern: when enforcement activity increases in a community, student attendance and academic performance tend to decline, particularly among students with a family member who is undocumented or at risk of detention and among their classmates, who feel the impact when a peer suddenly stops showing up to school.

The leaders elected this year will determine whether moments like this become the exception or the norm for Tennessee's students.

That's why we hosted Every Student Matters, Every Vote Counts to explore how the decisions made at the ballot box in 2026 will shape our classrooms for years to come – from funding and resources to the policies that determine whether every child gets a fair shot at success.

Showing up for Tennessee's students doesn't stop at the classroom door; it extends to the ballot box. Watch the webinar recording and explore the resources to stay informed as Election Day approaches.

In partnership,

Federal Focus, Tennessee Lens: Federal Voucher Tax Credit Program (Part 1)

Starting in 2027, taxpayers will have the power to send funds to the educational program of their choice. Can these funds also strengthen supports for students in public schools?

As the U.S. Department of the Treasury develops guidance for the new Federal Voucher Tax Credit (FVTC) program, important questions remain about how the program will operate, who will benefit, and what it could mean for educational equity in Tennessee.

Join EdTrust-Tennessee and Stand for Children-Tennessee in exploring what advocates need to know about the Federal Voucher Tax Credit program so far, future opportunities to support public schools, and what advocates should be looking for as federal guidance is finalized.

WATCH WEBINAR

Higher Education Policymakers Are Focused on Preparing Students for AI. They Should Also Focus on Protecting Them

Higher education is still grappling with two related questions: how colleges and universities should use AI within their own institutions, and how they should prepare students for an increasingly AI-powered economy.The question is no longer simply whether colleges should use AI. The question is what protections should exist when they do.

READ MORE

American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC)

Change doesn't always happen overnight. Sometimes, it starts with one person speaking up and continues because people refuse to be silenced.

For Sabina Mohyuddin, Executive Director at AMAC, advocacy is personal. As one of the first Muslim students wearing a hijab in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), she experienced firsthand what it means when policies and systems don't account for every student. Her story is a reminder that our voices can move policy, even when change takes time.

To learn more, read our recent Voices for Education spotlight on Sabina.