Student support and academic enrichment grants

The Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded the Tennessee Department of Education $24,639,472 through the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (CFDA 84.424) on July 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. This formula grant supports three primary service categories: providing students with access to well-rounded education, improving school conditions for student learning, and enhancing technology utilization to advance academic achievement and digital literacy. The program funds academic enrichment programs, professional development for educators, technology infrastructure upgrades, school safety initiatives, and mental health support services delivered through state educational agencies to local school districts and community-based educational organizations.

The Tennessee Department of Education distributed sub-awards from this grant to 68 local educational agencies and school districts throughout the state, with all sub-award agreements dated July 30, 2025. The funded initiatives focus on using professional development to improve teaching and learning across Tennessee's diverse student populations. Sub-awardees ranging from large urban districts such as Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and Hamilton County Schools to smaller rural school systems utilize these funds to enhance educator capacity, support student mental health and well-being, implement evidence-based instructional practices, and maintain school safety measures. The sub-grant structure ensures that federal resources flow to local schools and districts serving high-poverty schools, students with disabilities, English language learners, and other vulnerable populations in need of comprehensive educational support services.