Hamilton County Board Of Education

Hamilton County Board of Education, operating as Hamilton County Department of Education and Hamilton County Schools, is the fourth largest school district in Tennessee, serving approximately 45,000 students across 78 schools in a 576-square-mile region encompassing Chattanooga and surrounding Hamilton County communities. The district employs nearly 2,800 full-time teachers and provides comprehensive pre-kindergarten through grade twelve education to both urban and suburban/rural populations. Through federal grant awards, Hamilton County Schools delivers specialized services and programs focused on student safety, mental health, violence prevention, and equitable educational access, demonstrating a commitment to addressing trauma-informed approaches and reducing disparities in school discipline and student outcomes.

Hamilton County Schools has successfully secured multiple federal prime grant awards spanning school safety, mental health services, and equity initiatives. The district received a $4,981,374 grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the School Safety National Activities program (CFDA 84.184) to fund the School Psychologist Recruitment and Retention Initiative, which targets expanding mental health services in underserved areas. The district also manages a $998,866 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance under the STOP School Violence Program (CFDA 16.839), implementing a comprehensive culture and climate initiative across all 78 schools to reduce violence, substance use, and disproportionate disciplinary practices through culture assessments, professional development on creating a "culture of care," and anti-vaping programs. Additional notable prime awards include the PIERCE Project (Proactively Increasing Protective Factors Through an Equitable, Restorative, and Collaborative Approach to Ending School Violence) funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a cooperative agreement addressing school violence and behavioral health for historically marginalized students, a $512,711 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program grant (CFDA 84.424) supporting the Fostering Diverse Schools Project, and multiple Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office grants totaling approximately $814,000 for school violence prevention programs and security technology implementation. The district also participates extensively in sub-award programs through the Tennessee Department of Education, including Impact Aid Program Title VII Section 7003 funding, school-based mental health services, National School Lunch Program administration, special education services, English language learner instruction, career and technical education (Perkins grants), 21st Century Community Learning Centers, homeless education services, and professional development initiatives. Additional sub-awards flow through the Tennessee Department of Human Services for workforce development (TSW Basic) and American Rescue Plan emergency relief funds for various student support services.