Stand for Children - Tennessee

10/14/2026

Early voting is officially underway, and we're urging every Tennessean to vote NO on Amendments 1, 2, and 3!

We've broken down what each one would do and what's at stake here: bit.ly/Vote-No-TN-Amendments

The amendments come right after the vote for Governor, but don't stop there! Your voice matters all the way down the ballot.

10/13/2026

FULL STORY: https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/10/13/memphis-state-takeover-board-is-ready-to-begin-chair-says/

Memphis state takeover board is ready to begin, chair says

Memphis takeover board Chair Billy Orgel said in a Tuesday court filing that the board is ready to assume control of the local school district. A federal judge previously signaled he could lift a temporary block once the board declared its readiness.

10/12/2026

"History has shown us that you cannot arrest your way to healthy communities. If the federal government wants to invest $300 hundred million dollars in public safety, it should invest in the things that create lasting safety: stable housing, quality schools, living-wage jobs, youth opportunities, mental health services, violence prevention programs, and second chances for people returning home.

Those investments do more than respond to crime. They help prevent it.

I believe this because real safety is not measured by the number of arrests made. Real safety is measured by the number of people who never enter the justice system in the first place."

The Task Force has been in Memphis for more than a year, with no official end in sight and serious concerns about the way federal agents are operating.

Yet the federal government wants to replicate this approach nationwide through its Model Cities Initiative, and city officials still aren't publicly announcing whether Memphis applied for funding that could deepen federal involvement in our city.

In a new op-ed for The Root, Justice & Safety Alliance facilitator Dr. William Arnold makes the case for a different public safety model that invests in violence prevention, trauma recovery, youth opportunities, and other supports that create lasting safety.

Read the full op/ed here:
https://www.theroot.com/opinion-the-memphis-safe-task-force-is-the-wrong-model-2000129886

10/09/2026

The state-appointed Oversight Board met Thursday for the first time in months. Here's what happened:

New policies approved:
The board adopted operating rules and a process for approving district contracts over $50,000. It also approved an executive director job description and opened applications for legal counsel.

Questions over transparency and accountability:
After debating whether to accept work from consulting firm MGT, which had been working behind the scenes during the takeover pause, the oversight board ended up accepting MGT's work at no cost.

The legal battle continues:
MSCS and Shelby County leaders filed another lawsuit this week in state court, challenging the constitutionality of the takeover and seeking to permanently block it.

What's next?
The Oversight Board is working to prove its readiness to a federal judge, who has indicated he may lift the temporary pause once the board is prepared to operate. The takeover has not officially resumed, but that could change soon.

Read the full breakdown from Chalkbeat: https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/10/08/memphis-state-takeover-board-approves-key-policies-to-prove-readiness-in-court/

10/08/2026

Our freedom is on the ballot, and we're not sitting this one out. Early voting starts next week, so it's time to make your plan! bit.ly/Vote-Plan-901

10/06/2026

Latest development in MSCS takeover news: The state-appointed Oversight Board could soon be allowed to begin its work.

On Monday, Judge Waverly Crenshaw ordered the Oversight Board chair to notify the court under oath once the board is "ready, willing, and able" to begin its work. Once that happens, the judge has indicated he plans to lift the temporary block that has kept the takeover on pause since July.

If the pause is lifted, the Oversight Board could "move quickly on major district decisions involving contracts, the overall budget, school closures, and even the superintendent’s contract."

But even if the Oversight Board starts up again, the broader lawsuit challenging the takeover isn't over. Both sides are expected to file additional arguments this month as the judge considers whether the lawsuit can move forward.

Big thank you to Chalkbeat Tennessee for this reporting, we'll share updates as we learn more!

https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/10/05/judge-says-memphis-schools-takeover-could-begin-once-state-board-is-ready/

10/05/2026

Last week, we chose joy over fear and helped Memphians register to vote with Joy Rising!

Today is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the November 3 election. Make sure your registration is up to date: tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/

10/02/2026

Stay tuned for our next webinar on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit and how public school students can benefit! In the meantime, check out our FAQ page here: bit.ly/FSTC-FAQ-TN

"A small but growing set of organizations — school districts, charter schools, public school foundations, start-up nonprofits, and after-school providers — is working to turn a tax credit primarily designed to cover private school tuition into a benefit for public school students."

FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/09/30/how-school-choice-federal-tax-credits-could-help-students-in-public-schools/

10/01/2026

Last night was a great reminder of what it looks like when people come together to learn, strategize, and build our collective power.

The systems shaping our communities are the result of choices. As the news broke about yet another botched ex*****on, and as we face an indefinite Task Force presence and the state's ongoing attempts to interfere in Shelby County government, organizing for change is more important than ever.

Thank you to Brad Watkins, Free Hearts, and everyone who came out to share ideas and sharpen our skills! Keep an eye out for more Power Trainings coming soon.

09/28/2026

This week marks one year since the Task Force came to Memphis. As we think about what comes next, there’s no better time to strengthen our organizing skills and learn from people who have spent years building power in our city.

Join us this Wednesday for our next Power Training, led by longtime Memphis organizer and former Mid-South Peace & Justice Center director Brad Watkins.

Whether you’re already organizing around an issue or just starting to get involved, come learn how to choose tactics that build support, move decision-makers, and get us closer to the change we want to see.

Sign up: bit.ly/Tactics-Build-Power