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Rutherford County board approves ESL parent classes using federal Title III funds after public support and debate
Summary
After public comment and discussion about allowable uses of federal Title III funds, the board approved funding for ESL parent classes at two Smyrna schools, coach stipends and lead-teacher stipends; staff said parent engagement is a required allowable use under Tennessee guidance.
The Rutherford County Schools Board on a voice vote approved district plans to use federal Title III funds to run parents' English-as-a-second-language classes at Smyrna Elementary and Smyrna Primary for the 2025–26 school year.
Whitney Hoffman, a parent with two children in the district, told the board that similar programs in other counties and a longitudinal study of dual-language learners in Miami showed higher parent engagement and improved student outcomes, including better attendance and lower grade-retention risk. "The more that our parents can…
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