Maury County board approves Kids First to lead four-year turnaround at E.A. Cox Middle School

On Jan. 6, 2026, the Maury County Board of Education voted to approve Kids First as the vendor to lead a four-year turnaround for E.A. Cox Middle School under a state program designed for low-performing schools. The board accepted a committee recommendation that reported 13 of 14 members preferred Kids First.

District staff told the board the program is funded through a state law enacted about a year ago and is structured as a $1,000,000 flow-through grant to the vendor, disbursed over four years at roughly $250,000 per year. "It is a $1,000,000 grant over multiple years," a district staff member said, adding that the money flows directly to the vendor and the services come to the school.

Board members heard that the vendor's first year will concentrate on a diagnostic and needs assessment — a 3-to-6-day on-site visit followed by 30 to 60 days of analysis — and that subsequent work will include professional learning for teachers and administrators. District staff said Kids First uses a "C3" approach (Collaborate, Create, Commit), grounds some practices in the research of John Hattie, and emphasizes structured literacy and adult training.

During questions from board members, staff said the vendor will collect at least three years of quantitative state data (growth and proficiency by grade and subject), chronic absenteeism and discipline data, and additional observational and interview data from teachers, students and parents. Staff characterized the grant as a targeted intervention intended to move the school out of the state's bottom 5 percent of performers; "their expectation is to get us out of the bottom 5%," a staff member said.

Board members also asked about contract length and exit provisions. Staff said the district is effectively committed to the vendor for a four-year cycle under the grant but that Kids First told the district it would continue to support the school if E.A. Cox improved and came off the state's list early. Staff estimated Kids First could be on-site within a month to six weeks if the board approved the award.

The motion to approve Kids First was made and seconded; the chair announced the motion passed. Next steps described by staff include finalizing award paperwork with the vendor and beginning the vendor's diagnostic work and community interviews.

The board did not provide a roll-call tally in the public transcript; the chair stated the motion carried. The district said it will provide at least annual data reports to the board and additional, more frequent information on request.