Memphis City Council members unanimously approved a joint city-county ordinance Tuesday to expand pre-K programs to include all 3-year-olds.
“Right now, they only serve 4-year-olds. We want to include 3-year-olds and expand it to families regardless of income,” said Kandace Thomas, executive director of First 8 Memphis.
First 8 Memphis, a nonprofit, helps Memphis-Shelby County Schools manage public and private funds for pre-K and educational initiatives aimed at reducing poverty. Currently, children who turn 4 by Aug. 15 can participate in the program if they qualify. About 1,600 children are enrolled in the program this school year.
Funding for the expansion will be discussed during budget negotiations. Pre-K programs received $7 million from the City of Memphis in fiscal year 2025. The expansion is expected to add another $1.5 million, bringing the total to $8.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Shelby County contributed $9.5 million for fiscal year 2025. Budget season begins next month with a retreat. State funding is handled separately.
The council added the item to the consent agenda after it was approved at an earlier Executive Committee meeting.
Another ordinance on the consent agenda will establish a trust fund for the Cleveland Street Corridor Redevelopment project. The fund will hold revenue from a tax increment financing (TIF) district created to support the project.
The taxes are expected to fund half of the $338 million in improvements to infrastructure along Cleveland Street, including streetscapes, telecommunication lines, parks, and vacant lots. The upgrades are designed to spur investment in the area.
The Cleveland Street Corridor Partnership, which includes Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Crosstown Memphis Community Development Corp., and Crosstown Redevelopment Cooperative Association, is leading the project.
