Jackson County Schools the first county in the state to have 100 percent of its senior class sign up for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship.
The Tennessee Promise Scholarship helps cover tuition and other mandatory fees at community and technical colleges across the state. Jackson County Director of Schools Jason Hardy said he was proud to have all of the seniors sign up for the scholarship.
“We know that not everybody will use it, but this means that every kid has that opportunity to use that Tennessee Promise money,” Hardy said. “And if they choose to go to a trade school or to college and can use that promise money, it’s gonna be there.”
Hardy said the school district focuses on getting the seniors signed up for the Tennessee Promise scholarship as soon as possible.
“If they are on your roster, they are a senior,” Hardy said. “I mean, if they are homebound, I know Mrs. Garrison (Gear Up Coordinator Christie Garrison) personally went to Truancy Court and got a couple of them. Trying to give these kids options, so sometimes you say getting these kids to sign up for something is easy, it’s not easy.”
Hardy said the school system’s Gear Up Program and school counselors played a huge role in helping parents get their child signed up.
“As a parent, especially if it’s your first child coming through at this time, you probably don’t have any idea, as most of us don’t,” Hardy said. “So we are there to give the information to get help to really assist in any way. All we ask is that they show up, and then our employees will kind of help guide along the process, so it’s again, it’s a community and team effort.”
The class of 2026 Tennessee Promise Scholarship Application deadline is November 3.