Schools Invited to Participate in Effective Practice Incentive Community Pilot Program

Principals from several Memphis City Schools learned today that their schools have been selected to participate in the Effective Practice Incentive Community pilot program, the result of a multi-million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The pilot program, a partnership between Memphis City Schools and New Leaders for New Schools (New Leaders), aims to identify and share effective classroom and school-wide practices that have contributed to significant one-year academic achievement gains in order to strengthen practice and performance across Memphis City Schools.

Using TCAP and Gateway test data from the eligible schools and comparing gains made in the 2006-07 school year over 2005-06 scores, Mathematica Policy Research (MPR), an independent, nationally recognized research firm, identified schools with the strongest gains based on the designated one-year period. There are two designations for awarded schools - Gold-Gain and Silver-Gain – determined based on where the school falls in the rank-ordered list of schools by grade-band (i.e., elementary, middle and high schools).

Award winning schools will be announced by Friday, December 14th.

The schools are varied in size, geographic location and student population, ranging from schools in some of the poorest areas of Memphis to an alternative school.  What they share are impressive student achievement gains over the designated one-year period.

“EPIC is different from other programs that are aimed at showcasing blue-ribbon schools or exceptional performance in that EPIC spotlights schools that may still be on the journey toward high achievement,” said Dr. Alfred Hall, MCS Chief Academic Officer.  “This is because the EPIC program looks at a school’s annual student achievement gains, rather than overall proficiency rates of students.  So, there may be schools receiving awards that haven’t been recognized for their success before. But these are schools with a story to tell and practices to share, and that’s what the goal of the program is:  sharing practices that other similar schools can model and learn from to help boost their own academic achievement levels.”

Following presentations about the program to faculty at the individual schools, the schools will conduct a vote on whether to accept the award. The faculty vote at the school will determine whether the school participates in sharing the practices that have contributed to the academic gains at their schools.  Principals and instructional staff at schools that agree to participate will receive monetary rewards for their work.

By voting to accept the award designation, Gold-Gain and Silver-Gain school administrators will have to complete a self-study and participate in a variety of methods of practice documentation.  By agreeing to open their schools for others to learn from, Gold-Gain schools will be visited by a team of trained experts led by SchoolWorks, an organization trained in identifying school practices that are making a positive difference in the education of students.  These practices will then be documented through multi-media and text-based case studies available for all educators in Memphis City Schools to access for free on a national web-based platform.  Silver-gain schools will work with MCS and NL to produce an informational summary of their work to be posted on the online community, and will be asked by MCS to lead local professional development opportunities for their colleagues in MCS.

If a school votes in favor of participating in the project, principals, assistant principals and instructional staff members (teachers, educational assistants, PDSCCs, guidance counselors, librarians and literacy/reading coaches) will receive monetary awards.  Since the work required by Principals and Assistant Principals will be substantial and demanding, Principals and Assistant Principals at Gold-Gain Schools will receive “Spotlight” awards of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively, and Principals and Assistant Principals at Silver-Gain Schools will receive “Spotlight” awards of $10,000 and $7,500 respectively. Instructional staff at both Gold-Gain and Silver-Gain Schools will receive $1,000 each.

Beginning in the 2008-09 school year, the pilot program will expand to include awards to Spotlight Educators in Gold-Gain schools. Criteria is being developed by MCS, MEA and New Leaders this year so that the selection of Spotlight Educators can begin next year.   It is expected that up to approximately 60 Spotlight Educators will receive these awards next year. Spotlight Educators awards are for $7,500 each.

To qualify for consideration in this pilot year, a school had to have met certain criteria.  Schools must have at least 50 percent of their students qualified for free and reduced lunch. Any school in its first year of the Fresh Start process was ineligible since it already participates in other award programs.  For this same reason, Striving Schools will be ineligible next year once their schools stand to receive incentives.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded a total of five grants to New Leaders and its partners: Memphis City Schools, the District of Columbia Public Schools, a national consortium of charter schools, Denver Public Schools and Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland.

“The MCS Effective Practice Incentive Community Pilot Program will help us understand how best to find, honor and showcase educators in the schools realizing student achievement gains and then share the practices that help make these gains happen with educators across the district and the nation,” Dr. Hall said. “We see this as another great way to improve teaching and learning across the district.  All of our schools will be able to tap into effective teaching and school leadership practices that they can use in their own schools through a national platform highlighting award-winning practices that will include our own great work here in Memphis.”

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U.S. Military Lieutenant Colonel, Superintendent Dan Ward, Unveils Strategic Realignment of MCS for Greater Efficiency, Accountability in Operations
Team-Focused Leadership, Smaller Management Units, Increased Focus on Contracts, Facilities Planning among Shifts in Reorganization of District's Operations Division

In a video message to all employees, Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dan Ward announced last week a strategic realignment of the district’s Operations department, including administrative divisions, job functions and staff responsibilities, all of which are designed to heighten efficiency and accountability district-wide.  The plan is included within the budget for the current fiscal year.

“Responsibility and accountability are the chief goals in all areas of district operations,” stated Ward, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Military committed to sound structure and order. “Memphis City Schools is charged with making sure taxpayers’ dollars are used to make the best educational opportunities available for children. Everyone who works for this district is expected to do their job with our students in mind, first and foremost. This realignment will help ensure everyone is held accountable for the job they do.”

The most notable change on the district’s realigned organizational chart is the shift from a chief operating officer to a team-focused leadership strategy that calls on highly qualified staff members in specific divisions of district operations to manage smaller business units in their area of expertise. Instead of a chief operating officer taking oversight of 10 different operations divisions, several divisions have been combined because of their closely related functions in order to increase efficiency and reduce the number of reports: Custodial and Grounds has been combined with Facilities Management; Transportation has been combined with Capital Planning; and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance has been combined with Human Resources. Procurement, Contracting Services, Supplier Diversity and Nutrition Services have been combined to form a new department, which will be overseen by the newly created position of Chief Contracting Officer (CCO).

Once the position is filled, the CCO will incorporate supplier diversity initiatives into all MCS business operations, with the executive directors of both Facilities Management and Capital Planning and Transportation reporting directly to the CCO on matters of contracts to ensure that this strategy is carried out fully and effectively. Contract negotiations and drafting will also be placed under the CCO, rather than being handled by each individual district department, centralizing the process and enabling the superintendent to review and approve thoroughly developed contracts before they are submitted to the Office of General Counsel. A Contract Manager will promote accountability by making sure all involved parties comply with contractual obligations.

Additionally, Superintendent Ward has created two new functions to enhance financial and operational stability for the entire district - an Office of Quality Improvement and a Student Outreach division - and designated a new area of Human Resources to help gauge performance and ensure that employee accountability remains a top priority for the district.  The Office of Quality Improvement will operate within the Division of District Support Services and be responsible for analyzing district-wide workflow, processes and practices to ensure maximum productivity and reduce waste. The Student Outreach unit will be part of the Department of School Choice and Student Accounting and will be responsible for tracking all K-12 students who drop out or leave the district, analyzing patterns of departures and recommending strategies for recapturing those students. A new unit of Human Resources will be dedicated to staff professional development, employee competence, performance evaluations and accountability.

Memphis City Schools has remained proactive in its efforts to review business practices and ensure sound operations. Since August, the district has been engaged with a group of CEOs and representatives of major corporations to outline a system of best practices, which will be used to develop a new operational initiative scheduled for implementation in 2008.

Updates on this plan will be made public as details become finalized.

Summary of MCS’ Strategic Realignment Plan:

• The plan is included within the current budget for this fiscal year.
• Shift from a Chief Operating Officer to team-focused system with smaller management units
• Closely related divisions combined to increase efficiency: Custodial and Grounds with Facilities Management; Transportation with Capital Planning; Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance with Human Resources
• Newly created position of Chief Contracting Officer (CCO) to oversee Procurement, Contracting Services, Supplier Diversity and Nutrition Services CCO to incorporate supplier diversity initiatives into all MCS business operations and manage all contract negotiations and drafting
• Newly created Office of Quality Improvement to analyze district-wide workflow and processes to ensure maximum productivity and reduce waste
• Newly created Student Outreach unit to track K-12 students who drop out or leave the district
• Newly created Human Resources unit to oversee employee competence, performance, evaluation, and accountability

The realigned organizational chart can be viewed on the district’s Web site, www.mcsk12.net.

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Frayser High School Mourns Loss of Assistant Principal

Longtime MCS employee Henry Barton, Assistant Principal at Frayser High School, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 22. Barton began his career with the Memphis City Schools system in 1978 as a mathematics teacher at Corey Junior High School. He later took on teaching assignments with Graceland and Sheffield junior high schools. Barton also became the Assistant Principal at Airways Junior High School later in his career, and he also served as Assistant Principal at Trezevant and Frayser high schools.

Barton grew up attending Memphis City schools. After attending Manassas High School, he graduated from Rust College with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, on a music scholarship. He received his Master of Education degree from Jackson State University and a Specialist Degree in Education from The University of Memphis. 

Barton was also called to the ministry several years ago.  He was an Associate Minister at Mt. Pleasant M.B.C., where Normal T. Henderson is the pastor.
 
Barton leaves a wife, three children, and three stepchildren.

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Opportunity Available for Students Displaced by Katrina

High school students currently enrolled in Memphis City Schools who moved here because of Hurricane Katrina may be eligible to participate in a study program next summer.  The WWF Allianz Southeast Climate Witness Program proposes working with young Katrina refugees on equipping youth with knowledge, tools, skills, and networks, and giving these students a unique exposure to science, environmental policy, and the democratic process.  The life of the project will facilitate the journey of the Katrina youth from being victims of climate change, to being young people who understand climate change and what has happened to them from a scientific and political perspective. 

Eligibility Requirements are as follows:

1.    Students must have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, either for a finite period or permanently.
2.    Students must be enrolled in a high school in one of the following states:
3.    Students must be 19 or under
4.    Students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
5.    Students must be nominated by a teacher, and submit high school transcripts.
6.    Students must intend to enter college upon graduation
7.    Students must be able to attend both program summits in Mobile, Alabama and Washington, D.C. (travel provided by the program).

Students will receive training on conducting scientific research and literature.  Students must fulfill their program obligations in their spare time and be prepared to present their results from June 22-July 1 at the Youth Climate Summit in Mobile, Alabama.  Students will tell their stories from Hurricane Katrina and brief Capitol Hill staffers on the results of their research in Washington, D.C. at the Youth Summit from July 7-11.  The students will be awarded with $1,500 and an HP laptop computer to facilitate their research.  Teachers may nominate students that they feel would be excellent candidates for this program by mailing or e-mailing a letter of recommendation to Kate Graves by January 6, 2008.  For more information, please contact Kate Graves at (202)861-8365 or kate.graves@wwfus.org. 

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Free Books Available to Educators for Read Across America Day

The Literacy Empowerment Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, invites your school or other literacy project to apply for free books for Read Across America Day. During the past year, LEF has distributed over 3,000,000 books to schools all across the country for Read Across America Day and other literacy projects.

Books will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Orders must be
received by February 10, 2008.

Free Books for Read Across America Day order form may be found at: http://LEFbooks.org

For more information, contact the Literacy Empowerment Foundation
1311 West Chester Pike
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: 610-719-6448
Web site: http://LEFbooks.org
E-mail: info@LEFbooks.org

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Renew Your Passion for Teaching This Summer at the Tennessee Arts Academy

Teachers from all across Tennessee have summer vacation on their minds, even though Christmas has yet to arrive.  Early Bird registration for the Tennessee Arts Academy, the leading summer arts education training institute in America, is now in full swing and savvy teachers are taking the opportunity to sign up early to guarantee acceptance.

The 2008 Tennessee Arts Academy promises to be one of the best ever. Outstanding week-long sessions in music, art, and theatre for K-12 arts specialists will be taught by a distinguished faculty assembled from across the United States. A special session for administrators is also being offered, along with drama sessions designed for K-6 generalist classroom teachers.

Noted speakers from around the world will address the teachers, including Bob Sylwester, one of this country's leading brain research theorists. Broadway theatre stars Joe and Elizabeth Mahowald, along with a host of other talented artists, will offer performances and workshops throughout the week. An exclusive Academy art exhibition, along with numerous special events, will round out the sessions.

The 2008 Tennessee Arts Academy will be held next summer from July 13-18 on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville.  Complete registration information and sign-up forms are available now on the TAA Web site at tennesseeartsacademy.org. Enrollment is limited to 250 teachers. By signing up now through December 31, teachers are guaranteed a spot for the summer session as long as room lasts. Regular registration begins on January 1 and will run through March 1. Teachers are encouraged to sign up early so as not to be disappointed later. For more information please visit the TAA Web site (www.tennesseeartsacademy.org) or call the Tennessee Arts Academy office at (615) 460-5451.

The Academy is a program of the Tennessee Department of Education and receives additional grant funding from the TN Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Academy Foundation.

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Retirement Meetings Scheduled

The Retirement Office has scheduled a series of meetings to provide an overview of the retirement plan offered through the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement Systems, to explain Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance as it relates to retirement, and to answer questions about applying for retirement and other issues.

Meetings will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Board of Education Auditorium on the following dates:

•    Tuesday, November 20
•    Thursday, December 20
•    Thursday, January 17
•    Thursday, February 21
•    Thursday, March 13
•    Thursday, April 17
•    Thursday, May 15

The meetings are open to all Memphis City Schools employees.  Those interested in attending should send a note including their name, work location, and the session they plan to attend to the Benefits Office – Room 158, BOE, or contact the Benefits Office at 416-5464.

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Literacy to be Topic of December 13 Lecture at Library

Kay Shelton, excecutive director of Mid South Reads, and Dorothy Johnson, program administrator of Imagination Library, will be the speakers at The Second Thursday Community Lecture Series at the Poplar-White Station Branch Library on December 13.

Shelton and Johnson will discuss “Maximizing Reading Opportunities” at the lecture, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the library, located at 5094 Poplar Ave.

Both of the speakers are involved in organizations that promote literacy in the Memphis area. Mid South Reads is the intermediary for literacy organizations in the Mid-South region whose mission is to mobilize resources that empower literacy and learning organizations to reach their goals. Mid South Reads coordinates and provides resources to the Mid South Reads Coalition, comprised of over 70 member agencies.

Mid South Reads supports the coalition by working at the grassroots level with approaches such as exhibits, media, young authors programs, professional development, essay contests, student achievement events, book events, family literacy programs, health/environmental literacy projects, zip code collaboratives, youth-adult tutoring programs, and communitywide reading initiatives.

Mid South Reads has a track record of successes in four areas: connections to appropriate services; awareness of the importance of literacy to economic development and family well-being; and supporting and providing programs, materials, and resources to improve and expand literacy programs.

Shelby County Books from Birth is the local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and a partner of the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation. Imagination Library provides a free, age-appropriate hardcover book each month for children from birth to age five who register for the program.  A blue ribbon committee of childhood education experts selects the books for the Imagination Library, which include such beloved classics as The Little Engine That Could, Spot Goes to the Farm, Snowy Day, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Up to 10 bilingual Imagination Library books, included throughout the birth to age five enrollment period, feature Spanish and English text on the same page.  This program encourages parent-child involvement, increases literacy (for both children and parents), and assists in building an educational foundation that contributes to school readiness.

The December 13 lecture is a free community event open to all who wish to attend. For more information, call the Poplar-White Station Branch Library at 682-1616.

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Laura Bush Foundation Grant Funds Available

Applications are now being accepted for grants being awarded by the Laura Bush Foundation. The goal of the Laura Bush Foundation is to provide print books to the school libraries and students that most need them. The Laura Bush Foundation will award grants in amounts up to $6,000 to school libraries. These funds are to be used to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of those libraries. Only one application per school is allowed. 

•    Deadline for receipt of application is December 31 at 11:59 P.M. EST.
•    The application site closes at December 31 at 11:59 P.M. EST.
•    Questions regarding this application must be received by e-mail no later than  December 14 to ensure a response.

Preference is given to elementary, middle, or high schools in which 90% or more of the school population receives free or reduced-price lunch.  High schools may use verifiable Free/Reduced Lunch Price Data from feeder schools. Schools below 90% FRL will be considered only in the event that there is a lack of acceptable proposals at the higher levels.  

Only online applications will be accepted.  Applications that are faxed, e-mailed or mailed in print form will not be accepted.  Free online access is available at most public libraries in the United States and territories.  Online applications will be received through the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Web site at www.laurabushfoundation.org. It is anticipated that awards will be made during or before May 2008. 

Tips:
•    Be sure to read all the materials available on the Web site, especially the rubric and FAQs.
•    Print the application form.
•    Compose your answers to the questions in a computer program like Microsoft Word.
•    Save your application in Word.
•    Use the counter in Word (look under Tools for Word Count) to count your characters/words.  The online counter may vary, so give yourself some leeway.
•    Carefully proofread your application in Word format.
•    When you are ready to apply online, make sure you have plenty of time.  Don’t wait until the last few hours to apply.
•    Copy and paste your answers into the correct boxes.  Trust the online counter, not the one in Word.  Be prepared to make last-minute edits if needed.

Schools that apply for the Laura Bush grant must submit a Grant Proposal Brief. 
The Grant Proposal Brief and the Laura Bush online application can be accessed at http://www.mcsk12.net/grants.

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“Creating a Green Neighborhood Plan” Essay Contest Open to High School Juniors and Seniors

The American Planning Association holds a contest for high school seniors each year. The winner of the essay contest, on the theme “Creating a Green Neighborhood Plan,” will receive a $5000 scholarship. The winner will also receive a complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend one of APA's National Planning Conferences during the five-year period after he or she first matriculates at a college or university.

Ten additional students will receive honorable mention awards consisting of a $100 gift certificate to APA's PlanningBooks.com. The winners of the 2007-08 High School Essay Contest will be announced March 15, 2008. 

This year's theme, "Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods: Greening Streets and Neighborhoods," is taken from National Community Planning Month.

The essay assignment is Creating a Green Neighborhood Plan. Through National Community Planning Month and the essay contest, APA is promoting awareness of all the elements that go into making a great neighborhood. To learn more about this issue and APA's programs, visit www.planning.org/ncpm.  Details about the essay contest can be found at http://www.planning.org/institutions/hsessay.htm

Entries must be between 1,200 and 1,500 words. Submissions are due online by January 15, 2008.

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Announcing 10% off Auto Insurance

Farmers Insurance is pleased to announce its affinity discount for qualifying members of the Tennessee Education Association.  New auto policies written with coverage effective November 1 and after will receive a special 10% discount for eligible educators with acceptable documentation.

Group: Educators
Eligibility guidelines:  

• Persons currently credentialed as  K-12 teachers, principals, or superintendents
• Full-time college or university professors or instructors
• Current members of the Tennessee Education Association

Acceptable documentation:
A current teaching credential issued by the Tennessee Commission on Teacher Credentialing or Verification from a school or college of full-time employment as a principal, superintendent, professor, or instructor and Proof of current membership with The Tennessee Education Association

NOTES:

• No administrative, service, rehabilitative, substitute, emergency, internship, or permit credentials
• Letters of employment are not acceptable documentation for K-12 teachers
• Administrators do not qualify. Retired educators are not eligible.

Advance purchase discounts up to 10% are also available for those who purchase new policies seven days in advance of the policy's effective date, like right now.  Put the two together...20%.  Pay-in-Full discount...10% more... Multi-car discount...up to 20% more, and that's not all.
To get a personal and confidential quote, inquire about the Tennessee teacher’s discount and other discounts that may be available to you, call Farmer’s Agent Tom Taylor at 262-8624 or send an email to ttaylor5@farmersagent.com

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Malco Offers Special Packages for Educational Films
Memphis City Schools teachers are invited to bring classroom lessons to life through field trips to a local Malco Theatre.  Flexible schedules and concession packages are available.

Upcoming films which could be of interest to students include:

• Beowulf, which opened November 16
• Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, which opened November 16
• Enchanted, November 21
• The Golden Compass, December 7
• Alvin & The Chipmunks, December 14
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets, December 21
• The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, December 25

(All release dates are subject to change).

Slated for 2008 are:

• Veggie Tales
• Horton Hears a Who
• The Spiderwick Chronicles
• Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
• Inkheart

For more information, contact Karen Scott at 761-3480, extension 117, or send an email to Karen@malco.com

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Half-Price Pizzas for MCS Employees!

Domino’s Pizza is pleased to offer Memphis City Schools employees 50% off all regular priced pizza and bread products! This offer is not valid with any other specials or discounts.  Offer is valid only on pizza and bread products at participating locations and excludes drinks and chicken products.  Delivery charges may apply. When ordering, just ask for the MCS discount code: SCHOOL  Employee must show MCS ID  for pick-up or delivery.

• Olive Branch - 895-3005                  
• Hernando - 449-3468                   
• Winchester -  624-5114
• Cordova - 754-0303
• Collierville - 853-5030                     
• Millington - 873-3030                  
• Atoka  - 837-3663
• Lakeland - 266-0105
• Oakland - 466-1599                           
• Arlington - 867-0032              
• Mt.Moriah - 396-0303
• Yale Rd - 373-6391
• Summer - 324-3030                       
• Airways - 344-9999                   
• Union - 527-3030
• Germantown - 756-6800
• Highland - 323-3030     
• Bartlett - 372-3030

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“Mmm…Mmm. Mmm... Toasty” Discount for MCS Employees
MCS employees who visit the Quiznos restaurant on Union Avenue can now take a bite out of their meal bills by showing their MCS badge IDs.  Discounts are as follows:

 In-store Discount Policy: Free Medium Fountain Drink with any Purchase
(Not Available with coupons or promotional discount ads or cards.)

Catering Discount Policy (tax exempt): 
10% discount on all purchases over $50.00

Children's Museum Of Memphis Discount Policy:
The store operates the Quiznos Quiz Kidz Cafe in the CMOM.

Contact for ordering:
Glenda Conner, manager/partner

• 901- 722-9071 store
• 901-722-9075 store fax
• 901-550-8055 cell

These discounts are only available at the Quiznos store, 2105 Union Avenue.

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MCS Employees Offered Discount at Body Mechanix
Memphis City Schools employees can receive a special discount at Body Mechanix, located at 3486 Poplar, Suite 301.  The discount is as follows: any MCS employee with an appointment before 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday will receive a 10% discount on any service.  At all other times, Memphis City School employees will receive a 5% discount on services. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts. Memphis City Schools employees must show their ID badge at time of service. Body Mechanix provides a variety of therapeutic massage services.  For more information, call 323-1220.

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Local Restaurants Give Children a Great Deal

Parents and grandparents who want to treat the children to a meal in Memphis can find a number of restaurants that offer free or low-cost meals to children. Below is a handy list of many of those special deals:

• Chick-Fil-A: Tuesdays 6-8 p.m. are "Kids Night". Not all the locations participate in this, but many do, like the Chick-Fil-A  at 1230 S. Germantown Parkway. Check with your local Chick-Fil-A to see if it participates.
• Tellini's: On Sundays, kids ages 10 and under eat for $1.00 with each adult meal purchased. Limit: 4 children.
• Lone Star Steakhouse:  On Tuesdays from 4 -10 p.m., two children per adult meal purchased may eat for free.
• D'Bo's Hot Wings: On Wednesdays, one child may eat free with each adult meal purchased.
• Captain D's Seafood: On Thursdays,  adult patrons who purchase an adult meal can feed two children for 99 cents each.
• Piccadilly Cafeteria: On Thursdays, two children can eat for 99 cents if one adult meal is purchased.
• McAlister's Deli: On Tuesdays between 3 and 10 p.m., kids eat for free (dine-in only) at the following locations:
• Bartlett,  6600 Stage Road
• Collierville, 336 Market Boulevard
• Cordova, 7790 Trinity Road
• Germantown, 7710 Poplar Avenue
• Back Yard Burger: On Tuesdays and Thursdays after 4 p.m.,  one child may receive a free meal with each adult meal purchased.
• Pizza Hut: On Tuesdays after 5 p.m., one child per adult meal purchased may eat for free.
• Golden Corral: On Tuesdays , Kids Eat Free.
• Abner's: This Cordova restaurant  offers one free kid meal per adult meal purchased.
• Pig N Whistle: Two kids may eat free on Mondays with each adult meal purchased.
• IHOP: Kids eat free on Wednesdays (one child per adult meal purchased) at the following locations:
• 1661 Sycamore View
• 2060 Union Avenue
• 4725 Showcase Boulevard
• 3710 Riverdale Road
• 1277 E Shelby Drive
• 321 Goodman Rd, Southaven (Tuesday and Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.) 
• Roadhouse Grill:  On Goodman Road and at 6433 Winchester, children 12 and under may eat free on Tuesdays.
• Perkins:  Kids eat free on Tuesdays at the following locations:
• 1571 Sycamore View
• 8472 Highway 51 North in Millington
• 960 W. Poplar Avenue in Collierville
• Texas Roadhouse: Located at 2810 New Brunswick Road, this restaurant provides free meals for children every Saturday  and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• El Nopal Restaurant: Located at Houston Levee and Highway 64, kids may eat free here every Monday night (two children per adult meal).
• Danvers: Kids ages 12 and under eat free on Tuesdays after 4 p.m. (one child for each $5 spent on an adult meal) at two locations: 1831 Kirby Parkway  and Germantown Parkway.
• Moe's Southwest Grill: Located at 6300 Poplar Avenue, Suite 108, kids may eat for 99 cents on weekends from 4 -9:30 p.m. with the purchase of one adult entree per kid entree. Valid only at the Poplar and Massey location.
• Millington Pig: This restaurant,  located on Highway 51 in Millington, offers a Kids Eat Free night on Mondays.
• Ci Ci's Pizza: It's not free, but it's a great deal. On Mondays, get a large, one topping pizza for $3.99
• Stevie B's Pizza: Located on Stage Road next to Schnucks, kids eat for $.99 on Wednesdays. Kids ages three and under eat free.
• Barnhills: Located on Stage Road in Bartlett, kids up to age 12 eat free on Tuesdays.
• Fazoli's: On Tuesdays, children may eat for 99 cents.

Please call ahead and make sure that these offers are available at your local restaurant.
Some locations do not offer the same deals that others do, and sometimes the offer changes.

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ArtsMemphis Program Offers Free Performances to Students

Exposure to the arts and cultural events is an acknowledged means of helping children learn and to broaden their perceptions of the world. The Student Ticket Subsidy Program, funded by the Tennessee General Assembly and administered in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission,  provides funds to public school students to enable them to attend arts and cultural events for free, or at a greatly reduced rate.

This year, 150 schools in West Tennessee applied for grants and ArtsMemphis will distribute more than $159,000 in grant funds. Shelby County receives the largest allocation of these funds, with 95 Memphis City Schools being awarded funds through the Student Ticket Subsidy Program, totaling over $110,000.

However, it should be pointed out that school requests totaled over $220,000. The maximum amount one school can receive is $3,000. Every school which submitted an application by the grant deadline day was able to receive a grant, even though it may not have been for the entire amount requested. One of the top criteria for deciding on the amount of funds each school received is the number of students on reduced or free lunches. Tickets being awarded this school year include performances by dance phenomenon Savion Glover, Theatre Memphis’s ShoWagon, and the Pissarro Impressionist exhibit at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

ArtsMemphis applauds the vision of the West Tennessee state legislators who continue to support the arts by funding the Tennessee Arts Commission and this extremely valuable and progressive program. Applications for the 2008-09 school year will be available in the summer of 2008. Keep an eye on www.ArtsMemphis.org for more details and information.