NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A bill to provide funding for Genesis Teen Learning Centers in Montgomery and Rutherford counties has been approved.
“Senator Ketron, Speaker Pro Tem Johnson and I have been trying to stabilize funding for the Genesis Teen Learning Centers in Rutherford and Montgomery Counties for several years,” Rep. Joe Pitts said.
Pitts said there are two other facilities that are similar to Genesis and are located in Carroll County and Tipton County. These learning centers, or Category 1 schools, provide education services to students who have been dismissed from public schools and alternative schools.
“This is often their last chance to obtain a diploma and stay out of state custody,” Pitts said.
Ninety percent of students that attend the Genesis Learning Centers remain out of state custody and 90 percent of all discharges from the programs remain out of juvenile court.
These learning centers do not receive Basic Education Program dollars (BEP). If this bill passes, BEP funding will flow into these learning centers. This legislation was passed on the Senate and House Floor and is headed to the Governor.