Alexis Bishop

In 2021, Tennessee surpassed 1,000 sepsis-related deaths, the highest in the state's history. Medical experts say chronic health conditions are contributing to the problem.

The federal education funding working group had its first series of meetings this week to look into the potential consequences of rejecting more than $1 billion in federal education funds. Many experts and educators stressed the likely impacts on lower-income and rural districts. The U.S. Department of Education refused to testify.

As Tennessee prepares to debate whether to accept $1.8 billion in federal education funds, policy experts agree that low-income students and those with disabilities have the most to lose.