Low census participation may cost Memphis power in government – and school funding
Ellen Harvey takes the shape of a weeping willow tree for an assignment at Downtown Elementary School in Memphis. The 6-year-old, who started first-grade class on Monday, Aug. 31, has already been counted in the 2020 Census. (Courtesy of Jessie Harvey)
Marta W. Aldrich
Marta W. Aldrich is the senior statehouse correspondent at Chalkbeat Tennessee. A newswoman for The Associated Press for most of her career, Marta has covered state government, politics, business, education and other Tennessee news. She has served as news editor of United Methodist News Service and features editor of American Profile magazine. Marta is a graduate of Memphis City Schools and the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Shelby County Schools, for instance, is budgeted this academic year to receive $308 million in federal funds, more than a fifth of the district’s revenues.
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Shelby County in danger of dropping House seat after Census
One of Shelby County’s 14 state House seats could disappear because of a dwindling population and low participation in the 2020 Census, putting Democrats in jeopardy of losing ground.
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