Dr. Joris Ray is urging Tennessee lawmakers to not defund schools. Shelby County Schools adds free fall break learning academy for students - 6AM Author: Local 24 Staff (Local 24) Published: 7:06 AM CST January 22, 2021 Updated: 7:15 AM CST January 22, 2021 MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers continue to meet in a special session in Nashville regarding education and the pandemic, with a specific focus on schools needing to be in-person. The proposed bill would give students 70 days of in-person instruction. This is one of Gov. Lee’s more urgent calls for in-person learning, but a Shelby County Schools teacher told Local 24 News that it is "simply out of touch."