NASHVILLE NEWS

The Governor Bill Lee backed legislation would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the charter commission if they want to open a school in a district that has had three charter denials overturned in three straight years.

Legislation presented by Representative Debra Moody, R-Covington, Tuesday would sunset the state ASD, replacing it with a progressive, three-tiered intervention system that would give more control to school districts.

Senator Adam Lowe’s legislation would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission if they want to open a school in a district that has had three charter denials overturned in three years.

District leaders unveiled the Raider Bites truck during a ceremony on campus Wednesday, equipped with a commercial-grade kitchen to provide career and technical education (CTE) students with skills in technical, financial, and entrepreneurial fields.

Governor Lee’ is legislation would allow public charter school applicants the ability to apply directly to a state commission in communities with a history of denying charter schools that were later overturned.

All student groups met winter growth targets for math and are on track to meet upcoming growth targets for both math and English language arts according to an update school board members received Tuesday night on the winter 2024 assessments.

Novus SMART Academy is among the 11 new start charter applications that met this month’s filing deadline in five school districts across the state.

The Tennessee State Board of Education released evaluations this month for how well three local education agencies are overseeing public charter schools. Five overturned decisions contributed to Metro Nashville Public Schools earning just a “satisfactory” score.

Myles granted LEAD Public Schools’ request to temporarily halt a controversial school rezoning plan approved by the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education last November that would have diverted children from attending LEAD Cameron as they have been without applying first.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, members of the Metro Nashville Public School Board of Education approved an effort to install concealed weapons detection systems in all 18 high schools in the district.

The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education is planning to vote on a proposal Tuesday night that would expand the pilot program approved last week for Antioch High to all district high schools.

According to a news release, the proposal would amend the district’s existing contract with its security vendor to lease and install Evolv systems that integrate into the district’s security system.

Alison and Tremayne Haymer say their seventh-grade son Caleb has truly thrived during his time at LEAD Cameron Middle School and they’re upset with a decision that could divert other students away from attending the school.

In the days following last week’s shooting at Antioch High School, Director Dr. Adrienne Battle faced questions why the school didn’t utilize metal detectors. 

This week she made the decision to do just that, launching a pilot program utilizing the Evolv Concealed Weapon Detection System.

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted Friday to renew the ten-year charter agreements for LEAD Neely’s Bend, Libertas School of Memphis, and Cornerstone Prep Denver.

The Metro Nashville Police Department says a student at Antioch High School in the southeast portion of Davidson County, opened fire in the school cafeteria just after 11 AM, killing one female student and injuring another.

Families in Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools will soon be able to apply to a charter school or select a school outside their neighborhood or zone through the application process.

LEAD Public Schools filed a motion Tuesday asking Davidson County Chancellor I'Ashea Myles to grant a temporary injunction on a recently approved Metro Nashville Public Schools rezoning plan.

The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education voted Tuesday to renew the ten-year charter agreements for Valor Voyager Academy, Rocketship United Academy, STEM Prep High School, Explore! Community School, STRIVE Collegiate Academy, and KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary.

The Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) is looking to prepare more educators to lead school districts across the state as Tennessee faces a shortage of superintendent candidates.

Firefly staff compared each MNPS charter school’s performance on the State Report Card to traditional and magnet schools serving the same age students in the same school cluster and 44 percent of those charters outperformed every comparable district run school in at least a majority of subjects.

Eric Dailey has been named the new executive director of Rocketship Public Schools in Tennessee, according to a Monday announcement from the charter operator.  

On Monday LEAD Public Schools filed a lawsuit challenging a rezoning plan for LEAD Cameron as a violation of its charter with the district.  LEAD is asking a Davidson County Chancellor to stop the rezoning from going into effect and potentially force the Tennessee school district to pay financial damages.

Vanderbilt University will use $10 million to “advance Vanderbilt Law School’s leadership in the study of how law, regulation and policy impact equality, equity and opportunity for women,” according to an announcement last week.  

Metro Nashville Public Schools reached several milestones in terms of academic growth and performance in the 2023-24 school year, according to recent data from the district.

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission has approved changes to a charter agreement with Empower Memphis Career and College Prep Charter Schools that would allow the operator to open a new school in a different location next school year.  

Five Tennessee school districts across the state received letters of intent for 17 proposed new public charter schools by last week’s deadline. Letters of intent are the first official step in next year’s new start charter application process.

Vanderbilt University’s Dare to Grow campaign to expand student programming has surpassed its $3.2 billion fundraising goal 20 months ahead of its target date in June 2026, a recent announcement said.

National education news organization the 74 found Tennessee’s largest school districts are achieving math proficiency at lower rates than expected based on poverty.

Tanaka Vercher filed the suit in Davidson County Chancery Court on Monday claiming TSU leaders fired her the day after she refused to provide incorrect information to the federal government to speed up disbursement of financial aid to the cash strapped university.