Nashville, Tennessee--°F

MyFirefly Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram

Shining a light on education & government in Tennessee

Latest NewsEducation coverage across Tennessee The WireShort, timestamped updates Live CoverageElection nights and session days BeatsFollowable topic streams On The Fly PodcastConversations from the newsroom The Signal NewsletterWeekly briefing on TN education + government Education CalendarKey dates and deadlines

Find Your SchoolLook up your district by ZIP code School GradesA-F state report cards Test Scores & DataACT, graduation and college-going rates School BoardsTrack your district's board Closings & DelaysReal-time school status Summer CampsDay, overnight, sports, arts · every TN county School Choice GuidePublic, charter, magnet and more

School FundingHow TISA funds Tennessee schools Capitol LiveLegislative session coverage Education BillsTrack bills moving through the legislature LegislatorsWho represents your district DocumentsSource-document library

Race OverviewThe 2026 governor's race CandidatesWho's running Education StancesWhere they stand on schools Campaign FinanceFollow the money PollsLatest polling Race NewsLatest campaign coverage

All Regions Nashville Memphis Knoxville Chattanooga Tri-Cities Clarksville Jackson Murfreesboro

About UsOur mission and team ContactGet in touch Pitch BoardSuggest a story we should cover Press KitLogos and media resources Ethics & StandardsHow we report CorrectionsOur corrections policy and log DevelopersOpen-data API

Tennessee education news, simplified · Subscribe to The Signal →

Shining a light on education & government in Tennessee

Independent journalism focused on Tennessee education policy, news, and the stories that matter to students, parents, and educators across all 95 counties.

3 free newsletters · Tennessee Firefly

Tennessee education, three ways.

Tuesday briefing. Thursday deep-dive. Friday mixtape. All three free.

The Signal·The Beam·Friday Flicker

Website

Name

Email

ZIP

Free, always. One-click preference center in every email. Keep all three, or trim to the cadence that fits.

News

Latest News
The Wire
Live Coverage
Beats
On The Fly Podcast
The Signal Newsletter
Education Calendar

For Families

Find Your School
School Grades
Test Scores & Data
School Boards
Closings & Delays
Summer Camps
School Choice Guide

Money & Policy

School Funding
Capitol Live
Education Bills
Legislators
Documents

2026 Election

Race Overview
Candidates
Education Stances
Campaign Finance
Polls
Race News

Regions

All Regions
Nashville
Memphis
Knoxville
Chattanooga
Tri-Cities
Clarksville
Jackson
Murfreesboro

About

About Us
Contact
Pitch Board
Press Kit
Ethics & Standards
Corrections
Developers

© 2026 The Tennessee Firefly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Standards RSS

Made with ❤️ in Tennessee

Built by Long Drive Marketing

Tennessee NewsLive Updates

Education & Government News

Independent journalism covering Tennessee schools, policy, and the stories that matter.

All NewsTopicsHigher Education Commentary Communities Data and Polling Elections Local Education Local Government Local News National Education News State Education State Government UncategorizedRegionsChattanooga Clarksville East Tennessee Knoxville Memphis Middle Tennessee Nashville Rutherford County West Tennessee

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Partners with tnAchieves to Better Support Students

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Partners with tnAchieves to Better Support Students

The partnership aims to increase the college-going rate in more than 15 schools.

Zoe Kuhn·Jul 24, 2026·2 min read

Changes Designed to Support ‘Good-Paying, In-Demand’ Careers Approved

Changes Designed to Support ‘Good-Paying, In-Demand’ Careers Approved

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission passed an important update on Thursday for how colleges and universities are funded.

Jul 24, 2026·2 min

Why Are Teacher Union Bosses Backing John Louallen in Tennessee House Race?

Why Are Teacher Union Bosses Backing John Louallen in Tennessee House Race?

Louallen’s Education Freedom Scholarship opposition and TEA endorsement have become key issues in the House District 78 Republican primary.

Jul 24, 2026·2 min

Marsha Blackburn Proposes Expanding State Law With “Bell-to-Bell” Cell Phone Ban

Marsha Blackburn Proposes Expanding State Law With “Bell-to-Bell” Cell Phone Ban

Though some criticized the proposal as duplicative of 2025 legislation, the ban addresses an important nuance in the law.

Jul 23, 2026·2 min

The Tennessee Firefly newsletter family

Tennessee education, three ways.

The Signal·The Beam·Friday Flicker

Tuesday briefing. Thursday deep-dive. Friday mixtape. Free, always.

Website

Name

Email

ZIP

Free, always. One-click preference center in every email.

More Coverage

Chatt Prep Narrowly Denied Expansion Despite Large Academic Improvements

Chatt Prep Narrowly Denied Expansion Despite Large Academic Improvements

Jacob Holley·Jul 20, 2026

West Tennessee Candidates Offer Different Solutions to Improve Education

West Tennessee Candidates Offer Different Solutions to Improve Education

Sky Arnold·Jul 20, 2026

Tennessee Considers Alternative Certification Options for Teachers Who Fail the Praxis

Tennessee Considers Alternative Certification Options for Teachers Who Fail the Praxis

Jacob Holley·Jul 17, 2026

School Choice Divides Candidates in East Tennessee GOP Primary

School Choice Divides Candidates in East Tennessee GOP Primary

Sky Arnold·Jul 17, 2026

Bo McCawley Sides with Democrats on Key Education Issue in GOP Primary

Bo McCawley Sides with Democrats on Key Education Issue in GOP Primary

McCawley faces school choice supporter Andy Swafford in East Tennessee’s House District 31 primary.

Sky Arnold

Jul 22, 2026·2 min

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Recommends Approval for Two Public Charter Schools

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Recommends Approval for Two Public Charter Schools

School board members are scheduled to vote on Urban Dove I and II next week.

Jul 22, 2026·2 min

Kevin Dyson’s Music City Academy Takes on a Titan of a Task

Kevin Dyson’s Music City Academy Takes on a Titan of a Task

The proposed public charter school faces approval next week in a school district that hasn’t approved one since 2021.

Jul 22, 2026·2 min

Lee Reeves Faces GOP Challenger Who Takes Union Position on Education

Lee Reeves Faces GOP Challenger Who Takes Union Position on Education

House District 65 challenger Michelle Foreman sides with the TEA on the Education Freedom Scholarship program.

Jul 21, 2026·2 min

Proposed Higher Education Funding Change Would Incorporate Trump’s New Grant Program

Proposed Higher Education Funding Change Would Incorporate Trump’s New Grant Program

The Workforce Pell Grant is intended to match prospective workers with short-term training for high-demand jobs.

Jul 21, 2026·2 min

Trending Now

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Partners with tnAchieves to Better Support Students

Changes Designed to Support ‘Good-Paying, In-Demand’ Careers Approved

Why Are Teacher Union Bosses Backing John Louallen in Tennessee House Race?

Marsha Blackburn Proposes Expanding State Law With “Bell-to-Bell” Cell Phone Ban

Bo McCawley Sides with Democrats on Key Education Issue in GOP Primary

Regions

Chattanooga Clarksville East Tennessee Knoxville Memphis Middle Tennessee Nashville Rutherford County West Tennessee

The Tennessee Firefly newsletter family

Three newsletters. One Tennessee arc.

Tuesday's week-ahead briefing. Thursday's focused deep-dive. Friday's weekend mixtape.

The Signal·The Beam·Friday Flicker

Website

Name

Email

ZIP

Free, always. One-click preference center in every email. Keep all three, or trim to the cadence that fits.

Manchester Elementary Teacher Shocked to Receive Milken Educator Award

Manchester Elementary Teacher Shocked to Receive Milken Educator Award

Zoe Kuhn·Jul 16, 2026

Sumner County GOP Primary Pits Different Views on School Choice

Sumner County GOP Primary Pits Different Views on School Choice

Sky Arnold·Jul 16, 2026

Experts Say Employers Seek More from College Students Than Previous Years

Experts Say Employers Seek More from College Students Than Previous Years

Zoe Kuhn·Jul 15, 2026

The Gate School Would Bring Discussion-Based Harkness Method to West Nashville

The Gate School Would Bring Discussion-Based Harkness Method to West Nashville

Jacob Holley·Jul 15, 2026

Tennessee Department of Education Dashboard Details District Academic Gains

Tennessee Department of Education Dashboard Details District Academic Gains

Jacob Holley·Jul 15, 2026

Marsha Blackburn greeting supporters in Clarksville (Photo by Blackburn)

Blackburn Campaign: ‘Tennessee is Not for Sale’

Sky Arnold·Jul 14, 2026

Student Board Members Ready to Lead with Advocacy

Student Board Members Ready to Lead with Advocacy

Zoe Kuhn·Jul 14, 2026

Congressman Rose Loans Campaign Millions to Compete with Senator Blackburn

Congressman Rose Loans Campaign Millions to Compete with Senator Blackburn

Sky Arnold·Jul 13, 2026

Knox County Schools Avoids Teacher Layoffs After Unexpected Budget Cuts

Knox County Schools Avoids Teacher Layoffs After Unexpected Budget Cuts

Jacob Holley·Jul 13, 2026

Trimble Academy Supporters Say Their Application Wasn’t Given a Fair Review

Trimble Academy Supporters Say Their Application Wasn’t Given a Fair Review

Sky Arnold·Jul 10, 2026

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Audit Reveals Millions of Dollars in Mismanagement

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Audit Reveals Millions of Dollars in Mismanagement

Jacob Holley·Jul 9, 2026

Research Finds Economically Disadvantaged Student Proficiency Gap Not Closing

Research Finds Economically Disadvantaged Student Proficiency Gap Not Closing

Jacob Holley·Jul 8, 2026

Keep Reading

There's More to Discover

Dive deeper into Tennessee education news and policy

The Wire Capitol Live The Podcast Beats