Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Tennessee’s public charter schools celebrate improved School Letter Grades
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education’s 2023-24 State Report Card shows that 290 schools have received an A for overall performance, on the second annual School Letter Grades.
Memphis-Shelby County school board delays vote to terminate Superintendent Feagins’ contract
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education voted 5-4 on Tuesday to postpone a vote on whether to terminate Superintendent Marie Feagins’ contract.
Memphis Shelby County Schools leaders consider terminating Superintendent Feagins’ contract
Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) could be without a leader once again after tonight’s special called Board of Education meeting.
Charter School Commission approves new location for Empower Memphis and an additional opening grade for Invictus Nashville Charter School
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.
Tennessee could see as many as 17 new public charter schools next 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.
New analysis finds Tennessee’s largest school districts underperforming math expectations
National education news organization the 74 found Tennessee’s largest school districts are achieving math proficiency at lower rates than expected based on poverty.
Tennessee recognizes 377 Reward Schools. Schools of choice led the way in the state’s two largest school districts
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the 377 schools across the state that have received the designation as Reward Schools for the 2023/2024 school year.
Public charter schools led the way in the state’s largest school district, accounting for nearly a third of Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ 34 Reward Schools.
Memphis-Shelby County school board expresses frustration with city leaders’ opposition to East Region High School proposals
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members expressed frustration with Memphis city leaders’ recent decision to block a special use permit to construct the new East Region High School at Tuesday’s work session meeting.
Thirteen public charter schools to make their case to stay open
In the coming weeks, leaders of more than a dozen public charter schools will make the case for why their school’s charter should be renewed for another ten-year term. Charter schools are free public schools operated by an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.
This year, five authorizing agencies including school board members with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Hamilton County Schools, Knox County Schools, along with members of the state-run Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will make those decisions for thirteen charter schools.
Status quo wins in every closely watched House race
Going into Tuesday night’s general election, Tennessee Democrats had high hopes of whittling into the Republican supermajority by winning a handful of House seats that are currently held by Republicans. On the flipside, GOP leaders targeted growing their supermajority by flipping three Middle Tennessee seats currently held by Democrats.
Neither came to fruition, but one came close.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent to be evaluated on reducing absenteeism and the number of students off-track
After several tense discussions and debate in recent weeks about how to evaluate Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ tenure, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education managed to come to an agreement on evaluation metrics. Learn more about the criteria.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Feagins braces for upcoming evaluation
The mood was tense during Tuesday’s Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education meeting following weeks of debate about how the district should approach evaluating Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ tenure.
State Charter Commission reverses Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ decision to take over Wooddale Middle School
The charter school operator IOTA Community Schools will continue to run Wooddale Middle School after the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) voted Thursday to reverse a decision by Memphis-Shelby County Schools leaders to deny their application.
Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education disagrees with Superintendent Feagins about how she should be evaluated
The West Tennessee school district resumed discussions about how to evaluate Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ tenure at Tuesday’s board meeting, with much of the focus being on Feagins’ relationship with district employees.
Wooddale Middle School leaders highlight hands-on programming at charter appeal hearing
Wooddale Middle School leaders are taking their appeal to state leaders after Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members recently voted to deny Wooddale’s amended application to transfer into the district from the state-run Achievement School District.
Memphis School of Excellence leaders make the case to replicate the public charter school’s STEM school model in Nashville
Despite much opposition from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) leaders, the charter school sponsor Read Foundation is still pushing for the establishment of a new charter school in the district similar to the foundation’s Memphis School of Excellence.
Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools employee says he was fired in retaliation for criticizing district personnel changes
Former MSCS HR staff member Jarvis Cook told district leaders at Tuesday’s school board meeting that he believes he was terminated after speaking out against district job cuts at another meeting in June.
Learn more about what Cook had to say about his dismissal.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent says several arrests made over school threats, including Nashville teen
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins addressed families’ concerns relating to school safety and communications on Thursday, after threats against schools on social media led to a district-wide lockdown on Wednesday.
Law enforcement continues investigating threats against Memphis-Shelby County Schools after Wednesday lockdown
Several schools in Memphis and Shelby County were placed on lockdown Wednesday due to threats of mass violence, according to Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) leaders.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board poised to approve new agreement for students to earn college credits
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education is poised to approve a dual enrollment agreement for the 2024-25 school year with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.