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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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News, Local Education, Memphis Brandon Paykamian News, Local Education, Memphis Brandon Paykamian

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.

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News, Local Education, Memphis, State Education Brandon Paykamian News, Local Education, Memphis, State Education Brandon Paykamian

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.

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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.

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News, Local Education, Memphis Brandon Paykamian News, Local Education, Memphis Brandon Paykamian

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.

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