Senate Committee advances expansion of original Education Savings Account program, despite passage of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Senator Todd Gardenhire’s, R-Chattanooga, legislation would expand the Education Savings Account (ESA) pilot program implemented in 2022 to include students in Montgomery, Knox, and Rutherford Counties.
Rutherford County Schools Director vows to protect the “community feel” by building smaller schools
Rutherford County is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and school officials there are weighing how to handle an influx of students while trying to maintain a community feel.
Williamson County School Board to vote on further library restrictions, changes about who can make book complaints
Under the proposed change for the Tennessee school district, librarians would be required to develop a “Mature Materials List” identifying materials within the library collection that have mature content.
Rutherford County School Board moves to pull more titles from library shelves
School board members voted to remove “Assassination Classroom” volumes 1 through 8 and 11by Yusei Matsui, “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller, “Perfect Chemistry” by Simone Elkeles, “Water for Elephants” by Sarah Gruen, and “Yolk” by Mary H.K. Choi from school libraries.
Senate Education Committee advances bill to prohibit cell phone use in classrooms
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, requires local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using any wireless communication devices during instructional time, with some exceptions.
Applications filed in 5 counties to open 11 new public charter schools
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.
Rutherford County School Board approves resolution to remove diversity goals in hiring and then changes its mind
Members of the Rutherford County School Board took an unusual path to deny Board Member Caleb Tidwell’s resolution opposing educator diversity goals during hiring, by first approving it and then voting it down.
Rutherford County Schools Board of Education passes resolution urging ‘closure of the nation’s borders’
The Rutherford County Schools (RCS) Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday urging state leaders to “expedite the closure of the nation’s borders” as the county’s English learner population continues to grow.
Sumner County Schools’ Frankie Skinner Named National Finalist for Leadership Excellence
The Sumner County Board of Education gave its special recognition Tuesday to Sumner County Schools Director of Instruction Frankie Skinner after she was recently named a national finalist for the District Administration Leadership Institute Woman of Distinction Award.
Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools leaders take ‘neutral stance’ on school vouchers
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) Board of Education voted Tuesday to take a “neutral stance” on Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed school voucher program that would allow more families across the state to use public funds for private school enrollment.
Williamson County Schools Superintendent says more tax dollars needed for teacher and staff raises
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden told district leaders and community members at Tuesday’s school board meeting that the district is currently working to finalize its proposed budget for its upcoming budget process.
Williamson County Schools leaders recommend open zoning for most schools in 2025-26 school year
Williamson County Schools (WCS) leaders recently recommended allowing over 40 of the district’s 50 schools to have open zoning next school year.
Senator Dawn White named new Senate Education Committee Chair
Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, named former teacher, Senator Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, as chair the Senate Education Committee that’s expected to play a big role in the legislative session and upcoming special session.
Rutherford County school board votes to remove and restrict several more titles from school libraries
The book ban debate continued to rage at Thursday’s Rutherford County Schools Board of Education meeting, when school board members ultimately voted to remove several more books from school library shelves.
Representative Mike Sparks floats proposal to reduce minimum age of school bus drivers
Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, has proposed reducing the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 21 to help school districts find more qualified bus drivers to cover routes.
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System works to increase instructional effectiveness through teacher residency pathways
CMCSS Director of Opportunity Culture Lisa Baker provided an overview of teacher residency programming within the district at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.
Rutherford County Schools approves school rezoning
The Rutherford County Schools Board of Education approved new zoning rules for high schools in the county at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
Williamson County Schools bans three more books, restricts two others
The Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday to ban three books and restrict access to two others at Monday’s school board meeting, following months of debate between parents and educators about K-12 book bans throughout the state.
Rutherford County residents speak out against banning books like ‘A Clockwork Orange’
Several local residents spoke to Rutherford County Schools (RCS) Board of Education members Thursday to continue voicing opposition to recent book bans within the Middle Tennessee school district, after district librarians received an email instructing them to pull 150 “sexually explicit” books from school library shelves.
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.