Potential compromise reached to study Tennessee’s testing and accountability system, instead of weakening it
Senator Lowe’s legislation would create a ten-member advisory committee appointed by state leaders to study the state’s testing and accountability systems.
Legislation allowing state intervention into Memphis-Shelby County Schools advances following debate by two Memphis lawmakers
Under the bill, the education commissioner would be able to recommend the removal of the director of schools and some or all school board members.
Bi-partisan opposition fails to stop legislation that would let school districts charge undocumented students tuition
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 Plyler vs. Doe decision prohibits public schools from refusing to admit undocumented students and the legislation is envisioned by supporters as an opportunity to challenge that decision.
Memphis Shelby County School Board pushes back against proposed state intervention
During a school board meeting Tuesday night, the MSCS board voted unanimously to support a resolution opposing state intervention and calling on other elected officials to oppose it as well.
House Education Committee advances bill allowing merit-based pay for public school teachers
The bill, brought by Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, would allow local school boards to introduce a merit-based pay structure to award additional compensation to high-performing educators.
Republican Senators unanimously support legislation to ensure the approval process for public charter schools is fair
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.
Experts say nondegree credentials could help address Tennessee’s workforce shortage
Nondegree credentials focus on specific competencies and include diplomas, certificates, and industry credentials other than a traditional postsecondary degree.
Prominent Tennessee Republicans support federal Department of Education dismantling, but local impacts remain unclear
The department’s workforce has already been slashed by nearly half, but President Trump says this move will return power over education decisions to the states.
Congressman John Rose launches gubernatorial campaign with a promise to appoint an education commissioner with Tennessee teaching experience
The 6th district congressman made a commitment to appoint a commissioner for the Department of Education that has experience in a Tennessee classrom
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.
House subcommittee advances legislation that would reduce high school testing
Representative Cochran’s legislation removes every end of course assessment high school students take but science and instead requires students to take a postsecondary readiness assessment like the ACT in math and English language arts each year in grades 9-11.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board puts division over superintendent aside to oppose state intervention
School board members unanimously supported a resolution Tuesday night opposing state intervention in the Tennessee school district and calling on elected officials elsewhere to join them.
State Representative Mark White narrows state intervention bill to only impact Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Representative White’s amended legislation would empower the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the governor, speaker of the house, and lieutenant governor to jointly create a board of managers for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. This board would essentially supersede the district’s existing school board and director of schools.
House subcommittee advances plan to eliminate the Achievement School District and create a new model for struggling schools
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.
Proposed legislation could relegate the Memphis-Shelby County School Board and others to an “advisory capacity”
The legislation, referred to as the Tennessee Public School Accountability Act, would allow the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the governor, speaker of the house, and lieutenant governor to create a board of managers over specific school districts.
Senate Education Committee advances legislation to make it easier for public charter schools to seek approval
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.
The U.S. Department of Education just cut nearly 50 percent of its employees. Secretary Linda McMahon says Tennessee will receive more money because of it.
Tuesday night, newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon went on the Fox News program the Ingraham Angle to reframe a major reduction in her department’s workforce as the tool to provide states with more education funding.
Committee advances Representative Bulso’s proposal to prohibit transgender students from using multi-occupant bathrooms of their identified sex
Bulso’s bill would require restrooms, changing areas, and showers that are multi-occupant to be segregated by sex in residential education programs involving minors.
162 private schools signal interest in participating in the Education Freedom Scholarship Program
That list includes more than three dozen schools in Shelby County and more than two dozen in Davidson.