Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Education funnels more than $800 million into Tennessee alone, some leading Republican legislators have signaled support for President-Elect Donald Trump’s promise to eliminate the department altogether.

A new report from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says partnerships between school districts and education preparation programs are playing a crucial role in ongoing state efforts to improve early literacy instruction.

Following the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education’s recent decision to deny Novus SMART Academy’s application to become the fourth charter school in the district, supporters and educators from the charter school have taken their appeal to the state.