Members of the Senate Education Committee voted to advance legislation Wednesday that would require Tennessee students to watch a fetal development video created by a group that opposes abortion rights.The bill’s sponsor, Senator Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, told committee members the video “Meet Baby Olivia” would be beneficial to younger children that have not been exposed to fetal development yet.

Legislation that would vacate the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees and allow Governor Bill Lee to appoint eight new members advanced from the Senate Education Committee Wednesday on an 8-1 party line vote.Senator Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, says he sponsored the bill as a response to the issues identified in an audit by the Tennessee Comptroller. Roberts told the committee that it’s time for a new vision and this change will be an opportunity for cooperation.

Two years ago, Linton Beck unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest in his chemistry class.The Station Camp High School senior is alive today and able to talk about his experience thanks to the quick work of school staff and their training.Beck says a school nurse and teachers responded within minutes to perform CPR and a school resource officer restarted his heart with an automated external defibrillator (AED).

A bill that would ban pride flags in Tennessee classrooms narrowly managed to advance on a 5-4 vote in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday afternoon following questions from members of both political parties about its potential consequences.Senator Joey HensleySenator Joey Hensley’s, R-Hohenwald, bill would only allow certain flags to be displayed in the classroom. The bill’s House counterpart sponsored by Representative Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, advanced through key House committees and faces a vote on the House floor next week.

The Senate Education Committee advanced two controversial bills Wednesday that have faced criticism from LGBTQ and civil rights activists.

Memphis schools Hawkins Mill Elementary and Trezevant High have been on the state’s priority list since the list’s formation in the 2011-12 school year. This means their students are consistently in the bottom 5% of state tests or have less than 67% graduation rate.