The Memphis-Shelby County School Board approved an expansion request Tuesday night for one the district’s oldest public charter schools.Under the expansion plan, existing K-6 STAR Academy will grow to serve grades K-8.“I want to emphasize the profound impact this amendment could have, granting STAR Academy the opportunity to extend our reach into middle schools. Education is not merely about expanding a school. It’s about uplifting our community,” said STAR Academy Board Chair Gerald Fanion. “This proposed expansion is more than just growth. It represents a commitment to the future of our students and to the community we proudly serve.”

The Memphis-Shelby County School Board approved an expansion request Tuesday night for one the district’s oldest public charter schools.Under the expansion plan, existing K-6 STAR Academy will grow to serve grades K-8.“I want to emphasize the profound impact this amendment could have, granting STAR Academy the opportunity to extend our reach into middle schools. Education is not merely about expanding a school. It’s about uplifting our community,” said STAR Academy Board Chair Gerald Fanion. “This proposed expansion is more than just growth. It represents a commitment to the future of our students and to the community we proudly serve.”

The Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday night to approve a nearly $1 billion updated five-year capital improvement plan which includes construction projects to accommodate the district’s growing student population.The new plan is a significant increase from last year’s total of $700 million. That money would fund 9 new buildings along with major renovations to 9 existing schools along with other renovations and maintenance.

The Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) announced the launch of a new teacher grant program aimed at supporting innovative teaching methods, professional development opportunities, and classroom resources.The Supporting Teachers' Academic Resources (STAR) initiative will offer teachers the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $1,000 each.

Gueller Gonzalez has always placed a priority on ensuring her kids have access to a quality education in a nurturing environment that treats them equally and with respect. The path to that education though hasn’t been the same for each of her five children.Gonzalez’s youngest children have individual education needs that are a better fit in one of Chattanooga’s traditional public schools while her three older children have all found success in public charter schools Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) and Chattanooga Preparatory School.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools leaders have proposed eliminating 675 jobs along with a mix of student programs as they figure out how to cut $150 million in spending from next year’s budget.The budget gap is an expected result of the end of federal pandemic relief programs, which were meant to help school districts manage the impact on student learning. District leaders have been preparing for this day with analyses of how they spent the money, so they can try to preserve what has been most effective for students.

Twenty years ago, Chelsea Bailey was a rising seventh-grader in Memphis who had no idea what a public charter school was.That changed when the founder of the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE) visited her church and encouraged Bailey’s mother to transfer her to the new school.  That decision not only made Bailey a part of the MASE’s inaugural class, but also the first class of students anywhere in Tennessee to attend a public charter school.

Twenty years ago, Chelsea Bailey was a rising seventh-grader in Memphis who had no idea what a public charter school was.That changed when the founder of the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE) visited her church and encouraged Bailey’s mother to transfer her to the new school.  That decision not only made Bailey a part of the MASE’s inaugural class, but also the first class of students anywhere in Tennessee to attend a public charter school.

Memphis-Shelby County School Board member Stephanie Love took a moment during Tuesday evening’s meeting to address the recent shootings in the Frayser community.Love says those shootings claimed the lives of two kids in her district and she called for a discussion on what more can be done for students and communities.

Students from Nashville’s chapter of the Sunrise Movement urged members of the Metro Nashville Board of Education to be more proactive in the battle against climate change during Tuesday’s meeting.Hillsboro High School senior and Sunrise Movement member Sophia Payne told board members she was grateful for the environmentally conscious school renovations taking place and that it is crucial to continue addressing global environmental issues.

Shirley Quinn says Promise Academy Spring Hill’s name played an important role in why she chose to enroll her granddaughter there.The Memphis fourth-grader struggled to learn to read in her traditional zone school and Quinn thought a public charter school offering “promise” might lead to something better.“There’s something about that name, ‘Promise’. They promise not to leave my grandbaby behind, you know I’m just thinking this in my head,” said Quinn.Shortly after enrolling, Quinn met with intervention teachers to plan a way to get her granddaughter caught up.Quinn says she was initially concerned the intervention team wouldn’t be able to help but her fears were unfounded.

On the morning of September 18, the Dean of Instruction for Stanford Montessori Elementary School used her publicly funded time and email address to do something that had nothing to do with the education of her students.Sarah Blanchard sent out emails to not only encourage some of her school’s parents to oppose a proposed Montessori school, she also gave them questionable talking points for how to speak out from School Board Member and Stanford Montessori parent Dr. Berthena Nabaa-McKinney.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) announced Wednesday that its search firm has selected a pool of candidates to interview in the ongoing search for a new superintendent.Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) is now conducting interviews with 21 applicants from seven different states.Each applicant is scheduled to receive a video-conference interview with HYA.

Knox County Schools announced more reforms are coming for the district’s special education program.Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Jason Myers unveiled the launch of a standing special education council at Monday night’s school board meeting that will provide input and perspective to the work that is already underway to improve special education. The district is inviting each member of the recently created special education task force to be a part of that council, along with general education teachers, special education teachers, and district leaders.

Students at MLK College Preparatory High School in Frayser will get to choose from among six schools to attend beginning next school year, as Memphis-Shelby County Schools begins construction of a new high school on the same site.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools announced Wednesday that it’s launching a new field trip program to give students free learning opportunities outside the classroom walls.The $3 million investment called Discovering Memphis will fund field trips to the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) for eighth and eleventh-graders and the children’s museum for first-graders.

If his school community had to choose between himself and its nine therapy dogs, David Snowden jokes that “the director of schools would have to go.”Now in his 23rd year as leader of Franklin Special School District, south of Nashville, Snowden has championed the canine program since Mattie Grace became the school system’s first trained therapy dog in 2018.

Sumner County parents urged school board members last week to follow through on promised athletic facility improvements.

The Sumner County School Board approved moving $15.5 million out of reserves to fund the first wave of rebuilds, facility updates, and stadium renovations in the district last month.

Members of the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to push for harsher consequences for students who threaten their school.The resolution calls for the Tennessee General Assembly to pass legislation allowing for the revocation of the driver’s license of students who make false bomb threats or other threats against their school.“Many of the punishments for such actions are not sufficient deterrents to some students. The revocation of a student’s driver license may be a more effective deterrent for some students,” said Director of Schools James Sullivan.Board member Tammy Sharp proposed the resolution after working in collaboration with Representative Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna.