Tennessee Department of Education encourages teachers to sign up for literacy training
The Tennessee Department of Education is encouraging teachers to sign up for literacy training this summer.The department is offering the training through the end of July to help implement new reading strategies within the classroom.
Tennessee Education Association files lawsuit that could delay teacher raises
The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) filed a legal challenge this week that could delay recently passed teacher raises.The TEA’s lawsuit challenges a provision of the “Teacher Paycheck Protection Act” Governor Lee signed last month. The legislation is set to raise the minimum teacher salary to $42,000 in July, but the TEA is objecting to a section that also prevents unions like it from deducting dues from teacher paychecks.
Stanford study finds Tennessee public charter school students outperforming traditional students more than any southern state
A new study by Stanford's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) found public charter school students in Tennessee are not only making more average progress than their traditional public-school peers, but also outperforming them at greater rates than other southern states.
Hamilton County students improve on TCAP retake but few test proficient
The vast majority of Hamilton County third-graders who took the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) retake are still not clear to advance to the fourth-grade.
Nine teachers named finalists for teacher of the year
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the nine finalists for the 2023-24 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Award. The department plans to name the four winners in the fall including one teacher from each region of the state and an overall Teacher of the Year.
Key Tennessee education official Eve Carney resigns amid leadership transition
The leadership transition at the Tennessee Department of Education accelerated this week with the resignations of two high-level officials, including a veteran manager responsible for many of the state’s biggest education programs and initiatives.Deputy Commissioner Eve Carney will step down on June 30, a department spokesperson confirmed Monday.
For Memphis 3rd graders, threat of retention has hovered since kindergarten
With only a few days left in third grade, LaQuencher Sanders’ 8-year-old daughter, Kamryn, just wanted to be done with school.She had been in the class of kindergartners who were sent home in March 2020 because of COVID.
Legislator Profile: Senator Bill Powers strives to bring common sense principles to education
State Senator Bill Powers (R-Clarksville) took an unconventional path to politics and the Tennessee General Assembly where he's the Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Education Committee.The sixth generation Montgomery County resident served as former U.S. Senator Howard Baker’s page as a teenager in the 70s but didn’t run for office himself until four decades later. Baker served two terms as a Clarksville City Councilman before succeeding former State Senator and current Congressman Mark Greene in what is now Senate District 22.
Over 25,000 Tennessee 3rd graders retook reading test this week to try to meet new promotion policy
More than half of Tennessee third graders at risk of being held back because of their reading test scores took another test this week to try to advance to fourth grade without summer school or tutoring.The state began offering the retest on Monday. By Friday, 25,304 third graders had submitted a second reading assessment, said Brian Blackley, a spokesman for the state education department.
Over 25,000 Tennessee 3rd graders retook reading test this week to try to meet new promotion policy
More than half of Tennessee third graders at risk of being held back because of their reading test scores took another test this week to try to advance to fourth grade without summer school or tutoring.The state began offering the retest on Monday. By Friday, 25,304 third graders had submitted a second reading assessment, said Brian Blackley, a spokesman for the state education department.
District level data shows challenges for third-grade students in rural counties and West Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Education says four of five third-grade students in the Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) failed to meet the testing threshold to advance to the fourth-grade. That’s the eighth lowest in the state and behind other large school districts including Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
More than half of Tennessee third-graders failed to meet testing standard to advance
The Tennessee Department of Education says 60% of third graders scored “below” or “approaching” proficiency on the English language arts (ELA) portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP).
Parents could learn next week if their child is in jeopardy of being held back under Third-Grade Retention Law
School districts across the state should learn this week what students could be held back under the state’s new Third-Grade Retention Law.The Tennessee Department of Education expects to be able to send that information to districts by May 19. Districts will then check to see if any of those students meet exemptions to the new law and then inform parents.
Tennessee students encouraged to sign up to compete for $1,000 in summer reading contest
Students across Tennessee are encouraged to sign up to compete for a $1,000 scholarship in this year’s Tristar Reads contest.Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) created the annual summer reading contest in 2016 to help school age children avoid the summer reading slide by spending 20 minutes a day with a book.
Governor Lee signs bill allowing Hamilton County families to use taxpayer money to attend private schools
Governor Bill Lee announced Friday that he’s signed legislation to expand the Education Savings Account to Hamilton County.