Knox County school board fails to pass policy change banning books depicting sexual imagery
A proposal to ban books depicting sexual imagery in Knox County Schools failed in a 4-2 vote. The board discussed compliance with a new state law set to take effect in July.
Report finds Tennessee’s public charter school students showing more academic growth than traditional school peers
A new report from the Tennessee Charter School Center found public charter schools are outperforming traditional public schools on state measurements for student growth.
Vanderbilt and Oak Ridge partner on AI research and development for national security
Vanderbilt University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have announced a new partnership focusing on artificial intelligence research to develop technologies for national security, as U.S. universities continue to invest more in machine learning research and education programming.
Governor Lee endorses conservate school board member Aron Maberry in a State House race in Montgomery County
Governor Bill Lee is stepping into a House primary race to help ensure the seat remains supportive of his school choice proposals.On Thursday Lee announced the endorsement of Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board member Aron Maberry in the House District 68 Republican Primary.
Governor Lee endorses conservative Jason Emert in open East Tennessee House race
In April Tennessee Governor Bill Lee promised to bring his plan to let parents use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school back next year, and this week he’s taking a new step to help it pass.The governor announced his endorsement of Blount County attorney Jason Emert in the House District 20 race. Emert is facing county commissioners Tom Stinnett and Nick Bright in the August Republican primary.
Elon Musk's xAI to build world's largest supercomputer in Memphis
Elon Musk’s AI company xAI is planning to build the world’s largest supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, marking the city’s largest capital investment by a new-to-market company in the city’s history, an announcement from the Greater Memphis Chamber said.According to a news release, xAI’s “Gigafactory of Compute” supercomputer system will occupy a former manufacturing facility. The project is pending approval by the Memphis Shelby County Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE), Tennessee Valley Authority and other government agencies.
House district candidates weigh in on private school vouchers and property taxes
The proposal to allow Tennessee families to use public dollars to send their children to private school proved to be a topic of disagreement for three candidates running in Blount County's House District 20 Republican Primary.Jason Emert, Tom Stinnett, and Nick Bright weighed in on Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act, frequently referred to as vouchers, during a forum held last week by the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.
Knox County school board discusses banning books with sexual content
Knox County Board of Education officials discussed banning books that depict sex at Monday’s school board work session.
State Board of Education revokes three educators' licenses for sex crimes
The Tennessee Board of Education permanently revoked the educator licenses of three educators for sexual misconduct.
Biden Administration announces $12 million in EPA rebates for clean school buses in Tennessee
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing funding to eight Tennessee school districts to purchase more than 40 clean school buses to reduce their fleets’ emissions.According to a recent announcement from the EPA, the funding comes from the EPA’s 2023 Clean School Bus Program, which is part of President Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda. It said the program provides rebate funding to selectees to replace older diesel-fueled school buses, which are linked to asthma and other respiratory issues in surrounding communities.
State provides updates to teacher licensure efforts in special ed, ESL and computer science
Tennessee’s additional endorsement program has helped over 1,200 educators add qualifications in special education, ESL, and computer science, while new pathways are being developed to meet the demand for computer science teachers.
House candidate Brian Beathard campaigns on myth that Williamson County is receiving less money for schools from the state
Last Thursday Republican State House District 65 candidate Brian Beathard took to his Facebook page to attack what may be Governor Bill Lee’s biggest education accomplishment.In 2022 lawmakers passed the Governor’s Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) that invested a billion dollars into K-12 education and fundamentally changed the formula the state uses to fund schools. Beathard told his supporters that TISA is reducing the amount of money schools in Williamson County are receiving.
Dekalb Schools and Graduation Alliance launch new online high school completion program
Adults in Tennessee who have not graduated from high school can now earn a high school diploma rather than a GED through a new online program recently launched at Dekalb County Schools in partnership with the online education provider Graduate Alliance.According to a recent announcement, the new Dekalb County Diploma Completion Program gives students flexibility to complete their high school requirements, as well as access to 24/7 tutoring and personalized support from teachers and academic coaches.
Parent poll reveals 'Nashville's hidden literacy crisis'
The education and parent advocacy organization Nashville PROPEL has released a white paper detailing what local parents think about “Nashville’s hidden literary crisis,” as well as how that crisis affects students of color.According to a news release emailed to Tennessee Firefly, less than 30 percent of students in the Metro Nashville Public Schools district are reading on grade level despite nearly 80 percent of parents believing their children are at or above grade level, a finding consistent with national trends.
TDOE announces presidential teaching award state finalists
The Tennessee Department of Education has named four state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the nation’s highest honor for U.S. K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers.According to a news release last week, awardees were recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning, as well as the
Clarksville-Montgomery school board discusses reading proficiency requirements, arming teachers and COVID-19 relief funding
Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board discussed reading proficiency requirements, the decision not to arm teachers, and the impact of COVID-19 relief funding during last week’s meeting.
13 new Tennessee schools earn STEM designation, redesignation awarded to Kingsport's DB-EXCEL
The Tennessee Department of Education awarded STEM/STEAM designations to 13 new schools, while Kingsport's D-B EXCEL earned redesignation for its program's continued excellence.
Tennessee lawmakers support proposed change that prioritizes funding CTE programs that lead to high paying jobs
The TDOE is looking to update how it reviews and classifies CTE programs in the state to determine that they align with the needs of employers across industries.
Governor Lee plans to bring his "voucher" plan back next year. Two polls show Tennessee remains divided.
Two polls released this month have found Tennesseans remain sharply divided on Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let parents use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school.
Memphis school and law enforcement officials oppose allowing teachers to carry guns
In a joint video message, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Marie Feagins, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr., and Interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis emphasized that they believe firearms have no place in schools.