New report awards Tennessee an A for keeping parents informed about COVID learning loss
Tennessee earned an A for transparency in reporting COVID-19 learning loss data, according to a new CRPE report. The report highlighted Tennessee's commitment to providing accessible longitudinal student performance data.
Tennessee Charter School Center appoints Elizabeth Fiveash Rush as new Chief Executive Officer
Elizabeth Fiveash Rush was recently appointed CEO of the Tennessee Charter School Center.
Bryan Kerns created a program to address the state’s firefighter shortage, on the road to winning Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the year Bryan Kerns established a unique career and technical education (CTE) program geared toward preparing students for future careers in fire management.
Kingsport City Schools math teacher Bryan Kerns is this year’s Tennessee Teacher of the Year
Bryan Kerns, a math and fire management instructor from Kingsport City Schools, has been named the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Kerns will represent Tennessee in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Williamson County Schools officials discuss AI guidelines, plagiarism concerns
According to current guidelines available on the board’s website, students and staff should only use AI programs that are approved by district leadership for instruction or completing student work approved AI programs may be utilized in student instruction or in completing student work.
THEC approves plans for Austin Peay master campus plan, nuclear program at Roane State
Commissioners said Roane’s new Associate of Applied Science in Nuclear Technology program will help build students' technical knowledge and engineering skills for careers in nuclear technology.
Tennessee Department of Education announces improvements in K-12 literacy and efforts to maintain progress
While recent state assessment data trends show that students throughout the state are making gains in literacy, officials from the Tennessee Department of Education say more work is needed to maintain that progress moving forward.
SCORE memo notes need to update state higher-ed funding formula
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) highlights the need to revise Tennessee’s outcomes-based postsecondary funding formula to better prepare students for career success after graduation.
State Textbook Commission rejects every proposed textbook for two high school science courses
Publishers that produce science textbooks appear to be having trouble meeting Tennessee’s new K-12 science standards.
Tennessee Connections Academy aims to meet growing demand for online learning options
A recent report from Market Data Forecast found the global K-12 online education market is expected to grow more than $500 billion to reach about $716 billion in 2029, amid the growing popularity of online learning options. Among the schools in Tennessee helping to meet that growing demand is Tennessee Connections Academy.
State Board of Education seeks feedback on state ELA standards
The Tennessee State Board of Education has launched a new survey to gather public comments and feedback about Tennessee’s K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) standards, a Monday announcement said.
Rutherford County Schools approves book ban policy revisions
The Rutherford County school board unanimously voted to approve revisions to district policy regarding the removal of books with sexual or inappropriate themes from school libraries to align with a new state law that went into effect this year.
SCORE memo notes important role of data in building student literacy
The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released a new memo highlighting how policymakers have helped advance early literacy in the state with the help of student performance data, among other key metrics.
State announces finalists for principal, and supervisor of the year
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the finalists for this year’s Tennessee Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards. In a news release the department said the finalists include three members from each of the state’s Grand Divisions.
Lawmakers spread misinformation that a Wilson County school library is closed because of a new state law
A viral tweet from the Tennessee Holler claimed that a Wilson County high school library was closed due to a new state law banning books with inappropriate content, sparking reactions from lawmakers. However, Wilson County Schools' Public Information Officer Bart Barker clarified that the library was temporarily being used for Chromebook and textbook checkouts, a normal procedure at the start of the school year. Barker noted that the library would reopen once the process was complete, and the district has had a book challenge system in place for over two years to comply with state legislation.
Tennessee concludes 'FAFSA Frenzy Month'
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has spent the last 10 days partnering with dozens of community partners across Tennessee to assist students from the Class of 2024 with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ahead of the August 1 deadline for Tennessee Promise scholarship applications.
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission schools' comparing well with other public schools on state tests
State education officials say the schools overseen by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission are faring well when compared to the school districts that rejected them.
SCORE TCAP analysis indicates need to address performance gaps
While recent results from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) exam indicate that students across the state achieved “record-high” proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and made some notable progress in math, analysts from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) say more work is needed to address performance gaps affecting non-white and economically disadvantaged students.
Memphis Grizzlies boys' prep school looks to replicate success with new girls' public charter school
For nearly 15 years, the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School has leveraged community partnerships with the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team to provide boys with hands-on learning and a focus on literacy and math. Now leaders want to extend those opportunities to girls.
Metro Nashville Public Schools approves new AI policy guidelines
The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education approved new guidelines for using AI in schools at Tuesday’s school board meeting.