Three proposed public charter schools in Nashville receive positive recommendation for approval

Supporters of three proposed new public charter schools in Nashville are receiving support from the Executive Director of the state board tasked with deciding their future. Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall released written recommendations this week supporting the appeals from Nurses Middle College, LEAD Southeast Elementary, and Encompass Community School.

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Three Democrat House challengers outraise Republican opponents in this week’s campaign filings

Tennessee Democrats’ hopes of cutting into at least some of the Republican House supermajority in next Month’s general election received a boost with this week’s campaign filings.

Three Democratic challengers outraised their Incumbent Republican opponents according to third-quarter reports.

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Hurricane Helene recovery will be costly, but Governor Lee isn’t interested in using voucher money to fund it

When Tennessee Governor Bill Lee unveiled the details of the $100 million Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program in a press conference Thursday afternoon, a reporter asked whether he might be willing to dip into the unused funding for his vouchers program. The Governor did not seem interested despite $144 million in voucher funding sitting unused.

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Seniors encouraged to take advantage of the ACT Senior Retake Opportunity

The Tennessee Department of Education is encouraging high school seniors to take advantage of the state’s free ACT retake opportunities this fall.

Tennessee was the first state in the nation to offer public high school seniors the opportunity to take the ACT two times for free during normal school hours. Students typically take the test once in the spring of their junior year, and then under the program have an opportunity to retake the ACT in the fall of their senior year.

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News, Local Education, Memphis, State Education Brandon Paykamian News, Local Education, Memphis, State Education Brandon Paykamian

Wooddale Middle School leaders highlight hands-on programming at charter appeal hearing

Wooddale Middle School leaders are taking their appeal to state leaders after Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members recently voted to deny Wooddale’s amended application to transfer into the district from the state-run Achievement School District.

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News, State Education Brandon Paykamian News, State Education Brandon Paykamian

New data shows TISA education funding is improving student proficiency in charter schools

Recent data from the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) suggests that more work needs to be done to increase English language arts and math proficiency rates within the charter district. However, officials said, TISA funding has led to improvements in proficiency.

Learn more about what the data says.

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Memphis School of Excellence leaders make the case to replicate the public charter school’s STEM school model in Nashville

Despite much opposition from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) leaders, the charter school sponsor Read Foundation is still pushing for the establishment of a new charter school in the district similar to the foundation’s Memphis School of Excellence.

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News, Data and Polling, State Education Brandon Paykamian News, Data and Polling, State Education Brandon Paykamian

SCORE report highlights the promise of AI in education

A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says that more than half of U.S. teachers have never used artificial intelligence tools, despite the growing popularity of AI-driven ed-tech platforms and their potential to enhance instruction.

Learn more about how educators can make use of AI tools for content creation and lesson planning.

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Six Tennessee schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools

The U.S. Department of Education has named six Tennessee schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools this year including Miller Perry Elementary School in Kingsport, Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge, Early College High School in Nashville, Merrol Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville, Spanish Immersion at Barksdale in Clarksville, and Jordan Elementary School in Brentwood.

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SCORE report finds Tennessee’s new school funding formula has had a ‘positive impact’ on schools

A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) school funding formula has had a “positive impact” on schools’ efforts to improve student outcomes.

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