Federal Trade Commission claims company that provided weapons detection technology to schools made false claims about its effectiveness
The Federal Trade Commission has charged a company that produces AI-based weapons detection systems used by schools and other businesses with making misleading claims about its effectiveness.
Department of Education says few students have been held back under retention law
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education indicates that about 40 percent of third graders in Tennessee achieved proficiency in English language arts on 2024 state tests.
Tennessee recognizes 377 Reward Schools. Schools of choice led the way in the state’s two largest school districts
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the 377 schools across the state that have received the designation as Reward Schools for the 2023/2024 school year.
Public charter schools led the way in the state’s largest school district, accounting for nearly a third of Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ 34 Reward Schools.
Education leaders say teacher vacancy data shows a need for mentorship and professional development
While statewide teaching vacancy rates haven’t seemed to change much in recent years, Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) data indicates that the number of positions filled by teachers with temporary permits and other exemptions has increased.
New Comptroller’s report says nearly 60 percent of Tennessee counties have ‘monetarily significant’ school upgrade needs
While the majority of K-12 facilities in Tennessee are in “good” or “excellent” condition, a new report from the Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability says that nearly 60 percent of counties have a “monetarily significant school infrastructure need.”
Governor Lee applauds Trump pick to lead Department of Education. Opponents criticize her experience and ties to a sex abuse lawsuit
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee wasted no time applauding President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of a former professional wrestling mogul to serve as the United States Secretary of Education.
SCORE report says more data needed to evaluate and strengthen teacher pipeline programs
Despite several state initiatives in recent years to strengthen the teacher pipeline and fill K-12 classrooms with trained educators, many Tennessee districts are still struggling to meet their staffing needs, a recent report from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) said.
Parents and educators urge state commission to renew charter for LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School
Since opening its doors for the 2015-16 school year, LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School has garnered support from many parents in the Madison area who say the charter school’s approach to education has been beneficial for their children’s academic growth.
Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds requests nearly $58 million for summer learning camps
One of the key investments in Tennessee’s 2021 special legislative session was the creation of summer learning camps designed to help children overcome pandemic learning losses. The state has continued operating them ever since, and at Wednesday’s state budget hearing, Department of Education Commissioner LIzzette Reynolds made the case for an additional $57.8 million investment.
Governor Lee backs proposal to dump the Department of Education, despite questions what it might mean for students with special needs and rural Tennessee
You can add Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to the growing list of Tennessee lawmakers who support President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Lee posted a video on social media Wednesday to proclaim his support for the idea, even though the federal department is directly responsible for funneling more than $800 million to Tennessee.
Higher Education Commission requests $150 million to cover growing costs at universities across Tennessee
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is requesting new funding in the state’s higher-ed budget to capitalize on the progress made through other state investments geared toward boosting postsecondary enrollment and expanding workforce training.
Thirteen public charter schools to make their case to stay open
In the coming weeks, leaders of more than a dozen public charter schools will make the case for why their school’s charter should be renewed for another ten-year term. Charter schools are free public schools operated by an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.
This year, five authorizing agencies including school board members with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Hamilton County Schools, Knox County Schools, along with members of the state-run Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will make those decisions for thirteen charter schools.
Trump’s calls to eliminate U.S. Department of Education renews debate about the role of federal government in Tennessee schools
Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Education funnels more than $800 million into Tennessee alone, some leading Republican legislators have signaled support for President-Elect Donald Trump’s promise to eliminate the department altogether.
Lawmakers and former Teacher of the Year give mixed reactions to new voucher legislation
There have been some mixed reactions to Tennessee lawmakers’ efforts to reintroduce school choice legislation for vouchers that allow public tax dollars to be used for private school enrollment.
Students report racist text messages following presidential election
Black students in schools and universities across Tennessee and the nation have reported a slew of racist text messages evoking slavery in the days following former President Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election this week.
Tennessee Higher Education Commission says overall enrollment has increased across public colleges and universities
Despite witnessing a decline in first-time freshmen enrollment, overall enrollment has increased across Tennessee’s public colleges and universities, according to recent data from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
Voters reject voucher programs in Nebraska, Kentucky, and Colorado. Is that a bad omen for supporters in Tennessee?
Voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska have decisively rejected efforts to implement school voucher programs that would allow families to use tax dollars for private school enrollment.
Initial version of Governor Lee’s new voucher bill would require participants to be tested
Testing didn’t receive a lot of headlines during the debate earlier this year over Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let families use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school, but it played an important role in why the legislation failed. Members of the State House and Senate advanced different versions of the Governor’s Education Freedom Scholarship, sometimes called vouchers, and couldn’t come to a compromise on those differences. One of the biggest involved a provision in the House version of the legislation that would reduce the number of tests students in public school are required to take.
The Governor’s new voucher plan unveiled Wednesday includes no reduction in testing and additionally requires participants in grades 3 through 11 to either take a nationally standardized achievement test or The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program.
Tennessee Higher Ed Commission notes ‘record-breaking’ year for Tennessee Promise Class of 2025
A record-breaking number of students applied for the Tennessee Promise program, with over 67,000 applicants from the Class of 2025, an announcement from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) said.
State Board of Education selects Educator Advisory Team to review ELA standards
The State Board of Education has selected 21 educators from across the state to join its Educator Advisory Team (EAT) to review Tennessee’s current English Language Arts standards, a recent announcement said.