Tennessee provides new resource to help with COVID learning loss
The department says the TN ALL Corps District Support Network will provide districts with new opportunities to engage in collaborative learning experiences, share best practices, and enhance local tutoring programs.
Rutherford County Schools says Hillsdale connected charter lacks public support and education plan
Rutherford County Schools says it had reasons far beyond controversial statements about teachers to deny American Classical Education’s application to open a charter school.The district says the organization’s application not only failed to show a plan for students with disabilities and learning needs, but it also lacked evidence of true community support.
Rutherford County Schools says Hillsdale connected charter lacks public support and education plan
Rutherford County Schools says it had reasons far beyond controversial statements about teachers to deny American Classical Education’s application to open a charter school.The district says the organization’s application not only failed to show a plan for students with disabilities and learning needs, but it also lacked evidence of true community support.
Proposed charter school operator tries to distance itself from controversial Hillsdale College
American Classical Education (ACE) appealed all three denials to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission where the group now claims it has been wrongfully connected to Hillsdale. In two filings with the commission, American Classical Education is making a visible attempt to distance itself from the college.
Tennessee’s list of lowest-performing schools is out. Is yours on it?
Memphis-Shelby County Schools more than doubled its number of schools on Tennessee’s list of bottom-performing schools, while schools from several rural districts made the list for the first time.The state education department on Monday flagged 101 schools in 12 districts as so-called priority schools, meaning they were deemed academically in the bottom 5% in the 2021-22 school year.
Nashville charter schools playing a prominent role in Reward school recognition
Public charter schools are playing a prominent role in Nashville’s recognition for improved academic performance.The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced Monday that Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has increased the number of reward schools this year to 48 achieving the top accountability status during the 2021-2022 school yearNearly 30% of those 48 Reward Schools (14 total) are public charter schools.
Parents tell state charter commissioners English Learners need the option of a different approach
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission heard from both parents and students Thursday morning who feel Southeast Nashville has a real need for a different educational approach to serve children who are English learners and those from underserved communities.The comments came during a public hearing for proposed public charter school Saber STEM Academy.
State commission hears from supporters of denied Nashville public charter schools
More than twenty speakers addressed the commission in both hearings including parents with young children in tow pleading for an alternative to traditional classroom-bound learning. Multiple homeschool families explained their decision to leave MNPS schools and why they would prefer the option of enrolling their children at the Tennessee Nature Academy to better meet their development needs.
Can apprenticeships help alleviate teacher shortages? Tennessee embraces a new way of helping aspiring teachers get paid while earning a degree
In January, Tennessee announced that it was expanding its “grow your own programs” to recruit and train teachers by developing the new apprenticeship model, which connects school districts and educator preparation programs. Tennessee’s department of education launched this program with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and Austin-Peay State University, making it the first registered teaching apprenticeship program in the country. Two additional universities, and the University of Tennessee system, will join the effort this fall, said Tennessee education commissioner Penny Schwinn.
New Memphis school board member Keith Williams is still head of a teachers union. Is that a conflict of interest?
The chair of the Memphis Shelby County Schools board wants newly elected member Keith Williams to relinquish his post as head of the district’s biggest teacher’s union, warning that his roles on both bodies pose a potential conflict of interest.
Historically disadvantaged students succeeding at Nashville’s public charter schools
An analysis of TNReady data by the Nashville Charter Collaborative found public charter schools are serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students and students of color in Nashville and those students are showing stronger gains in math and English-Language Arts (ELA) at public charter schools.
Hillsdale shouldn’t impact support for high-quality public charter schools in Tennessee
Going into college, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be smart enough. Most of my future peers had years of AP classes under their belts, and in some cases, a full semester of college. I had none of those things, except for a few classes taught by my high school teachers with curriculum provided by the closest community college.
Actress Reese Witherspoon Helps Bring Mentorship Program to Nashville Schools
Step Up, a mentorship nonprofit founded in 1998, announced they are expanding their operations to Nashville after Music City native, Reese Witherspoon, made a multi-year investment.
State Commission sides with charter schools most of the time but isn’t a rubber stamp
This fall a little-known state board could play a huge role in expanding school choice options for parents across the state.The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will decide the appeals of thirteen potential new public charter schools who all were previously denied by their local school boards.
Contest encourages students to spend 273 thousand minutes reading
Each summer students from across Tennessee take part in a competition that takes place in chairs, bedrooms, libraries, and even cars.It’s known as Tristar Reads and the goal is to spend the most minutes reading over the summer break. Tennesseans for Student Success created Tristar Reads in 2016 to help stop the so-called “summer slide” that many students encounter over the summer months when they’re not in school.This year, 77 participants students spent roughly 273 thousand minutes reading including overall winner Jeffrey Stubblefield.
How to apply to a public charter school in Tennessee
Deciding which school is best for your child can be an overwhelming task. Fortunately, Tennessee offers a variety of school-choice options, but getting from the start line to the finish can be confusing.
How to apply to a public charter school in Tennessee
Deciding which school is best for your child can be an overwhelming task. Fortunately, Tennessee offers a variety of school-choice options, but getting from the start line to the finish can be confusing.
Tennesseans need an education focused news service like the Tennessee Firefly more than ever
Tennesseans simply aren’t getting the same quality of information about education as they once did, and they aren’t as informed as they could be.
Memphis educator named Tennessee’s 2022-23 Teacher of the Year
Fresh from being named Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year for 2022-23, Memphis second-grade educator Melissa Collins credits her family and 21 years in the classroom for preparing her to represent a profession that badly needs recharging.
Metro Schools and Beacon Center Spar Over COVID Funding
Metro Nashville Public Schools fired off a scathing response this week to a new Beacon Center report that’s critical of the way school districts across the state have been spending their COVID relief money.The Beacon Center reviewed data on the $3.4 billion Tennessee school districts received from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to evaluate how those dollars are spent. Its report questioned facility investments and other spending by multiple school districts, including $3 million Metro Nashville Public Schools spent for elementary school design services.