Every issue, every week.
Three newsletters a week from the Tennessee Firefly newsroom. The Signal sets the agenda Tuesday, The Beam goes deep Thursday, and The Friday Flicker closes the week. Every send is a permanent URL.
2026
The Signal#33 Rejected by the school board, a charter school opens anyway
After years of pushback from the school board, Jackson Museum Academy welcomed its first students this fall.
The Friday Flicker#12 Blackburn and Green advance to November governor's race
Blackburn and Green advance to November as education issues reshape legislative contests statewide.
The Beam#12 On the Fly: State Primary and General Election Preview
Tennessee voters head to polls today to choose nominees for governor, state legislature, and other statewide offices.
The Signal#32 Commentary: Brent Jones Wants Your Vote. He Will Not Tell You What He Supports
Three groups asked the House District 18 challenger about his positions. He didn't respond to any of them.
The Friday Flicker#11 LEAD Students Find Useful 'Thought Partner' in AI
LEAD's Alpha AI Program teaches students to use artificial intelligence as a collaborative thinking tool.
The Beam#11 Two new public charter schools approved in Memphis
Memphis board approves two Urban Dove charter schools with unanimous support, while a third applicant remains under consideration.
The Signal#31 Todd Warner Facing Opposition After Voting Against Key Trump Policy
Warner's vote against private school choice and dual-office campaign draw fire from primary challenger Vincent Cuevas.
The Friday Flicker#10 Blackburn proposes statewide school cell phone ban
Tennessee's new senator wants stricter classroom phone rules, though state law already restricts student devices during instruction.
The Beam#10 Kevin Dyson's Music City Academy Takes on a Titan of a Task
The proposed public charter school faces approval next week in a school district that hasn't approved one since 2021.
The Signal#30 Chatt Prep expansion denied despite test score gains
The Hamilton County Board of Education fell one vote short of approving the charter school's growth plan.
The Friday Flicker#9 School Choice Divides Candidates in East Tennessee GOP Primary
Two Republicans clash over taxpayer-funded private school vouchers as East Tennessee voters head to the polls.
The Friday Flicker#8 Trimble Academy Supporters Say Their Application Wasn't Given a Fair Review
Dyer County School Board rejected Trimble Academy despite evaluators recommending approval of the charter application.
The Beam#8 Research finds economically disadvantaged student proficiency gap not closing
Tennessee's economically disadvantaged students are gaining ground on state tests, but the achievement gap remains stubbornly wide.
The Signal#28 Report Finds the Literacy Success Act Is Delivering Results
Third through fifth grade reading proficiency has climbed since Tennessee launched its literacy overhaul in 2021.
The Friday Flicker#7 Board Names Leigh Webb Interim Superintendent of Williamson County Schools
Webb, a longtime district educator, steps into the role following the board's decision to part ways with the previous superintendent.
The Beam#7 State Representative Elaine Davis Wants to Better Support Student Well-Being
Davis
The Signal#27 Former Senator Lamar Alexander Says Tennessee Needs More Political Competition
Alexander told Nashville leaders that Tennessee made its greatest progress when both parties were competitive.
The Friday Flicker#6 Proposal to directly target higher education funding moves closer to approval
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will vote next month on changes designed to promote good-paying, in-demand jobs.
The Beam#6 State testing results show notable improvements in reading
Tennessee students posted significant gains in reading proficiency on state assessments, with officials pointing to recent literacy initiatives.
The Signal#26 Hamilton County School Board to vote on reducing testing
District leaders propose cutting local benchmark tests from three to two per year in Hamilton County schools.
The Friday Flicker#5 State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education
Tennessee may shift how it funds colleges, tying more dollars to graduates who land high-paying jobs in needed fields.
The Beam#5 State to Consider Targeted Approach to Incentivizing Higher Education
Tennessee lawmakers are weighing a plan to tie university funding to graduate earnings and workforce needs.
The Signal#25 Self-Described 'Trump Candidate' Sides with Unions over Trump on Education
A Trump appointee at the USDA is breaking with the administration over federal education policy.
The Friday Flicker#4 Alcoa middle schoolers win $10,000 for AI club project
East Tennessee fourth and fifth-graders created an app concept to help students with their homework.
The Beam#4 Nation's Report Card finds signs of pandemic recovery
Southern students still trail other regions as national test scores show modest gains from pandemic lows.
The Signal#24 University president weighs in on outcomes-based funding proposal
State funding formula ties university budgets to graduation rates and job placements rather than how many students enroll.
The Friday Flicker#3 Knox County Schools to Ask Legislators to Revise Book-Banning Law
Knox County Schools seeks changes to state law after pulling and reinstating Roots amid confusion over book-banning rules.
The Beam#3 Knox County Schools May Seek Book Ban Law Reform
Knox County Schools superintendent reinstated "Roots" after the district banned it under Tennessee's 2024 book law.
The Signal#23 Congressman Andy Ogles Uses Your Tax Dollars for TV Ad
Tennessee Republican runs campaign-style spot on government dime while criticizing wasteful spending.
The Friday Flicker#2 New Research Finds Tennessee's Teacher Unions are the Third Weakest
Union strength dropped eight places from the Fordham Institute's last ranking a decade ago.
The Beam#2 Neely's Bend High School to Open in August
Neely's Bend Middle School expands to high school this fall, keeping students on track toward graduation.
The Signal#22 Hamilton County teachers appear set for pay increase
Hamilton County school board approves budget with employee raises and major funding increases for athletics and arts programs.
The Friday Flicker#1 Clarksville Parents Criticize Support Following Fatal School Bus Crash
Five parents told the school board it failed to support families after the crash that killed three students.
The Beam#1 Memphis School Board Cites Dated Study in Top Urban School District Claim
The district's claim relies on research that predates the pandemic and uses enrollment figures from at least seven years ago.
The Signal#21 Suburban school districts fought efforts to reduce barriers for open enrollment
At least one district lobbied against legislation that would have made it easier for students to transfer across district lines.
The Signal#20 Suburban school districts fought efforts to reduce barriers for open enrollment
At least one district lobbied against legislation that would have made it easier for students to transfer across district lines.
The Signal#6 Suburban schools fought open enrollment push
Firefly investigation reveals districts lobbied against letting nonresident students enroll more easily.
The Signal#5 Suburban districts fight state's open enrollment push
At least one district lobbied lawmakers against reducing barriers for nonresident students, investigation finds.