The Friday Flicker · Issue #19
Tennessee Public Charter Schools Commission Reverses Gate School, Music City Academy Application Denials
Good evening,
This week, we reported on the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission overturning two Metro Nashville Public Schools charter application denials and what that means for the district moving forward.
We also have news of Memphis-Shelby County Schools filing a new lawsuit in an attempt to halt state intervention, an explanation of a new federal scholarship tax credit program, and a third grader who won a statewide competition by logging more than 8,000 minutes of reading during summer break.
The Lead
Tennessee Public Charter Schools Commission Reverses Gate School, Music City Academy Application Denials
By Jacob Holley
The Commission’s reversals of the district's denials trigger a five-year state application option.
Read the full story →Also in this issue
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Files New Lawsuit in Attempt to Halt State Intervention
A federal judge has signaled Tennessee’s oversight board could soon begin exercising authority over the district.
Jacob Holley
Merrol Hyde Third Grader Timothy Bell Jr. Named Tennessee’s Top Elementary Reader in Tristar Reads
Bell logged an incredible 8,172 minutes of reading over the summer.
Firefly Staff
New Federal Rules Clear Path for Tennessee's K-12 Scholarship Tax Credit Program
New guidance creates opportunities for new scholarship-granting organizations.
Firefly Staff
Tennessee Leads the South in National Education Rankings Following Decades of Improvements
Tennessee improved more than any other state in two subjects between 2003 and 2024.
Firefly Staff
Study Ranks Tennessee Second in Nation for Return on Investment in Education
The Volunteer State ranks seventh overall in the 2026 Education Freedom Report Card.
Firefly Staff
That's all for this week. Look for more news in your inbox next week.
The Friday Flicker