State Education
Representative William Slater Recognized for Public School Choice Support
Slater became the second lawmaker to receive a TSS Action Hero Award on Thursday.
Middle Tennessee Education News
Education news from Middle Tennessee and surrounding communities
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News
Williamson County Schools Interim Superintendent Focusing on Learning and Listening
Dr. Leigh Webb has worked for the district for nine years and has nearly 30 years of experience in public school education.
Elections
Todd Warner Facing Opposition After Voting Against Key Trump Policy
Warner’s opposition to private school choice and decision to run for two offices at the same time have become defining issues in his primary against Vincent Cue...
Elections
Why Are Teacher Union Bosses Backing John Louallen in Tennessee House Race?
Louallen’s Education Freedom Scholarship opposition and TEA endorsement have become key issues in the House District 78 Republican primary.
Elections
Lee Reeves Faces GOP Challenger Who Takes Union Position on Education
House District 65 challenger Michelle Foreman sides with the TEA on the Education Freedom Scholarship program.
Local Education
Manchester Elementary Teacher Shocked to Receive Milken Educator Award
Holly Logan received national recognition for her work helping English language learners.
Elections
Sumner County GOP Primary Pits Different Views on School Choice
Brian Stewart supports giving families more school options, while his opponent, Chris Hughes, has reservations about expanding them.
Local Education
Board Names Leigh Webb Interim Superintendent of Williamson County Schools
Webb has served the district as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent.
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Stepping Down
James Golden announced that he’s taking a position in the Franklin Special District.
State Education
Bonnaroo Donates $100,000 to Student Mental Health Services Program
The donation will support mental health assessments, group interventions, and psychoeducation.
Elections
Congressman Andy Ogles Uses Your Tax Dollars for TV Ad
The ad promotes the congressman’s opposition to “wasteful spending.”
Local Education
Manchester Elementary School Teacher Receives Milken Educator Award
Holly Logan is an English as a Second Language teacher at Westwood Elementary School and serves the district by training, supporting, and mentoring fellow educa...
State Education
Lincoln County Teacher Proposes Tweak to Align School Funding to the ‘Real World’ Her Students are Entering
Marty LeBlanc says programs that would help prepare her students for a cybersecurity career are a good example of industries that don’t meet existing funding re...
State Government
Commissioner Michael Lankford Wins House Seat Appointment with the Assistance of His Opponent’s Former Supporter
The final 9-9 vote came along party lines, with Republicans on the Montgomery County Commission supporting Lankford and Democrats supporting their party’s nomin...
Local Education
Montgomery County Commission Faces Criticism Following Abrupt Resignation of Newly Appointed School Board Member
The Montgomery County Commission appointed Crosslin last week to fill the vacant District 3 seat, but she abruptly resigned before Tuesday’s meeting.
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Places New Restrictions on Student Cell Phones
Board members approved a new policy that requires the district to ensure cell phones are securely stored during the school day and provides high school students...
Elections
School Board Appointment Could Provide a Preview for Next Month’s Decision to Fill the Late Rep. Jeff Burkhart’s Seat
Montgomery County Commissioners voted 11 to 8 to appoint a Republican nominee to the board in a move that at least one commissioner felt was influenced by polit...
State Education
Tennessee Education Leaders Debate the Value of Charters, Vouchers and Accountability in School Choice
On Monday, a panel hosted by the League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro‑Rutherford County brought together education leaders from private, charter, and traditio...
Local Education
Tullahoma School Board Votes to Limit Classroom Flags After Heated Debate Over LGBTQ+ Symbols
The Tullahoma City School Board voted unanimously Monday to restrict classroom flags and displays to curriculum-related materials, ending weeks of debate center...
Local Education
Clarksville-Montgomery School Board Rejects Resolution to Oppose Legislation That Would Allow School Districts the Option of Denying Undocumented Children
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board narrowly voted down a resolution opposing House Bill 793, legislation that would allow Tennessee school districts...
Local Education
Sumner County School Board Votes to Keep ‘Christmas Break’ After Heated Debate Over Holiday Name
After nearly an hour of passionate testimony from parents and community members, the Sumner County Board of Education voted to keep “Christmas Break” on its off...
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Moves Toward ‘Away for the Day’ Cell Phone Policy After 11-1 Board Vote
Williamson County Schools is taking a major step toward a full “away for the day” cell phone policy.
State Education
Proposed Public Charter Schools in Rutherford and Madison Counties Receive Key Support
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission is holding a meeting tomorrow to decide appeals from the Jackson Museum School and Rocketship Public Schools.
Local Government
Rep. Warner’s Quarry Lake Project Rejected by Marshall County Board Following Outcry of ‘Destroying’ Neighbors’ Homes
The project, already underway at 3429 Verona Caney Road in Lewisburg, has come under scrutiny for originally being approved for agricultural use, despite attend...
Local Education
Rutherford County Board Backs House Rep. Mike Sparks’ Push to Lower School Bus Driver Age Amid Shortages
The Rutherford County School Board voted 5-2 to support state legislation reducing Tennessee’s minimum school bus driver age from 25 to 23 in an effort to ease ...
Local Education
New Research Backs Up Public Charter School’s Argument for Expanding into Rutherford County
New data compiled by the Tennessee Charter School Center and SCORE found economically disadvantaged students at Rocketship Dream Community Prep scored in the to...
State Education
Tennessee Tri-Star Reads Contest Winners Log Thousands of Summer Reading Minutes by Traveling to ‘Different Places’
A wizarding world. A magical farm. Other places human beings can scarcely imagine. These are just some of the places the Tri-Star Reads summer reading contest w...
State Education
Rutherford County Parents Make the Case to Launch a New Public Charter School
The Rutherford County School Board narrowly voted down Rocketship’s application to open a new public charter school last July, and the operator appealed that de...
Local Education
Wilson County Schools Considers Adjusting Start Times Amid Bus Driver Shortage
Wilson County Schools is considering changes to school start times as part of an effort to address an ongoing shortage of bus drivers that has left some routes ...
Local Education
MNPS District Leaders say International Baccalaureate Program is Making a Difference in Northeast Davidson County
Metro Nashville district leaders say the International Baccalaureate program in the Hunters Lane Cluster is improving student pathways and early postsecondary o...
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Announces GPA Change for Transfer Students
Beginning this school year, the district plans to recalculate each transfer student’s grade point average (GPA) from their prior schools using Williamson County...
Local Education
Williamson County Parents Sue School Board for Allegedly Allowing a Transgender Student to Participate in an All-Girls Sex Ed Class
The lawsuit stems from two seventh grade family life classes that occurred last May at Legacy Middle School in Franklin.
Local News
MNPS Partners with Vanderbilt on $450K Study to Combat Chronic Absenteeism in Nashville Schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is teaming up with Vanderbilt University on a new $450 thousand research project aimed at tackling one of the city’s most ...
Local Education
Novus SMART Academy Approval Brings a Fourth Public Charter School to Rutherford County
Board members Tammy Sharp, Katie Darby, Stan Vaught, and Vice-Chair Frances voted in support of Novus SMART, while Chair Claire Maxwell, Butch Vaughn, and Caleb...
Local Education
Rocketship Public Schools Proposes Expanding its Personalized Learning Model into Rutherford County
Members of the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education denied Rocketship’s application in April, but multiple members encouraged the charter operator to ma...
Local Education
Jeremy Sager has Helped Students in Memphis and Nashville Achieve Success. His ‘Two-Educator Model’ Could Do Even More in Rutherford County
On Thursday, members of the Rutherford County Board of Education will decide whether to approve Jeremy Sager’s application to open Novus SMART Academy (K-8).
State Education
Tennessee Department of Education, Metro Nashville Public Schools Win Top Honors at 2025 ACT Summit
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) received top honors at the 2025 ACT State and District Summit for their l...
State Education
Franklin Special School District Teacher of the Year Finalist Ginger Colvett Champions Literacy and Belonging for English Learners
Franklin Special School District educator Ginger Colvett is being celebrated statewide as a 2025–26 Tennessee Teacher of the Year finalist for her remarkable wo...
Local Education
Williamson County Bans Most Student Phone Use at School, Board Members Cite Mental Health and Focus Concerns
Starting this fall, students in Williamson County Schools will face significant new restrictions on personal cell phone use during the day.
Local Education
Housing prices may be a barrier too high for younger families in Williamson County
Six years ago, a young family hoping to move to Williamson County, Tennessee faced a real estate market where the median home sales price was $521 thousand doll...
State Education
Summer reading contest encourages children to stop the “summer slide”
Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success created Tristar Reads to encourage children to read during their summer break.
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board approves new school bus contract, plans to potentially purchase its own buses to address route gaps
The new contract approved Thursday includes a 17 percent raise in the first year and 2.5 percent in each of the following three years.
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board considers buying buses to deal with expected route gaps next school year
Rutherford County Schools has identified 12 buses it can purchase from nearby dealers for roughly $2 million. Board members will consider approving that purchas...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board rescinds plans for parent responsibility zone amid safety concerns, public outcry
Under the original plan, school bus service would have been eliminated for students in grades K-5 who live within a mile of their school and students in grades ...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools director says he’s now hopeful any potential bus driver strike will be “limited”
Rutherford County Schools Director Dr. Jimmy Sullivan posted a video Wednesday afternoon to let parents know he’s now hopeful the potential school bus driver st...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board turns down applications from two proposed public charter schools
Leaders of Rocketship Public Schools and Novus SMART Academy (K-8) have the option of submitting an amended application for approval this summer.
Elections
Bill locking in local primaries passes House vote despite pushback from some Republicans
Legislation that prevents Tennessee counties from switching to a caucus for local partisan elections passed a House vote Monday and now heads to Governor Bill L...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board moves to pull even more titles from school libraries
The board voted Thursday to pull more than a dozen titles from library shelves, despite receiving a report that the district’s libraries aren’t meeting state st...
Elections
Senator Johnson and Representative Reeves want to ensure voting remains convenient in county primaries. Why is their own county’s GOP chapter opposing them?
The lawmakers are proposing legislation that ensures every county that currently uses a primary for local partisan races continues to do so and prohibits them f...
State Education
Senate Committee advances expansion of original Education Savings Account program, despite passage of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Senator Todd Gardenhire’s, R-Chattanooga, legislation would expand the Education Savings Account (ESA) pilot program implemented in 2022 to include students in ...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools Director vows to protect the “community feel” by building smaller schools
Rutherford County is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and school officials there are weighing how to handle an influx of students while trying to m...
Local Education
Williamson County School Board to vote on further library restrictions, changes about who can make book complaints
Under the proposed change for the Tennessee school district, librarians would be required to develop a “Mature Materials List” identifying materials within the ...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board moves to pull more titles from library shelves
School board members voted to remove “Assassination Classroom” volumes 1 through 8 and 11by Yusei Matsui, “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller, “Perfect Chemistry” by Si...
State Education
Senate Education Committee advances bill to prohibit cell phone use in classrooms
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, requires local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students f...
Local Education
Applications filed in 5 counties to open 11 new public charter schools
Novus SMART Academy is among the 11 new start charter applications that met this month’s filing deadline in five school districts across the state.
News
Rutherford County Schools Board of Education passes resolution urging ‘closure of the nation’s borders’
The Rutherford County Schools (RCS) Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday urging state leaders to “expedite the closure of the nation’s borders” as th...
News
Sumner County Schools’ Frankie Skinner Named National Finalist for Leadership Excellence
The Sumner County Board of Education gave its special recognition Tuesday to Sumner County Schools Director of Instruction Frankie Skinner after she was recentl...
News
Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools leaders take ‘neutral stance’ on school vouchers
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) Board of Education voted Tuesday to take a “neutral stance” on Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed school voucher p...
News
Williamson County Schools Superintendent says more tax dollars needed for teacher and staff raises
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden told district leaders and community members at Tuesday’s school board meeting that the district is current...
News
Williamson County Schools leaders recommend open zoning for most schools in 2025-26 school year
Williamson County Schools (WCS) leaders recently recommended allowing over 40 of the district’s 50 schools to have open zoning next school year.
State Education
Senator Dawn White named new Senate Education Committee Chair
Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, named former teacher, Senator Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, as chair the Senate Education Committee that...
News
Rutherford County school board votes to remove and restrict several more titles from school libraries
The book ban debate continued to rage at Thursday’s Rutherford County Schools Board of Education meeting, when school board members ultimately voted to remove s...
News
Representative Mike Sparks floats proposal to reduce minimum age of school bus drivers
Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, has proposed reducing the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 21 to help school districts find more qualified bus drivers ...
News
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System works to increase instructional effectiveness through teacher residency pathways
CMCSS Director of Opportunity Culture Lisa Baker provided an overview of teacher residency programming within the district at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeti...
News
Rutherford County Schools approves school rezoning
The Rutherford County Schools Board of Education approved new zoning rules for high schools in the county at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
News
Williamson County Schools bans three more books, restricts two others
The Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday to ban three books and restrict access to two others at Monday’s school board meeting, following months of...
News
Rutherford County residents speak out against banning books like ‘A Clockwork Orange’
Several local residents spoke to Rutherford County Schools (RCS) Board of Education members Thursday to continue voicing opposition to recent book bans within t...
News
Rutherford County Schools considers potential plans for two new high schools to prevent overcrowding
Rutherford County Schools (RCS) leaders are growing more concerned about overcrowding in high schools as more and more families move into the district.
State Education
New analysis finds Tennessee’s largest school districts underperforming math expectations
National education news organization the 74 found Tennessee’s largest school districts are achieving math proficiency at lower rates than expected based on pove...
News
Wilson County Schools celebrates its six Reward Schools
Wilson County Schools (WCS) Director Jeff Luttrell congratulated six schools for recently being named as Reward Schools by the Tennessee Department of Education...
News
Wilson County middle school receives excellence in architectural design award after rebuilding from tornado destruction
Wilson County Schools recently received special recognition for the design of the new West Wilson Middle School building, according to WCS Director Jeff Luttrel...
News
Sumner County Schools moves ahead with Beech High School stadium construction plans
Sumner County Schools officials will move forward with current plans to construct a new stadium at Beech High School, despite some recent disagreements within t...
News
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Golden outlines plans to improve teacher pay and stop bullying
The Williamson County Schools (WCS) Board of Education unanimously approved new plans proposed Monday by Superintendent Jason Golden to address budget concerns ...
News
“A Clockwork Orange”among 150 books Rutherford County Schools has pulled from the shelves
The ongoing debate about book bans in Rutherford County Schools dominated much of the discussion at Thursday’s Board of Education meeting, after district librar...
Elections
Status quo wins in every closely watched House race
Going into Tuesday night’s general election, Tennessee Democrats had high hopes of whittling into the Republican supermajority by winning a handful of House sea...
Local Education
Wilson County School leaders consider new social media guidelines
The Wilson County Schools Board of Education discussed recent proposals for a new district social media policy at Thursday’s regular meeting that would restrict...
News
Rutherford County residents speak out on controversial book ban as school board awaits state guidance
A handful of local residents spoke to the Rutherford County Board of Education Thursday to express their support and opposition to a recent decision by the boar...
News
Wilson County Schools removes 400 books from school libraries
Over 400 titles have been pulled from Wilson County Schools library shelves since July 1, in response to a state law that restricts access to books with sexual ...
Local Education
Sumner County Schools tells parents there will be “zero tolerance” for school threats
Sumner County Schools is the latest district taking extra measures to warn parents about the growing problem of school threats in Tennessee.The district recentl...
News
Williamson County Board of Education rescinds resolution opposing vouchers, changes dress code
The Williamson County Schools Board of Education voted Monday to rescind a resolution from March that voiced the board’s opposition to Gov. Bill Lee’s Education...
Local Education
State commission overturns Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to approve three new public charter schools
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission overturns Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to approve two new public charter schools.
News
Book ban debate divides Rutherford County School Board
The Middle Tennessee school district continued discussions about how to align district policies with state laws that instruct schools to ban books with sexual o...
News
Sumner County students are giving back through a new school program
The Sumner County Schools Board of Education provided an overview Tuesday of a new district initiative that will allow students to build up their career and tec...
News
Rutherford County Schools asks for ‘full prosecution’ of students making threats against schools
The school district passed a resolution Tuesday asking the Rutherford County District Attorney’s Office to continue criminally prosecuting students and others w...
News
Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board postpones pick for chair after split vote
The Middle Tennessee school district postponed its pick for chair after voting ended in a deadlock at Tuesday’s regular board meeting.
News
Rutherford County Schools leaders vote to remove six books from district schools
The Rutherford County Schools Board of Education voted to remove six literary classics from school libraries at Thursday’s regular school board meeting includin...
News
Rutherford County Schools leaders set to make a final decision on whether to ban seven books
Rutherford County Schools leaders are expected to make a decision on whether to ban seven books Thursday in order to comply with state laws instructing school l...
Local Education
Williamson County students make the case for middle school school arts instructors to get a raise
Williamson County parents and students continued urging district leaders to increase compensation for fine arts teachers at Monday's school board meeting.
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools Director says two students arrested for making false reports about school threats
Rutherford County Schools Director Dr. Jimmy Sullivan posted a video message on social media to parents Tuesday afternoon in response to the arrests of two stud...
Local Education
Williamson County Schools says students are spreading misinformation about school threats
Williamson County Schools says misinformation on social media may be unnecessarily alarming parents.
News
Supporters make the case for Novus SMART Academy in Rutherford County
Following the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education’s recent decision to deny Novus SMART Academy’s application to become the fourth charter school in th...
State Education
Rep. Charlie Baum wants to reduce the “lag” growing school districts face receiving state funding
The monthly payments Tennessee sends school districts are determined based on enrollment last school year. Representative Charlie Baum Districts hopes to reduce...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools leaders highlight homegrown training program for special ed and ESL instructors
Rutherford County Schools (RCS) leaders highlighted recent efforts to fill special education and English as a second language (ESL) teaching positions at Thursd...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools in need of additional nurses for ‘medically fragile’ students
Rutherford County Schools Board of Education officials noted the need for more school nurses in the district at Tuesday’s work session meeting.
Local Education
“Wicked” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” among 7 books under consideration for banning at Rutherford County Schools
The Rutherford County Schools Board of Education is expected to decide if it will ban seven books next month to comply with a new state law instructing school l...
Local Education
Sumner County Schools increases number of AP scholars
Sumner County Schools Director Scott Langford told board officials and community members that the district has made significant strides in expanding of advanced...
Local Education
Williamson County students continue push for arts teacher pay raises
Multiple Williamson County Schools students and community members continued to urge the Williamson County Board of Education to support raises for arts teachers...
Local Education
Williamson County Schools officials discuss AI guidelines, plagiarism concerns
According to current guidelines available on the board’s website, students and staff should only use AI programs that are approved by district leadership for in...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools addresses teacher vacancies, welcomes back Brick Church Middle
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has made significant progress in recent efforts to address teacher vacancies in the district, according to a back-to-schoo...
News
Three new public charter schools took different paths to serve families in Rutherford County
Rutherford Collegiate Prep opened its doors for the first time to students last Wednesday while American Classical Academy Rutherford and Springs Empower Academ...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools approves book ban policy revisions
The Rutherford County school board unanimously voted to approve revisions to district policy regarding the removal of books with sexual or inappropriate themes ...
Data and Polling
Scarlett Family Foundation launches new Nashville Public Schools Data Finder
The education philanthropic organization Scarlett Family Foundation recently launched a new tool designed to allow parents and other education stakeholders to f...
Elections
Rep. Scott Cepicky calls Governor Lee’s voucher bill “terrible” despite receiving his endorsement in next month’s primary
Rep. Scott Cepicky calls Governor Lee’s voucher bill “terrible” despite receiving his endorsement in next month’s primary.
Local Education
Sumner County Schools officials discuss upcoming budget as deadline looms
The Sumner County Board of Education discussed potential ways to approach the 2024-25 fiscal year budget at Tuesday’s regular meeting after the Sumner County Bu...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board says no to a fourth public charter school
Members of the Rutherford County School Board voted 4 to 3 Wednesday night to reject what would’ve been the county’s fourth public charter school. Financial con...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools review team recommends approval for a fourth public charter school
Next month Rutherford County will see three new public charter schools open and a fourth could see approval before the first class bell rings.
Elections
Conservative challenger Ray Jeter outraises Rep. Scott Cepicky with Maury County contributions
Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, has won three elections for House district 64 by comfortable margins, but this week’s campaign filings show he’s facin...
Elections
Representative Scott Cepicky misleads the public in radio interview on his school vouchers plan
Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, went on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show recently to discuss the failed effort he led last session to reduce the amount ...
Data and Polling
Metro Nashville school board lauds state test results
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education celebrated gains made across grade levels and subjects in this year’s Tennessee Comprehensive Asses...
Elections
House challenger Ray Jeter wants to build education up in Tennessee, not throw it in the trash as his opponent suggested
Ray Jeter says the construction company he manages in Maury County operates with one key motto for its staff. Build people, move dirt.Jeter says he’d apply a si...
College and Higher Edu...
Vanderbilt and Oak Ridge partner on AI research and development for national security
Vanderbilt University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have announced a new partnership focusing on artificial intelligence research to develop technologies fo...
Elections
House candidate Brian Beathard campaigns on myth that Williamson County is receiving less money for schools from the state
Last Thursday Republican State House District 65 candidate Brian Beathard took to his Facebook page to attack what may be Governor Bill Lee’s biggest education ...
Local Education
Parent poll reveals 'Nashville's hidden literacy crisis'
The education and parent advocacy organization Nashville PROPEL has released a white paper detailing what local parents think about “Nashville’s hidden literary...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools outlines alternative learning redesign plans
Metro Nashville Public Schools' alternative learning centers, or ALCs, will provide students with support "every step of the way" under redesign plans unveiled ...
Elections
As Sumner County dries out, commissioners who rejected flood prevention funds are working to elect Senate challenger Chris Spencer
On May 8 floodwaters rushed into Sumner County, damaging property, and forcing emergency crews to execute dozens of water rescues.The storm also washed up new c...
State Education
Governor signs law designed to reduce the number of children retained in the fourth-grade under new reading requirements
Governor Bill Lee signed legislation Tuesday that should ease some concerns parents have that their fourth-graders could be held back this year.That possibility...
State Education
Tristar Reads contest encourages students to spend their summer break with a book
Last summer Rutherford County teen Taylor Aslup took advantage of every opportunity to read.Aslup balanced work and cheerleading while still finding time to spe...
Local Education
Students in Rutherford County may take home new backpacks at summer camp
Rutherford County Schools (RCS) is recommending purchasing backpacks for participants in the upcoming June summer learning camp.
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board votes down proposed fourth public charter school while leaving the door open for approval later
Members of the Rutherford County School Board unanimously rejected what could be the district’s fourth public charter school Thursday but not without offering a...
Local Education
Williamson County students plead for art teacher pay raises
The arts can be a place where students find community and acceptance as they navigate through their school years.Some students in Williamson County worry the ar...
Local Education
Independent review recommends denial for a proposed fourth public charter school in Rutherford County
Leaders of Novus SMART Academy (K-8) hope to provide families with another public school option.
College and Higher Edu...
Flip flops and t-shirts meets suits: MTSU unveils the merger of two departments during Spring Alumni Showcase
Students, faculty, and alumni gathered Tuesday night to celebrate a new chapter in Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) work in political and global studi...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board narrowly votes to extend director of schools’ contract
Members of the Rutherford County School Board narrowly voted 4 to 3 to extend the contract of Director James “Jimmy” Sullivan during Thursday night’s board meet...
Local Education
Residents urge the Rutherford County School Board to reconsider restricting public comments at meetings
Some residents in Rutherford County say a proposed policy change to public comments at school board meetings could infringe on their First Amendment Rights.Curr...
Local Education
LaVergne High School senior granted right to wear eagle feather in graduation cap
Stephen White Eagle approached the Rutherford County School Board Thursday evening to fight for his son’s right to wear an eagle feather in his graduation cap.W...
Local Education
American Classical Academy Rutherford announces school location in La Vergne
Future students of American Classical Academy Rutherford will begin school at a building just off I-24 in La Vergne.Leaders of the new public charter school ann...
National Education
Rutherford County School leaders join national lawsuit against social media companies
The Rutherford County Board of Education is joining a national lawsuit against social media companies for alleged damages to students.School board members unani...
Local Education
Williamson County residents urge school board to address racial bullying
Independence High School student Elaina Reed told Williamson County School Board members that she was scared when one of her classmates bullied her for her race...
Local Education
Springs Empower Academy to open at a temporary location in the fall while its permanent school is under construction
Springs Empower Academy announced a partnership with the Smyrna Boys & Girls Club to provide a temporary location while the K-5 public charter school’s permanen...
Local Education
Reset rooms are reducing behavior problems in Rutherford County elementary schools
Rutherford County School leaders say reset rooms are helping prevent behavior problems in elementary schools.Reset rooms are designated safe areas where student...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board discusses pay raises and other changes to compete for staff
The Rutherford County School Board is considering upping the ante for how much the district pays its special education teachers and faculty.During budget prepar...
State Government
Rutherford County School Board asks to exclude students learning English from School Letter Grades
Local Education
Sumner County votes to a keep challenged book on shelves after its author reached out in support
Members of the Sumner County School Board voted to keep the book “Hey, Kiddo” on library shelves Tuesday after its own author sent a video message to support it...
Local Education
Williamson County School Board approves billion-dollar plan to address growing enrollment
The Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday night to approve a nearly $1 billion updated five-year capital improvement plan which includes constructio...
State Government
Lawmakers use time in between federal funding hearings to tour innovative Nashville public charter school
State Senators Jon Lundbeg, R-Brisol, and Bill Powers, R-Clarksville, and Representative William Slater, R-Hendersonville, utilized their downtime in between fe...
College and Higher Edu...
Dickson County Higher Education Center announced for Dickson and surrounding communities
Nashville State Community College (NCC), the Tennessee College of Applied Technologies (TCAT) Dickson, TriStar Horizon Medical Center, and The Jackson Foundatio...
Local Education
Sumner County parents ask school board to uphold funding plan for stadium renovations
Sumner County parents urged school board members last week to follow through on promised athletic facility improvements.The Sumner County School Board approved ...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board wants to suspend the driver license of students who make school threats
Members of the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to push for harsher consequences for students who threate...
Local Education
Williamson County students complain of intimidation from adults following pride flag discussion
Williamson County students say they faced intimidation following last month’s discussion on whether pride flags should be allowed in classrooms.Amy Duncan with ...
Local Education
Future public charter school offers Rutherford County families a unique social emotional learning experience
Murfreesboro parents Amber and Scott Mitchell are currently looking for a school that will not only meet their special needs daughter’s academic requirements, b...
Local Education
Rutherford County Director of Schools wants to provide students with additional mental health services
Rutherford County Director of Schools James Sullivan wants to change the narrative around mental health in the district to provide additional resources to stude...
Local Education
Springs Empower Academy releases renderings of Rutherford County's new public charter school
Springs Empower Academy students now have a picture of what their future school will look like.School leaders unveiled renderings Monday for the new K-8 public ...
Local Education
Charter Commission accuses school district of “playing games” during appeal of American Classical Academy
Members of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission unanimously overturned a decision by the Jackson-Madison County School Board Thursday and questioned h...
Local Education
Dozens of parents write in support of American Classical Education’s effort to open Madison County’s first public charter school
Dozens of parents are lending their support to American Classical Education (ACE)’s appeal to open the first public charter school in Madison County.The Tenness...
Local Education
Maury County residents debate the role religion and school choice would play in proposed American Classical Education public charter school
American Classical Education’s (ACE) appeal to open the first public charter school in Maury County faced a new criticism at Thursday’s public hearing with the ...
Local Education
Sumner County School Board approves funding athletic facility repairs
The Sumner County Board of Education voted to move $15.5 million out of reserves to fund the first wave of stadium renovations, rebuilds, and facility updates i...
Local Education
Do pride flags belong in the classroom? Parents and students speak out at Williamson County School Board meeting
The most controversial issue at Monday’s Williamson County School Board meeting wasn’t even on the agenda.Nearly three dozen parents and students came to the me...
State Education
Shelbyville education leaders want student growth to play a large role in new School Letter Grades
Shelbyville parents and educators gave the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) a lot to consider as it fine tunes the new system to provide an A through F ...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board elects Shelia Bratton as new chair
Rutherford County School Board members voted Shelia Bratton to be the new board chair Tuesday evening, replacing former chair Tammy Sharp.Sharp withdrew from se...
State Education
Cookeville parent and educators want the new School Letter Grades to be accountable
Accountability was the main focus for Cookeville parents, educators, and administrators during a Tuesday night discussion about how schools should be graded for...
State Education
Dickson educators say student growth should be a key part of a new system to grade public schools
Parents and educators in Dickson kicked off a series of town hall events across the state Tuesday night designed to help the state grade its public schools.The ...
State Education
Dickson educators say student growth should be a key part of a new system to grade public schools
Parents and educators in Dickson kicked off a series of town hall events across the state Tuesday night designed to help the state grade its public schools.The ...
Local Education
Close vote denies American Classical Education in Maury County
Members of the Maury County Public Schools Board of Education narrowly voted down a much talked about application by American Classical Education (ACE) to open ...
Local Education
Cheatham County students no longer allowed to carry their backpacks to class
The halls of Cheatham County’s middle and high schools will look a bit different when students return August 7. Students will no longer be carrying backpacks to...
Local Education
Nonprofit aims to turn special needs kids in Rutherford County into comic book heroes
Special needs students in Rutherford County may get to live out their dreams of becoming superheroes in the near future.At Thursday’s Rutherford County School B...
State Education
Jackson County Superintendent appointed to key leadership role with the Tennessee Department of Education
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced current Jackson County Schools Superintendent Kristy Brown will take over as the department’s new Chief A...
Local Education
Williamson County Schools votes to keep five challenged books
Members of the Williamson County Schools Board of Education voted 8 to 2 to keep five challenged books on the shelves Monday night.Those books include Speak, Pe...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Senator Bill Powers strives to bring common sense principles to education
State Senator Bill Powers (R-Clarksville) took an unconventional path to politics and the Tennessee General Assembly where he's the Vice-Chairperson of the Sena...
Local Education
Tennessee school district sues social media companies over student mental health ‘crisis’
A Tennessee school district has joined a growing list of school systems across the nation that are suing major social media companies like TikTok and YouTube ov...
Local Education
Williamson County approves extra notification to parents when a school library book is challenged
Williamson County Schools Board of Education voted to give parents two notifications when there’s a request to remove a book from a school library.Last April, t...
Local Education
Parents could learn next week if their child is in jeopardy of being held back under Third-Grade Retention Law
School districts across the state should learn this week what students could be held back under the state’s new Third-Grade Retention Law.The Tennessee Departme...
Local Education
Proposed public charter school with connections to Hillsdale faces questions during application hearing
American Classical Education (ACE) faced questions of providing misleading letters of support for a proposed new school at a hearing Friday with the charter rev...
State Government
Tennessee lawmaker facing expulsion defends actions on behalf of student protesters
Before Justin Pearson was elected to the Tennessee House, before he gained acclaim for stopping an oil pipeline project planned for his neighborhood, he was a s...
College and Higher Edu...
One week remains for Middle Tennessee seniors to apply for more than 160 scholarships
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is offering students more than 150 scholarship opportunities to apply for, but the application is only available fo...
Local Education
Cheatham County Schools says district fuel cards skimmed by thieves
A new report from the State Comptroller’s Office found nearly $60 thousand in inappropriate fuel card spending by employees of the Cheatham County School Distri...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Senator Dawn White is bringing lessons from the classroom to Nashville
State Senator Dawn White was always going to make an impact on education. The Murfreesboro legislator says even as a young child growing up in Eagleville Tennes...
Commentary
Commentary: Students in This Tennessee District Are More Literacy-Proficient Post-Pandemic
As instructional leaders in our district, we are fortunate to spend lots of time in classrooms. Cathy loves to share the story of popping in on one fourth-grade...
Local Education
Middle school reading champ says winning was more challenging this year
Reading champion Tallen Haag’s love of books might actually have its beginnings in her mother’s search for a new house.Stacey Haag says she had one very importa...
Local Education
Public Charter School Commission Denies Both Founders Classical Academy Appeals
Local Education
Public Charter School Commission Denies Both Founders Classical Academy Appeals
Local Education
Service for students with disabilities in question for proposed Classic charter schools
Local Government
Tennessee graduation rates exceed pre-pandemic levels
Local Education
Hillsdale-linked charter school plans draw Tennesseans’ ire
Tennesseans overwhelmingly opposed Hillsdale-linked charter schools in written comments, criticizing curriculum and concerns over government overreach. The stat...
Local Education
Parents tell state board Williamson County Schools are too political
Williamson County Schools have the reputation of being among the best public schools in Tennessee but Wednesday morning a group of parents told the Tennessee St...
Local Education
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 ch...
Local Education
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 ch...
Local Education
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 wrongfull...
State Education
Reading all star back to compete in Tristar Reads Scholarship Program
There’s not a Hall of Fame for reading competitions in Tennessee but if there were, Pegram’s Sarah Collier would be in it.
Local Education
Rutherford County approves Tennessee’s first suburban charter school
Tennessee currently has no charter schools operating outside the big four cities of Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Rutherford County’s School B...