Local Education
Hamilton County Defends Denial of Proposed Public Charter School
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will decide Empowerment Academy’s appeal next month.
Local Education
Coverage, analysis, and reporting on local education across Tennessee.
921 articles
Local Education
School Board Members Ignore Questions About Public School Choice
Only four board members in Tennessee’s three largest school districts responded to a Tennessee Firefly questionnaire on key education issues their district is f...
Local Education
Willful Blindness? Dyer County Admits Rejecting Trimble Academy Without Seeking Expert Guidance
The proposed community-supported school was voted down after a review by individuals with no charter school experience.
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Faces More Allegations of Grade Inflation
District leaders pushed back on the allegations, saying ‘teachers have not been pressured’ to change grading practices.
Local Education
Proposed Rural Charter School Receives Community Backing Ahead of Appeal
The Trimble Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed a resolution in support of Trimble Academy.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Closes all Campuses Monday
A severe storm hit the city Saturday, causing major power outages that may not be fully restored until Thursday.
Local Education
New Advocacy Group Opposes Legal Challenge of State Intervention
Together 4 Students argues that Memphis-Shelby County Schools should work with the new oversight board.
Local Education
Nashville Daycare Helping Keep Public Charter School Teachers in the Classroom
Little Wonders Early Learning Center serves teachers by providing convenience and peace of mind.
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Opens to Students
The facility will give high schoolers hands-on learning opportunities to get a head start on their career paths.
Local Education
Former Teacher Says Pressure to Inflate Grades is Harming Students
Samira Hardcastle says she quit her job following pressure from Metro Nashville Public School leaders.
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Credits Widespread Academic Improvement to Higher Standards
The district recorded consistent increases in TCAP proficiency across multiple subjects since 2021.
Local Education
Old Challenge Impacts the New School Year in Rutherford County
Rutherford County Schools is still looking for drivers to fill two bus runs.
Local Education
‘It Was Hard Not to Cry:’ From School Board Rejection to Opening Day Celebration
Inside the long road to Jackson Museum Academy’s inaugural school year.
Local Education
Knox County Schools Set to Re-evaluate Banned Books List
The district’s Board of Education voted to replace the current process for reviewing books.
Local Education
Knox County School Board Flips to Democratic Majority in Election
Brandy Jenkins defeated Republican candidate Bill Sofield to fill the District 9 seat.
Local Education
Rocketship United Academy Holds “Kinder Camp” Ahead of First School Day
Principal Ben Smith says the camp prepares incoming kindergarteners to transition to elementary school.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Faces Tough Back-to-School Questions
Media grilled Dr. Roderick Richmond about state intervention, enrollment, and staffing issues on the first day of school.
Local Education
Board of Education Denies Highest-Rated Charter School Applications Since 2014
The decisions against The Gate School, Music City Academy, and others could lead Metro Nashville Public Schools to hand over charter approvals to the state.
Local Education
LEAD Students Find Useful 'Thought Partner' in AI
LEAD's summer Alpha AI Program introduces students to AI as a tool to improve their ideas.
Local Education
Metro Nashville Board of Education Could Approve First Charter School Since 2021
Two proposed charter schools achieved the highest rating since 2014.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Partners with tnAchieves to Better Support Students
The partnership aims to increase the college-going rate in more than 15 schools.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Recommends Approval for Two Public Charter Schools
School board members are scheduled to vote on Urban Dove I and II next week.
Local Education
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.
Local Education
Chatt Prep Narrowly Denied Expansion Despite Large Academic Improvements
The Hamilton County Board of Education could not reach the required majority for approval due to absences.
Local Education
Manchester Elementary Teacher Shocked to Receive Milken Educator Award
Holly Logan received national recognition for her work helping English language learners.
Local Education
The Gate School Would Bring Discussion-Based Harkness Method to West Nashville
Metro Nashville Public Schools will consider the proposed public charter school’s amended application on July 28.
Local Education
Student Board Members Ready to Lead with Advocacy
Ava Dakash and Hannah Said will represent 80,000 Metro Nashville Public Schools students this school year.
Local Education
Knox County Schools Avoids Teacher Layoffs After Unexpected Budget Cuts
The district had to account for $7.8 million in diverted funding.
Local Education
Trimble Academy Supporters Say Their Application Wasn’t Given a Fair Review
Dyer County School Board members denied the proposed public charter school despite a positive recommendation from experts.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Audit Reveals Millions of Dollars in Mismanagement
Auditors say they found possible conflicts of interest in bidding practices and non-competitive procurement processes.
Local Education
State Intervention in Memphis-Shelby County Remains in Limbo
A hearing has yet to be scheduled for both sides to present their cases, following last week’s court order temporarily halting intervention.
Local Education
Chattanooga Grad Starts Program to Help Students Think 'Big Picture'
Maurquez Thompson’s new college prep program will support students from The Howard School and Brainerd High School.
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
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Poised to Renew Tech Contract Despite Lawsuit
Litigation is still pending over a 2024 data breach.
Local Education
Metro Nashville Board of Education Approves $22 Million Raise
The overall proposed budget represents a four percent increase for the 2026-2027 school year.
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Superintendent Stepping Down
James Golden announced that he’s taking a position in the Franklin Special District.
Local Education
New Public Arts School to Open in Elvis Presley’s Old Middle School
The school pairs traditional academic instruction with professional arts and technology training.
Local Education
Hamilton County School Board to Vote on Reducing Testing
District leaders are proposing to cut local benchmarks to two per year.
State Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Oversight Board Appoints Chair
A former school board member will lead the committee that has broad authority over the district.
Local Education
Former Teacher of the Year Named to Memphis-Shelby County Oversight Committee
The committee’s first meeting will be held on Thursday morning.
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board Considers Third Alternative School
The school could cost upwards of $25 million.
Local Education
Hume-Fogg Junior Chosen to be Metro Nashville Student Board Member
Hannah Said will join Ava Dakash in representing more than 81,000 students.
Local Education
Rutherford County Teachers Point to Behavior as a Top Issue
Creating an alternative placement for kindergarteners could be a possible solution.
Local Education
Alcoa Intermediate School AI Club Wins $10,000 National Award
East Tennessee fourth and fifth-graders created an app concept to help students with their homework.
Local Education
Fewer Metro Nashville Students Pulled from Class for Discipline
A district expert claims the improvements come from an overhaul in disciplinary philosophy.
Local Education
Charter School Marching Band in its First Year of Existence Performs at CMA Fest
The band was formed thanks to helping hands from Pinnacle Financial Partners, the Country Music Association (CMA), and country music star Russell Dickerson.
Local Education
Knox County Schools to Ask Legislators to Revise Book-Banning Law
The district confirmed on May 14 that it was pulling Roots from its schools before superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk reinstated it two weeks later.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Charter Schools Outperforming Noncharters in Math Recovery
MSCS public charter school students scored 3 percent higher in math proficiency on the TCAP last year than traditional public school students.
Local Education
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Denies Empower Memphis Expansion Petition
Under its current charter agreement, the school could still expand by one grade level each year until reaching its K-8 capacity.
Local Education
Knox County Schools May Seek Book Ban Law Reform
The district banned the book “Roots” under a 2024 state law before its superintendent reinstated it.
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools to Tailor Transportation to New Start Times
The district will expand the use of student ID tracking and partner with WeGo Public Transit.
Local Education
Nashville School of Excellence Offers STEM Education to Immigrant Families
The principal of the proposed public charter school hopes to serve the growing immigrant population in South Nashville.
Local Education
LEAD Neely’s Bend High School to Open in August
The public charter school will enable existing middle school students to continue reaching for their dreams.
Local Education
Hamilton County Teachers Appear Set for Pay Increase
At Thursday’s meeting, members unanimously settled on a budget that includes raises for employees and six- and seven-figure funding allocations for athletics, f...
Local Education
Clarksville Parents Criticize Support Following Fatal School Bus Crash
Five parents called the district out for a lack of accountability, transparency, and support for grieving and traumatized families and students during the publi...
Local Education
Memphis School Board Cites Dated Study in Top Urban School District Claim
That study is five years old and includes data from 2018 or earlier.
Local Education
Hamilton County to Invest $1 million in Future Ready Centers
Mayor Weston Wamp announced that the county will invest $1 million into the Harrison Bay Future Ready Center and the North River Future Ready Center.
Local Education
Williamson County Students Could Face Stricter Personal Device Rules
Superintendent Jason Golden said the district expects to further reduce student screen time during the school day, despite measures already taken to decrease it...
Local Education
New Charter Schools Bring College and Career Education Model to Jackson
After 18 years of serving students within five schools in Memphis, Gestalt Community Schools is expanding its education model into Jackson with two new charter ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Closes Public Charter School
Memphis Delta Prep is closing after its second consecutive cycle on the state's priority list.
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools Considers Changes to Bus Contractor Policy
The district’s school board recommended adopting a new policy that adds language on the payment of insurance premiums for its bus drivers and rules for leasing ...
Local Education
Rocketship Public Schools Celebrates Decade of Impact in Nashville
Rocketship's three Nashville public charter schools alternate between four content blocks: Humanities, STEM, Learning Lab, and Enrichment.
Elections
Incumbent School Board Members Defeated in Rutherford and Knox Counties
Tuesday's state and county primaries will remake multiple school boards.
Elections
Here’s Who’s Running for Memphis-Shelby County Schools District 9
Local Education
Shelby County Commission Approves Funding to Fight School Intervention
The approved money will support a legal challenge of a recently passed state law.
Local Education
Here’s Who’s Running for Memphis-Shelby County Schools District 8
The winner of the May 5 primary will face independent candidate Leigh Ann Scarbrough in the general election on August 6.
Local Education
Here’s Who’s Running for Memphis-Shelby County Schools District 6
All five candidates will be on the ballot for Tuesday's primary election.
Elections
Here’s Who’s Running for Memphis-Shelby County Schools District 1
Early voting begins on April 15, and all three candidates will be on the ballot as Democrats for the May 5 primary.
State Education
Something is Missing from the Memphis School Intervention Debate
Opponents brought up union concerns this week, but didn’t mention students.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Denies Six Charter Schools Without Discussion
The district voted down applications for Blueprint College and Career Prep, Empowerment Academy, Memphis Elites STEAM Academy, Opportunity Youth Academy, and Ur...
Local Education
Nashville Board Members Show Bias, Admit “Nitpicking” in Charter School Denials
The MNPS Board of Education denied every proposed charter school for the fifth straight year
Local Education
Four Public Charter Schools Approved in Jackson
The approvals came at the behest of Superintendent Dr. Marlon King, who in the past has made efforts to keep charter schools out of the district.
Local Education
Shelby County Commission Fails to Approve Funding to Fight School Takeover
The commission voted 7-5 to act against the state’s takeover, but a two-thirds majority is needed to add the measure to the agenda for later voting.
Local Education
Charter Approval May Take Music City Miracle
School board members appear set to deny every proposed public charter school for a fifth straight year.
Local Education
Knox County Schools to Cut More Than 100 Employees
Those cuts include 57 teachers.
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board Approves County’s Sixth Public Charter School
The K-12 grade school is set to open for the 2027-2028 school year in the northwest region of Rutherford County.
Local Education
Former Memphis Principal to Lead Proposed Urban Dove Charter School
Gaston is the School Leader for the Urban Dove Team Charter School Memphis I, a planned charter school in the Hickory Hill area of Memphis that emphasizes learn...
State Education
State Oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Schools Heads to Governor’s Desk
The House voted to adopt legislation that creates an oversight board over certain school districts, including MSCS. It now heads to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for...
State Education
State Oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Schools Moves Closer to Passage
The Senate voted to approve an oversight board with far-reaching powers for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) beginning next school year.
Local Education
Libertas School of Memphis Approved to Open High School
The public charter school is the first approved under a new state law that makes it easier to replicate existing school models.
Local Education
Lawmakers Move Revised Plan for State Oversight into Memphis Schools
The new plan would create an oversight board with the authority to deny school board actions.
Local Education
Lawmakers to Decide Next Week on Memphis Shelby County Schools Intervention
A conference committee has been named to iron out the differences between two plans.
Local Education
Hamilton County School Board Rejects Proposed New Public Charter School
The Empowerment Academy is one of three public charter schools proposed this year by an organization of the same name, with two others planned for Memphis and N...
Local Education
Dyer County Board of Education Rejects First Charter School
Trimble Academy supporters are expected to submit an amended application for a second review later this summer.
Local Education
Hamilton County Provides First Look at New Downtown CTE Center
Chattanooga leaders and educators are giving the public a first look at the city’s new facility for career and technical education (CTE).
Local Education
Trimble Academy Could Be Tennessee’s First Rural Public Charter School
Supporters say a surprise decision last year spurred interest in establishing the school in the small town.
Local Education
Nashville Collegiate Prep Names Jamie Graham as First Football Coach
The public charter school kicks off its first football season next fall.
Local Education
School Board Challenger Addresses Safety at Nashville PROPEL Forum
Jennifer Bell faces Dr. Berthena Nabaa-McKinney in the MNPS District 4 primary.
Local Education
Charter School Says Leaving National School Lunch Program Won’t Hurt Students
Rutherford County School Board members still have some questions about American Classical Academy’s request.
Local Education
Nashville PROPEL School Board Candidate Forum Hits Disenrollment, Parent Engagement, and Accountability
Metro Nashville Public School (MNPS) District 6 candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions in a public setting on Saturday night.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Launches Website to Respond to Audit Findings
The site serves as a resource to track its response to the audit and provide transparency on its operations.
Local Education
Libertas School of Memphis Makes the Case for a New High School
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission held a public hearing to give school leaders and parents an opportunity to explain why the new school is needed.
Local Education
Preliminary Audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools Finds Widespread Waste and Fraud
In the audit, officials revealed nearly 175 deficiencies involving a wide range of “widespread operational failures.”
Local Education
Rutherford School Board Scoops up Land to Replace the McFadden School Building
The vote followed a lengthy debate about whether it was financially responsible to buy the property for less than its appraised value.
Local Education
Nurses Middle College Does More with Less While Fighting Nursing Shortage
Nearly a year into the school’s first year, the executive director of Nurses Middle College – Nashville is dealing with rapid expansion while trying to secure n...
Local Education
Invictus Nashville Finding the Space to Create a Unique Learning Environment
The charter school has spent its first year operating in a cluster of buildings behind the Donelson First Baptist Church.
Local Education
With State Audit Looming, Memphis-Shelby County Superintendent’s Job Security Weakened
The long-awaited forensic audit in Memphis-Shelby County Schools is days away from release, according to a Facebook post by Representative Mark White, R-Memphis...
Local Education
Toyota Pledges Six Figures to Jackson-Madison County Schools
The money will help build a new Toyota Engineering, Manufacturing, and Mechatronics (EM²) Institute STEM lab at Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School.
Local Education
Wilson County to Begin Superintendent Search After Retirement Announcement
The search follows last week’s announcement that the current superintendent, Jeff Luttrell, will retire.
Local Education
Memphis Leaders Announce Plan to Avoid State Intervention
The Local Accountability and Transformation Plan will prioritize four goals.
Local Education
Decision on Rutherford School Buses Put on Hold
No action was taken on a motion to allow the district to buy school buses to replace future unfilled contracts.
Local Education
MNPS Winter Benchmark Assessments Reveal Both Growth and Decline
More than 35,000 students in grades 2 through 9 attempted and completed the assessments, and Stinson noted that MNPS had a 96.9 percent participation rate, desp...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Closes Down Five Schools with More Closures Potentially On the Way
Board members approved closing Georgian Hills Elementary School, Lucy Elementary School, Chickasaw Middle School, Frayser-Corning Elementary, Ida B. Wells Acade...
Local Education
Chancellor Moskal Ignores Higher Student Performance in Ruling Against LEAD Cameron
The ruling ends LEAD’s challenge of a school rezoning plan.
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools Loses Bus Service for Dozens of Routes Due to Insurance Lapse
One of the contractors the board uses to employ school bus drivers has lost insurance coverage, meaning those buses cannot be used until it is restored. The iss...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Appoints Dr. Roderick Richmond as Permanent Superintendent
Richmond has been serving as interim superintendent since the board fired former superintendent, Dr. Marie Feagins last year.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Receives State Reprieve for Exceeding its Snow Days
The district has received a waiver covering five impacted days and will not need to adjust its school calendar.
Local Education
Shelby County Chancellor Rules Against Cutting Five School Board Members’ Terms
County commissioners approved the plan last year to align all nine school board seats on the same 2026 election cycle.
Local Education
Knox Prep Cites Students’ Academic Welfare in Decision to Close
Knox Prep faces challenges across multiple fronts, including enrollment.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Exceeds its ‘Snow Days’
The district closed schools for the ninth consecutive day on Thursday.
Local Education
Nashville High School Students to Start School 20 Minutes Later
The change will move most high school start and dismissal times forward by twenty minutes, and elementary start and dismissal times forward by 10 minutes.
Local Education
Dozens of Nashville Schools Still Face Power Issues
A spokesperson for Metro Nashville Public Schools says as of Thursday night, 17 schools were still without power, and another eight were experiencing partial ou...
Local Education
State Charter Commission Overturns Metro Nashville School Board in Knowledge Academy Appeal
On a 6-2 vote, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission granted Knowledge Academy at the Crossing’s appeal for a five-year renewal of its charter agreemen...
Local Education
Some Middle Tennessee Schools Will Remain Closed the Rest of the Week
More than 100 thousand homes remain without power in Nashville alone.
Local Education
Agreement Reached to Provide Custodial Services to More than 30 Memphis Schools
Those schools have been without formal custodial services this year, following a decision last month against approving a contract with ABM Industries.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Appears Poised to Appoint Dr. Roderick Richmond as the Permanent Superintendent
At Tuesday night’s board work session, multiple members expressed support to keep interim superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond on the job.
Local Education
The Gate School Would Provide Discussion-Based Learning to West Nashville Students
The Gate School would utilize the Harkness Method, which involves discussion-based teaching, with small groups of students sitting around an oval table rather t...
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...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Board of Education Questions Plans to Change School Start Times
One board member questioned whether proposals to change start times truly addressed student needs, while others expressed concerns about busing.
State Education
Memphis Lawmakers Reach Agreement on Plan to Enable State Intervention into Memphis-Shelby County Schools
State Senator Brent Taylor has agreed to move forward with State Representative Mark White’s plan to create a state-appointed oversight board for Memphis-Shelby...
Local Education
More than Half of LEAD Cameron’s Students Don’t Speak English as a First Language. Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal Just Cleared a Plan to Send Them to a Lower-Performing School
The Davidson County Chancellor issued an order Thursday that clears Metro Nashville Public Schools to move forward with a controversial school rezoning plan for...
Local Education
Knowledge Academy Supporters Make Their Case to Keep the Public Charter School Open
KA @ the Crossings is appealing last month’s decision by the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to deny a new charter agreement with the school.
Local Education
Facility Challenges Force Public Charter School to Close, Despite Outperforming Every Other Donelson Middle School
STRIVE leaders announced Wednesday that they’re planning to close the school at the end of the 2025-26 school year, in part because their building has been sold...
Local Education
Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon’s Effort to Roll Back School Board Election Shake-Up Faces a Setback
Commissioner Sugarmon’s resolution would allow five school board members to serve out their complete four-year term.
Local Education
Consultant says Busing Challenges Limit Changes to Start Times for Metro Nashville Public Schools
The district unveiled three proposals for school start times this week, including one that shifts high school bells by 20 minutes.
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools Removes ‘The Kite Runner’ from a High School English Class
The decision follows a complaint from a parent about the book's graphic content last week, after a high school teacher selected it as supplementary material for...
Local Education
Brick Church Middle School’s Proficiency Rates Drop Nearly 50 Percent Following Takeover by Metro Nashville Public Schools
A Tennessee Firefly analysis of the state’s School Report Card, released this week, found that student performance dropped in every subject once MNPS took over ...
State Education
More Tennessee Schools Receive an A on this Year’s School Letter Grades
355 schools across the state received an overall A letter grade, compared to 290 last year.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Challenges the Constitutionality of Re-Election Shake-Up
Board attorneys argue that election officials had no authority to place the terms of five school board members up for re-election two years early.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Leaves Schools in the Northwest Region Without Custodial Services to Start the New Year
Members failed to approve a $7.2 million contract with ABM Industries to clean all district buildings in the region for the 2026 calendar year.
Local Education
Hamilton County Announces Details of $34 Million Upgrade to Soddy Daisy Middle School
Among the improvements planned for the school are modernized classrooms and learning spaces, a new gymnasium, and an upgraded cafeteria.
Local Education
Knox County Charter School Review Committee Faces Questions of Bias
District leadership successfully nominated 12 people to serve on the committee, including Knoxville NAACP President Rev. Sam Brown, who spoke out against the co...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Accused of Hiding Information to Steer Parents Away from a Higher-Performing Public Charter School
LEAD Public Schools filed a motion for contempt against Metro Nashville Public Schools on Thursday, alleging the district is hiding information from parents in ...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Board of Education Votes to Close Public Charter School That’s Outperforming Most District-Run Schools in Its Area
Members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education voted unanimously against renewing Knowledge Academy at The Crossings' charter for anoth...
Local Education
Nashville Parents Express Support for a Later High School Start Time, but Change Won’t Be Simple
MNPS staff told school board members Tuesday night that 67 percent of the more than 16,000 respondents in an online survey supported adjusting high school start...
Local Education
Knox County Leader Who Spoke Out Against Public Charter Schools Appointed to Review Them
Thursday night, school board members voted 6-3 to appoint Rev. Sam Brown and 11 others to the district’s Charter Review Committee.
Local Education
Former Tennessee Titans Receiver Kevin Dyson is Among 26 Potential Public Charter School Applicants in 2026
If approved, the proposed Music City Academy would serve up to 500 high school students in Nashville with a team-centered, career-connected learning model that ...
Local Education
Expanding School Bus Service for Memphis Families Concerned About ICE Could Cost $20 Million
The district estimates that expanding busing to more students by reducing the parent responsibility zone could increase costs by $9.7 million to $20.5 million.
State Education
Knox County School Board Plans Vote on Thursday Whether to Oppose Education Barriers for Undocumented Children
The proposed policy priority is in response to legislation state lawmakers considered earlier this year that would allow school districts the option of refusing...
Local Education
Knoxville Golfer Ava Holmes Takes on the Toughest Course
A member of the Irish girls’ state championship-qualifying team, Ava Holmes initially thought some lingering back pain late this summer likely stemmed from perh...
Local Education
Proposed Public Charter School Leaders Decide Against Applying in 2026
The Forge School posted a note to supporters this week, announcing that leaders are no longer planning to apply in 2026, in part due to challenges in raising st...
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
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Takes Steps to Challenge Re-Election Shake-up
Last month, commissioners voted to put all nine school board seats on the ballot in 2026, including five board members elected last year who would now face re-e...
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...
Local Education
Hispanic Graduation Rates Drop in Nashville Despite Gains for Other Historically Disadvantaged Student Groups
The district’s Hispanic student graduation rate dropped 6.1 percent in the 2024/25 school year to 73.2 percent.
Local Education
Knox County School Board Considers Taking a Stand Against Barriers for Undocumented Children to Attend Public Schools
The Knox County School Board is weighing whether to take a formal stance against a revived bill that could allow Tennessee districts to deny undocumented studen...
Local Education
More than Half of Nashville’s Blue Ribbon Teacher Awardees Work in Schools of Choice
Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Nashville Public Education Foundation recognized 24 public school teachers and one Pre-K educator as 2025 Blue Ribbon Tea...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools to Consider Changing School Start Times
Metro Nashville Public Schools announced plans for a districtwide review of school start and end times.
Local Education
Supporters of Nashville’s Newest Public Charter School Celebrate Approval to Open Next Year
Nashville’s newest public charter school, The Rock Academy, is set to open next fall as Tennessee’s first “opportunity charter school,” a model dedicated to re-...
Local Education
Metro Nashville’s Director of Schools Earns ‘Met’ Ratings Across All Evaluation Categories
An evaluation team of board members used student growth, proficiency, attendance, and other areas to rate Dr. Battle across four evaluation categories, includin...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Expands Bus Access Citing Attendance Concerns Amid ICE and National Guard Presence
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to expand bus eligibility for all students, citing attendance declines and safety concerns amid...
Local Education
All Nine Memphis-Shelby School Board Seats Headed for Election After Commission Overrides Mayor’s Veto
Shelby County Commissioners voted 8–4 to override Mayor Lee Harris’ veto and put all nine Memphis-Shelby County School Board seats on the ballot in 2026.
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
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Proposes Major Consolidation Plan, Targeting $6 Million in Annual Savings
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is proposing a sweeping consolidation plan that would merge or close several campuses across the city, saving more than $6 million...
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
The Rock Academy Encourages Parents to Register Rising Ninth Graders Early for the New Public Charter School
The school is designed to provide long-term support to students who are at-risk because they’ve either dropped out, faced criminal charges, have been retained a...
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
Tennessee Commission Denies Four Memphis Charter School Proposals
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted Friday to deny four Memphis charter school proposals, including two new schools and two currently operating...
Local Education
Madison County’s First Public Charter School Approved to Open in 2026
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission unanimously voted to overturn a Jackson-Madison County’s School Board decision and clear the way for the Jackson ...
Local Education
Tennessee Commission Unanimously Approves a Rocketship Charter School in Rutherford County
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve Rocketship Public Schools’ expansion into Rutherford County, overturning th...
Local Education
Knox County Leaders Oppose Knoxville Sales Tax Increase as Early Voting Begins
Knox County and state leaders are urging voters to reject Knoxville’s proposed $47 million sales tax increase, arguing the measure would add to residents’ finan...
Local Education
New Partnership Provides Nashville’s High School Grads with Tuition-Free Technical Training
A news release sent to the Tennessee Firefly says the program expands access to high-wage career training in areas such as industrial trades, construction, info...
State Education
Nashville Named One of Six U.S. Cities for Amazon Skills to Jobs Alliance
Nashville has been selected as one of six U.S. cities to join Amazon Web Services’ Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, a national initiative bridging education and wo...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Approves Sale of Historic School Elvis Presley Attended
The expense of maintaining and repairing both buildings played a key role in each decision, as the district has faced challenges in recent years keeping up some...
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...
Local Education
Weapons Detection Systems Headed to Nashville Middle Schools
This decision expands a program school board members initially approved last February to install Evolv detection systems in all high schools.
State Education
Tennessee Lawmakers Debate Future of Algebra II and Other Core Subjects as Graduation Requirements
Tennessee lawmakers and education leaders clashed this week over whether students with a career and technical education (CTE) focus might be able to substitute ...
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...
Local Education
Every Memphis-Shelby County School Board Seat Will Be Back on the Ballot in 2026 Following Commission Vote
All nine Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seats will be back on the ballot in 2026 after commissioners voted to move up the election cycle, shortening terms ...
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
Memphis Residents Champion Proposed Charter School as a Fix for a District That’s “Failed Thousands”
Memphis-based community members, including parents and retired educators, spoke out in support of a proposed public charter school they hope will help bandage a...
Local Education
New Volkswagen Career and Technical Education Academy Will be a Part of Chattanooga’s Skyline
The Volkswagen Engineering Preparatory Academy at the Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center will provide students with access to early engineering education and ...
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
Dream Catcher’s Academy Charter Proposal Sparks Debate in Memphis
At a recent public hearing, Memphis community members rallied behind the proposed Dream Catcher’s Academy, a K-12 charter school designed to serve students expe...
State Education
Parents Make the Case for Jackson’s First Public Charter School
If the Jackson Museum School’s appeal is granted next month, the school would open with an initial class of 160 students in kindergarten through second grade.
Local Education
Williamson County Schools Joins Other Tennessee Institutions Disciplining Staff for Social Media Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
WCS confirmed an employee has been suspended pending investigation, after district leaders were alerted to a social media post made over the weekend about the a...
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
Tennessee Students Log Nearly 1 Million Minutes in Tristar Reads; Four Winners Earn $1,000 Scholarships
Tennessee students logged nearly 940,000 minutes this summer in the Tristar Reads contest, with four winners each earning $1,000 scholarships for their outstand...
State Education
MNPS Superintendent Adrienne Battle Highlights District Achievements at Nashville Rotary Club
Metro Schools Superintendent Adrienne Battle received a standing ovation at GEODIS Park Monday as she highlighted the district’s record-setting academic growth,...
Local Education
Nashville Symposium Explores How Environmental Factors Shape Student Success
Extreme weather, rising temperatures, and other environmental changes are affecting how Tennessee students learn and thrive, and experts say action is needed no...
Local Education
Memphis Students to Receive Gun Safety Education This Month
Lawmakers passed the legislation last year, requiring every public school district in the state to develop an age-appropriate curriculum for all grade levels, i...
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...
State Education
Nashville and Memphis Report Historic Student Growth while Chattanooga Sees Steady Progress
Tennessee’s two largest school districts, Metro Nashville Public Schools and Memphis-Shelby County Schools, posted historic academic growth for the fourth year ...
Local Education
State Commission Overturns Metro Nashville Board of Education Decision and Approves The Rock Academy
Commissioners unanimously voted to reverse the Metro Nashville Board of Education’s June decision denying The Rock Academy’s application and upheld the board’s ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby Schools Report 9,000+ Summer Repairs, Despite Lead, HVAC, and Safety Issues at Start of School Year
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) reported that they completed 9,055 infrastructure work orders over the summer at the district’s school board meeting Tuesda...
Local Education
The Forge School Offers a Solution to Nashville’s Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Needs
Students at The Forge School will begin working on career certifications as early as the sixth grade, and their academic journey will include job shadowing and ...
State Education
Collierville High School Math Educator Who Believes ‘Every Child Can Do Math’ Named Tennessee Teacher of the Year
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced Dr. Brandi De La Cruz, a mathematics teacher at Collierville High School, as the 2025–26 Tennessee Teache...
Local Education
The Rock Academy Aims to Serve Nashville Students Who Aren’t Seen
If approved by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, The Rock Academy would open in 2026 with an initial class of 88 freshmen and then add a grade eac...
Local Education
Wilson County Schools Votes to Raise Employee Health Insurance Costs Amid Funding Concerns
Wilson County School Board members approved a new health insurance plan for 2026 that will increase employee contributions by at least $600 annually.
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.
State Education
Tennessee Charter Schools Face $1,500 Per-Pupil Facilities Funding Gap, Survey Finds
Tennessee’s public charter schools face an estimated $1,500 per-pupil facilities funding gap compared to traditional public schools, according to new data from ...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Faces Criticism and Support at Board Meeting
Half a dozen parents, including Kindall Maupin, utilized the meeting’s public comment phase to attack Dr. Battle’s leadership, and a recent $6.5 million legal s...
State Education
Tennessee Teachers Oppose Classroom Cellphone Use but Are Interested in Artificial Intelligence, Survey Finds
A new statewide poll of Tennessee teachers found many remain skeptical of cellphone use at school.
Local Education
The Forge School Builds Support Among Nashville Parents and Students
The proposed sixth through 12th grade public charter school is designed to provide hands-on, real-world learning to students who are interested in careers in ar...
Local Education
Judge Denies Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent’s Request to be Reinstated
On Friday, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Robert Childers issued an order denying Feagins’ request for a preliminary injunction of her controversial terminat...
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 Government
Spotlight: Nashville Chamber CEO Stephanie Coleman Advances Public Education Through Civic Leadership
When Stephanie Coleman became president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce in February 2025, she brought with her a clear vision for the organiza...
State Education
Tennessee Foreign Language Graduation Requirement Debate Sparks Outcry: Some Warn of ‘Devastating Consequences’
Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE) Chairman Robert Eby’s proposed study of Tennessee’s foreign language graduation requirement is sparking backlash from e...
Local Education
Rocketship Public Schools Drops Charter Appeal in Nashville to Focus on Rutherford County
Rocketship Executive Director Eric Dailey tells the Tennessee Firefly that his organization is only planning to appeal the narrow 4-3 decision in Rutherford Cou...
Local Education
Tennessee Nature Academy Puts Down Roots in Cane Ridge
The Tennessee Nature Academy held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for its new school building that will open on 23 acres of donated land in Cane Ridge next ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Approves Fourth KIPP School
The vote aligns with a recommendation from the district charter review team that found the school met all state standards.
Local Education
Shelby County Commission Delays Vote That Could Cut School Board Members’ Terms Short
A controversial effort to reset all Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board terms in 2026 hit pause Monday as the Shelby County Commission delayed its vote, ...
Local Education
Nashville PROPEL Calls for Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle to Step Down
The parent advocacy organization is upset that Battle’s administration is paying a reported $6.5 million in a legal settlement with five former school administr...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Lawmakers Reconsider 180-Day School Calendar Amid Push for Flexible Scheduling
A new state legislative advisory committee met Thursday in Nashville to explore whether the state’s current 180-day school calendar should be replaced by a more...
State Education
Tennessee’s Tax-Free Weekend Returns as School Supply Policies Vary by District
With Tennessee’s annual Tax-Free Weekend scheduled for July 26–28, families across the state are preparing for back-to-school purchases.
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
Hamilton County School Board Unanimously Denies the Proposed Tennessee Wildflower Public School
The Hamilton County School Board voted unanimously to reject the amended application for the proposed Tennessee Wildflower Public School, citing unresolved defi...
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).
College and Higher Edu...
Tennessee to Develop Stackable Credential Strategies Through Lumina Partnership
Tennessee has been selected to join Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States initiative, a national effort to align short-term credentials with quality jobs and e...
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
Tennessee Nature Academy Receives $2 Million Land Donation for Permanent Nature-Based Campus in Davidson County
Tennessee Nature Academy has secured a 23-acre permanent campus site in Cane Ridge, thanks to a $2 million land donation from the McGowan family. The tuition-fr...
National Education
Tennessee Workers Left Behind: New Study Finds Only 12% of Non-Degree Credentials Significantly Boost Wages Amid Rising Housing Costs
A national study finds just 12% of certificates and industry credentials significantly raise wages—leaving many Tennessee workers struggling as rent and home pr...
Local Education
Anderson County Teacher of the Year Finalist Chrissy Rose Helps Students Pave Their Own ‘Roads to Mastery’
Anderson County Schools’ Teacher of the Year finalist Chrissy Rose is a dedicated third-grade teacher at Grand Oaks Elementary known for her innovative, trauma-...
Local Education
Jackson-Madison County School Board Rejects County’s First Public Charter School
The Jackson Museum School would utilize a “museum model” similar to schools in Atlanta and Chattanooga, which infuses subjects like science and math into weekly...
Local Education
Knox County Schools Cuts District Jobs and Tightens Cell Phone Policy Ahead of 2025–26 Year
Knox County Schools is preparing for a busy start to the 2025–26 school year, as officials implement major budget cuts and introduce new policies aimed at enhan...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools abruptly cancels agreement to let Valor Collegiate students compete on Overton High School teams
For the last five years, students at Valor Collegiate Academy have been able to participate in school-based athletics on Overton High School teams as part of an...
Local Education
Tennessee Students Make Significant Academic Gains in 2024–25 TCAP Results
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) released the 2024–25 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results Tuesday afternoon, revealing year-ov...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Face Possible Loss of $17 Million in Federal Funding
Memphis-Shelby Public Schools says district staff are monitoring pending federal decisions that could affect approximately $17 million in funding for district p...
Local Education
Public Charter School with Ties to Hillsdale College Pulls Out of Madison County a Year Before Opening
Attorneys for American Classical Education notified the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission last month that the charter operator had made the “difficult ...
Local Education
Jackson Educator Proposes “Museum Model” Charter School for Students Who Need Something Different
The proposed kindergarten through sixth-grade school would operate under a “museum model” that integrates immersive learning experiences into the curriculum.
Local Education
“Wow, I Bet You Guys are Exhausted.” Firefly Investigation Uncovers Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Rush to Deny Proposed Charter Schools
In years past, district leaders in Nashville have given staff more time to review the sometimes-expansive applications by scheduling charter decisions in the Ju...
Local Education
Memphis Holds an Event to Support Families of the Now-Closed Promise Academy Hollywood
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman announced Promise Academy Hollywood’s voluntary closure at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Local Education
Sale of Wooddale Middle School Building Aided by New Charter Law
The school board is expected to vote next week on the proposed $2.5 million sale of the Wooddale building.
Local Education
Grundy County School Board Rolls Back Controversial Denial of Teacher Bonuses
Grundy County teachers may get their $2,300 bonus after all, but it will come a year late following Tuesday night’s vote.
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools Appoints New Community Superintendents
Hamilton County Schools (HCS) appointed new leaders Monday to positions the district considers key to supporting students, teachers and school principals.
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
How Two Memphis Schools Slashed Chronic Absenteeism and What Others Can Learn.
Just two years ago, chronic absenteeism was a crisis at Compass Berclair school in Memphis. During the 2021-22 school year, more than half of its students — 55....
Local Education
MLK High School junior chosen to serve on the Metro Nashville Board of Education
She will join John Overton High School rising senior Hannah Nguyen as a non-voting members representing the district’s more than 81,000 students next school yea...
State Government
House speaker alleges Memphis-County Schools’ staff destroyed documents in advance of a state audit
The audit was among multiple options lawmakers considered for the district, following the controversial firing of former Superintendent Marie Feagins after less...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Board of Education denies every proposed public charter school for the fourth consecutive year
All three applicants have the ability to appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission that has overturned at least one MNPS charter denial four year...
Local Education
Chattanooga Prep celebrates first graduating class
Seven years ago, a group of sixth-grade boys walked through the doors of Chattanooga Preparatory School for the very first time. Last month, they returned as th...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Board of Education may be avoiding a new state law by scheduling its charter school vote a month early
The board unexpectedly decided late last week to hold votes on amended applications from the Rock Academy, the Forge School, and Rocketship Public Schools at Tu...
Local Education
Interim Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent discusses plan to improve communication and rebuild trust
Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond continues to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools, unveiling a 100-Day Plan and proposing a $1.85B budget focused on ...
Local News
Nashville Mayor says government resources are being stretched by federal immigration inquiry
Speaking before at the Rotary Club of Nashville Monday, O’Connell reaffirmed that his office has done nothing to warrant the investigations now underway in the ...
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...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public School leaders debate giving teachers a raise above 3 percent
At Tuesday’s budget meeting, Board Member Zach Young said the district could do a better job attracting hard-to-fill specialty teaching positions if the raise w...
State Education
Governor Lee signs legislation designed to give students a bigger voice in their education
Lawmakers passed the legislation last month that requires each school district in the state to create a policy for a student to serve as a nonvoting school boar...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board issues statement of support for undocumented students
The resolution states that the district’s legal department has provided guidance to principals about how to respond to requests or visits from ICE so that “no i...
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
Memphis-Shelby County School Board members propose resolution in support of undocumented students
The board is scheduled to vote on a resolution at its May 27 meeting to protect immigrant students who attend district schools.
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
Memphis-Shelby County Schools files lawsuit in federal court over student data leak
The lawsuit claims the software provider failed to implement basic cybersecurity measures that could have prevented the data breach that included information on...
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
LEAD Public Schools announces Dr. Ricki Gibbs as its new CEO
The move coincides with existing CEO Dwayne Tucker’s decision to continue serving Tennessee State University as interim president and not return to LEAD for the...
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools announces five new principal appointments
In a news release sent to the Tennessee Firefly, the district said each leader represents its ongoing commitment to student success, strong instructional leader...
Local Education
Report finds Knox County Schools has made strides improving its special education program, but still needs to address critical areas of concern
The district now exceeds the state standard for the percentage of students with disabilities spending greater than 80 percent of their day in a general educatio...
Elections
Five Memphis-Shelby County School Board seats could be up for re-election two years early
County commissioners could use new legislation to align school board races with other county elections, even if that meant shortening some board members’ terms.
Local Education
Nashville mayor proposes 13 percent increase in spending for schools
If approved by the Metro Council, education will make up more than 37 percent of the total Metro budget.
Local Education
Jackson-Madison County School Board denies former district educator’s application to open a public charter school
Board members voted 8 to 1 to reject the Jackson Museum School but left signs they might be willing to approve the school this summer.
Local Education
KIPP Nashville Public Schools celebrates 20 years of serving students
The public charter school operator opened its first school, KIPP Academy, with one fifth-grade class in 2005. Today KIPP Nashville operates nine schools serving...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board denies three proposed public charter schools
The board rejected applications from Still I Rise Academy, KIPP Memphis Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School, and Dream Catchers Charter School.
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.
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education denies every public charter school application after two members say publicly that they oppose the concept of charters
The board voted down applications from the Rock Academy, the Forge School, and Rocketship Public Schools Tuesday.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board member apologizes for comments threatening to deport former student
The apology from board member Towanna Murphy comes after messages she sent to a 2023 MSCS graduate threatening to have her deported were made public.
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools announces expansion of the Future Ready Center program
District leaders say the program has been such a success they’re now eyeing two expansions, beginning with the new North River Future Ready Center set to open a...
Local Education
Independent reviewers give high marks to three proposed public charter schools in Nashville. Will any of them get a fair shot with the school board?
The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education is scheduled to vote on applications from Forge School, the Rock Academy, and Rocketship Public Schools Tu...
Local Education
Hamilton County School Board votes down two proposed public charter schools
Members of the Hamilton County School Board unanimously voted the Tennessee Wildflower’s application down on Thursday, along with a proposal for the Little King...
State Education
Lawmakers pass legislation proposed by Middle Tennessee students
The Tennessee House passed legislation proposed by students Wednesday that requires each school district in the state to create a policy for a student to serve ...
State Education
Memphis school intervention bill heads to both chambers’ floors with key questions unanswered
If each chamber passes its version, the final details of one of the most talked about pieces of legislation this session would be decided in a conference commit...
State Education
Tennessee House shows increased support for public charter schools
Members of the Tennessee House sent a sign of increased support for innovative education options Monday by voting 70 to 19 in favor of legislation that supporte...
State Education
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) testing begins for Tennessee students
The TCAP is a statewide standardized testing program that includes assessments in English language arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies.
Local Education
Knox County School Board votes to name high school baseball field after Morgan Wallen
The school’s principal Jason Webster submitted the nomination, along with an announcement that Wallen wants to make a $1.2 million dollar donation to enhance th...
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...
State Education
Lawmakers question the performance of public charter schools, even though the schools are outperforming traditional public schools in their district
State Representatives John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, and Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, both serve districts where multiple public charter schools are outperfor...
State Education
Divided House Committee provides positive recommendation to legislation authorizing school districts to deny undocumented students
It received a positive recommendation on a narrow 8-7 margin, with Representative Jeremy Faison, R- Cosby, joining six Democrats on the committee voting against...
State Education
State Senate passes legislation that would prohibit public school teachers from asking a student’s preferred pronoun
The bill from Senator Paul Rose would extend existing pronoun policy to students and prohibit teachers from asking students to call them by a name or pronoun in...
State Education
Knoxville lawmakers share misinformation about public charter schools to attack legislation that supports them
Legislation that supporters say will help ensure public charter schools are approved timely and without political bias advanced from the House Education Committ...
State Education
Bill requiring student citizenship verification passes key Senate committee vote
Watson told committee members his bill is meant to help gather information and ease what he calls a financial burden placed on local districts with English lang...
State Education
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce report finds changes needed to better recruit CTE teachers
The committee found several factors are making it more challenging to recruit career and technology (CTE) teachers, including money. The report said teacher sal...
Local Education
Lawmakers could pass legislation designed to ensure parents are notified about school threats Monday
State Representative Rick Scarbrough is co-sponsoring legislation that would require school districts that report credible threats of violence or significantly ...
State Education
Legislation allowing state intervention into Memphis-Shelby County Schools advances following debate by two Memphis lawmakers
Under the bill, the education commissioner would be able to recommend the removal of the director of schools and some or all school board members.
State Education
Memphis Shelby County School Board pushes back against proposed state intervention
During a school board meeting Tuesday night, the MSCS board voted unanimously to support a resolution opposing state intervention and calling on other elected o...
Local Education
House Education Committee advances bill allowing merit-based pay for public school teachers
The bill, brought by Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, would allow local school boards to introduce a merit-based pay structure to award additional ...
State Education
Republican Senators unanimously support legislation to ensure the approval process for public charter schools is fair
The Governor Bill Lee backed legislation would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the charter commission if they want to open a school in...
State Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board puts division over superintendent aside to oppose state intervention
School board members unanimously supported a resolution Tuesday night opposing state intervention in the Tennessee school district and calling on elected offici...
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
Hamilton County School Board pushes to reduce the number of benchmark assessments despite their role improving student performance
During Thursday’s meeting, Board Chair Joe Smith asked Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson what the impact would be if the district reduced the number of benchm...
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools honors three Teachers of the Year
A welder, a sixth-grade teacher who’s been on the job 14-years, and a first-grade teacher who expanded a forest learning program are the Tennessee school distri...
National Education
East Tennessee third-grade teacher wins “Oscar of Teaching”
Stephanie Boshears received a welcome surprise during a school assembly when she was named a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award.
State Education
Senate Education Committee advances legislation to make it easier for public charter schools to seek approval
Senator Adam Lowe’s legislation would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission if they want to o...
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 ...
State Education
House subcommittee advances legislation that would let school districts deny undocumented students
Representative William Lamberth’s, R-Portland, bill would give school districts the option to refuse to enroll students that do not have legal immigration statu...
State Government
Organization formed to oppose state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools says district problems are better solved locally
Thursday the group held one of it’s first community discussions involving panelists who acknowledged the critical issues within the district but believe these p...
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 passes bill requiring student citizenship verification in narrow vote
The bill would require public school districts to collect documentation during enrollment proving students are U.S. citizens, in the process of obtaining citize...
Local Education
McGavock High School students to operate their own food truck
District leaders unveiled the Raider Bites truck during a ceremony on campus Wednesday, equipped with a commercial-grade kitchen to provide career and technical...
State Education
House subcommittee advances legislation that would make it easier for some public charter schools to receive approval
The proposed legislation would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission if they want to open a s...
Local Education
Knox County Schools says support is strong for early release days, despite childcare and transportation challenges
More than 75 percent of families said they support the continuation of early release or half days. However, about 53 percent of parents said the shorter days po...
State Education
Proposed legislation designed to take politics out of the classroom and make it easier for some public charter schools to receive approval
Governor Lee’ is legislation would allow public charter school applicants the ability to apply directly to a state commission in communities with a history of d...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools’ quarterly testing shows growth, room to improve
All student groups met winter growth targets for math and are on track to meet upcoming growth targets for both math and English language arts according to an u...
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.
Local Education
House Subcommittee advances bill to expand full-service community schools
The bill, sponsored by Representative Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, establishes a community schools grant program to benefit public schools, administered by the Un...
Local Education
State Board of Education critiques Nashville’s history of denying public charter schools
The Tennessee State Board of Education released evaluations this month for how well three local education agencies are overseeing public charter schools. Five o...
Local Education
Hamilton County School Board tables proposed cell phone ban
On Thursday, school board members took up a proposed change to the policy, which would prohibit students from possessing a wireless device on campus during the ...
State Education
House Subcommittee advances bill to limit cell phones in classrooms
The bill, brought by Representative Rebecca Alexander R-Jonesborough, would require local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohi...
Local Education
Davidson County chancellor rules South Nashville students to remain zoned to attend LEAD Cameron Middle School
Myles granted LEAD Public Schools’ request to temporarily halt a controversial school rezoning plan approved by the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board ...
Local Education
House Subcommittee advances bill to help school districts plan for capital improvements
The School District Capital Improvements Investment Trust Act, sponsored by Representative Kirk Haston R-Lobelville, would allow local school boards to invest a...
Local Education
Metro Nashville School Board unanimously approves weapons detection systems in all high schools
In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, members of the Metro Nashville Public School Board of Education approved an effort to install concealed weapons detection sys...
Local Education
Board of Education moves a new Knox County school one step closer to becoming reality
The Knox County School Board voted to move forward with a plan for the creation of a new K-8 school that would serve 1,600 students in the Western Heights area ...
Local Education
Rutherford County School Board approves resolution to remove diversity goals in hiring and then changes its mind
Members of the Rutherford County School Board took an unusual path to deny Board Member Caleb Tidwell’s resolution opposing educator diversity goals during hiri...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to vote on expanding metal detection to all high schools
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education is planning to vote on a proposal Tuesday night that would expand the pilot program approved last w...
Local Education
Tutoring organization responds to allegations from former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins
The co-char of the Peer Power Foundation pushed back on allegations former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins made about his organiz...
Local Education
Lawsuit alleges secret school board meetings led to Superintendent Feagins’ ouster
Attorneys for former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins have filed a Circuit Court complaint against the district’s school board, as...
Local Education
LEAD Cameron parents ask school board members in Nashville to “stop playing these political games”
Alison and Tremayne Haymer say their seventh-grade son Caleb has truly thrived during his time at LEAD Cameron Middle School and they’re upset with a decision t...
Local Education
Antioch High School students taking part in metal detection pilot program following school shooting
In the days following last week’s shooting at Antioch High School, Director Dr. Adrienne Battle faced questions why the school didn’t utilize metal detectors. T...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board renews public charter school despite enrollment of just 14 students
Members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted 6 to 2 Tuesday night to renew the ten-year charter for a school with just over a dozen students.Only 14 ...
News
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission renews agreements with LEAD Neely’s Bend, Libertas, and Cornerstone Prep Denver
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted Friday to renew the ten-year charter agreements for LEAD Neely’s Bend, Libertas School of Memphis, and Corn...
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
Johnson City Schools on the hunt for a new superintendent
The Johnson City Board of Education and Tennessee School Board Association are looking for a new superintendent for Johnson City Schools, as current Superintend...
Local Education
Nashville’s Antioch High School remains closed following deadly school shooting
Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle made the decision late Wednesday to keep Antioch High School closed the rest of the week following a...
Local Education
Representative Mark White says state intervention needed in Memphis-Shelby County Schools following Superintendent firing
State Representative Mark White, R-Memphis, says he’s working on legislation to provide Tennessee with the ability to intervene in the Memphis-Shelby County Sch...
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
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education votes to terminate Superintendent Feagins’ contract
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education voted Tuesday to terminate the contract of Superintendent Marie Feagins over allegations of professi...
Local Education
Student opens fire at Nashville’s Antioch High School, killing himself, another student, and wounding a third
The Metro Nashville Police Department says a student at Antioch High School in the southeast portion of Davidson County, opened fire in the school cafeteria jus...
News
Metro Nashville and Memphis-Shelby County school districts open school options applications this month
Families in Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools will soon be able to apply to a charter school or select a school outside their nei...
Local Education
LEAD Public Schools files motion to stop a controversial rezoning plan from impacting families
LEAD Public Schools filed a motion Tuesday asking Davidson County Chancellor I'Ashea Myles to grant a temporary injunction on a recently approved Metro Nashvill...
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.
News
Hamilton County Schools considers exceptional education changes to address safety concerns
Hamilton County Schools leaders floated the idea of changing its exceptional education staffing model for some students with disabilities and behavioral problem...
News
Metro Nashville school board renews six public charter schools
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education voted Tuesday to renew the ten-year charter agreements for Valor Voyager Academy, Rocketship United...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Superintendent issues defiant response to ouster attempt
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins issued another defiant response to allegations of professional misconduct and recent efforts to fire ...
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
Hamilton County Schools enlists students to assist with Harrison Future Ready Center renovations
Hamilton County Schools students will soon play a role in renovating the center to gain more workforce experience, a recent district announcement said.
News
Shelby County Commissioners pass ‘no-confidence’ resolution against Memphis-Shelby County School Board amid efforts to fire Superintendent Feagins
Shelby County Commissioners voted Monday in favor of a no-confidence resolution against the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education over school board m...
Local Education
Every Democrat on the Knox County School Board declined to support a school praised as a “model” charter school for its work serving students of color
The Knox County Schools Board of Education voted to keep the district’s first public charter school open for another ten-year term Thursday night, but not witho...
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
Knox County Schools committee recommends another 10-year charter for Emerald Academy
The Knox County Schools Board of Education is expected to decide the future of Emerald Academy on Thursday, following a recent recommendation from the district’...
News
Shelby County Commissioners delay vote on ‘no confidence’ resolution against Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education
The Shelby County Commission postponed a vote on a resolution Wednesday that would’ve expressed "no confidence" in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Ed...
News
Knox County Schools notes academic improvement among students with disabilities
According to Knox County Schools’ Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Dr. Andrew Brown, students with disabilities have demonstrated notable improvement...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Superintendent Feagins says she ‘will not resign’
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Marie Feagins said in a Monday statement that she “will not resign” amid recent efforts to oust her over all...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Feagins set to respond to allegations of misconduct
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins is expected to respond this evening to allegations of misconduct as the school board gets set to deci...
News
University of Memphis researchers use $2.6M Department of Education grant to train more local ESL teachers
Two University of Memphis researchers recently received a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Professional Development program to address...
News
Towne Acres ‘Girls Who Code’ Club visits Science Hill STEM class to learn more about practical tech applications
A group of students at Towne Acres Elementary School in Johnson City Schools got a chance to learn more about the practical applications of technology lessons t...
News
Libertas School of Memphis ‘on track’ for 10-year renewal
Since opening its doors nearly a decade ago, Libertas School of Memphis has gained support from local community members in the Frayser area for showing a “stron...
News
Memphis-Shelby County school board approves contract extensions for custodial services
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education approved contract extensions for custodial services within the district at Thursday’s special called meetin...
Local Education
Nearly half of Nashville public charter schools, including LEAD Cameron, are outperforming comparable district run schools
Firefly staff compared each MNPS charter school’s performance on the State Report Card to traditional and magnet schools serving the same age students in the sa...
News
Hamilton County Schools Board of Education urges lawmakers to oppose expansion of school vouchers, approves deferred maintenance plans
The Hamilton County Schools (HCS) Board of Education passed a resolution on Thursday urging Tennessee lawmakers to oppose the expansion of school vouchers that ...
News
Educators and community members rally behind Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Feagins amid efforts to terminate her contract
The parent advocacy organization Memphis Lift held a press conference Thursday to voice their support for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Ma...
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
Memphis-Shelby County school board delays vote to terminate Superintendent Feagins’ contract
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education voted 5-4 on Tuesday to postpone a vote on whether to terminate Superintendent Marie Feagins’ contract.
News
Memphis Shelby County Schools leaders consider terminating Superintendent Feagins’ contract
Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) could be without a leader once again after tonight’s special called Board of Education meeting.
News
Rocketship Public Schools appoints new executive director
Eric Dailey has been named the new executive director of Rocketship Public Schools in Tennessee, according to a Monday announcement from the charter operator.
Local Education
Charter school operator files lawsuit accusing Metro Nashville Public Schools of diverting students of color to a lower performing school
On Monday LEAD Public Schools filed a lawsuit challenging a rezoning plan for LEAD Cameron as a violation of its charter with the district. LEAD is asking a Dav...
News
Metro Nashville Public Schools officials celebrate milestone year for academic growth and graduation rates
Metro Nashville Public Schools reached several milestones in terms of academic growth and performance in the 2023-24 school year, according to recent data from ...
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
Charter School Commission approves new location for Empower Memphis and an additional opening grade for Invictus Nashville Charter School
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission has approved changes to a charter agreement with Empower Memphis Career and College Prep Charter Schools that wou...
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
Knox County Schools approves changes to anti-discrimination guidelines, bans dozens of books
Knox County Schools (KCS) Board of Education members unanimously approved proposed revisions to district guidelines on discrimination and harassment at Thursday...
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.
News
Memphis-Shelby County Schools to hire 100 virtual instructors amid teacher shortage
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a contract on Tuesday with a digital learning provider to hire 100 virtual instructors...
News
Knox County School leaders debate proposed changes to district nondiscrimination and harassment policies
Members of the Knox County Schools Board of Education continued to debate proposed revisions to district guidelines on discrimination and harassment at Monday’s...
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
Memphis-Shelby County school board expresses frustration with city leaders’ opposition to East Region High School proposals
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members expressed frustration with Memphis city leaders’ recent decision to block a special use permit to const...
News
LEAD Cameron is outperforming peer middle schools. Why are Nashville school leaders trying to divert students away?
The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a rezoning plan that effectively diverts students away from LEA...
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...
News
Metro Nashville and Hamilton County school districts celebrate student growth
Metro Nashville Public Schools has attained a Level 5 growth score from the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVAAS), an announcement from the district s...
News
Hamilton County Schools set to vote on new facilities plan
The Hamilton County Schools Board of Education will vote next week to finalize an updated district facilities plan to establish a new career and technical educa...
Local Education
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-yea...
News
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 fo...
News
New study suggests Tennessee’s school turnaround models are not leading to long-term improvements in student performance
A new study published by Brown University’s Annenberg Institute indicates that middle school students in the state’s two primary school turnaround models have m...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent to be evaluated on reducing absenteeism and the number of students off-track
After several tense discussions and debate in recent weeks about how to evaluate Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ tenure, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Boa...
News
Metro Nashville Public Schools breaks graduation rate record
New data from Metro Nashville Public Schools says the district has achieved a 4.5 percentage point year-over-year growth in the district's graduation rate, brin...
Local Education
NursesMC Nashville aims to be just what the doctor ordered for Tennessee’s nursing shortage
Dr. Andrea Poynter says her work establishing a new nursing based public charter school in Nashville is in full “overdrive” right now. Poynter is the process of...
News
Tennessee K-12 schools look to restrict cell phone use during school day
More and more Tennessee school districts are restricting students’ cell phone use during the school day to reduce bullying and increase student engagement.
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 ...
News
Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Battle to receive new contract
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to present MNPS Director Dr. Adrienne Battle with a new four-year contrac...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Feagins braces for upcoming evaluation
The mood was tense during Tuesday’s Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education meeting following weeks of debate about how the district should approach evaluating...
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
Jackson-Madison County School System drops lawsuit to block the county’s first public charter school
Members of the Jackson-Madison County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to withdraw a lawsuit they approved less than a year ago, in hopes of stopping the...
News
State Charter Commission reverses Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ decision to take over Wooddale Middle School
The charter school operator IOTA Community Schools will continue to run Wooddale Middle School after the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) vote...
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
Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education disagrees with Superintendent Feagins about how she should be evaluated
The West Tennessee school district resumed discussions about how to evaluate Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ tenure at Tuesday’s board meeting, with much of t...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools awarded a federal grant to establish four magnet school programs
Metro Nashville Public Schools announced a $15 million federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant at a press conference Monday to establish magnet programs...
Local Education
Three proposed public charter schools in Nashville receive positive recommendation for approval
Supporters of three proposed new public charter schools in Nashville are receiving support from the Executive Director of the state board tasked with deciding t...
News
Hamilton County Schools to transport students to the polls for early voting
Hamilton County Schools will move forward with a plan to provide transportation to early voting sites for students who are eligible to vote, despite some debate...
News
Study finds low math confidence among Black female students in Nashville
A new study published in Sage Journals suggests that Black female students in Nashville have significantly less confidence in math than their male counterparts ...
News
Wooddale Middle School leaders highlight hands-on programming at charter appeal hearing
Wooddale Middle School leaders are taking their appeal to state leaders after Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members recently voted to deny Wo...
Local Education
LEAD Public Schools withdraws one charter school appeal and moves ahead with another
Leaders of LEAD Public Schools have decided to drop their appeal for the proposed LEAD Cameron Elementary, and instead focus on the appeal for proposed LEAD Sou...
News
School safety remains top concern for parents in Knox County
Knox County Schools (KCS) leaders continued to hear from parents about school safety concerns at Thursday’s regular Board of Education meeting, following last m...
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
Knox County Schools to donate to regional flood relief and cleanup efforts
Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk announced Monday that the district will provide assistance to school systems impacted by flooding from Hurric...
News
Memphis School of Excellence leaders make the case to replicate the public charter school’s STEM school model in Nashville
Despite much opposition from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) leaders, the charter school sponsor Read Foundation is still pushing for the establishment of...
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
Metro Nashville school board passes resolution asking for sustained federal funding for schools
The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday that calls for “increased and sustained” federal funding for pu...
State Education
Supporters of Nurses Middle College make the case to establish a public charter school focused on preparing students for a nursing career
Supporters of Nurses Middle College made their case to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission that the proposed public charter school is needed to help ...
Local Education
SouthEast Bank investing $154 thousand into two Chattanooga public charter schools
SouthEast Bank announced a three-year investment of $154,500 into Chattanooga public charter schools Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and the Montessori Ele...
News
Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools employee says he was fired in retaliation for criticizing district personnel changes
Former MSCS HR staff member Jarvis Cook told district leaders at Tuesday’s school board meeting that he believes he was terminated after speaking out against di...
News
Hamilton County Schools parents voice concerns about school safety after threats against district schools
Several parents and community members spoke to Hamilton County Schools leaders about school safety concerns at Thursday’s school board meeting following a recen...
Local Education
Six Tennessee schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools
The U.S. Department of Education has named six Tennessee schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools this year including Miller Perry Elementary School in Kingsport...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent says several arrests made over school threats, including Nashville teen
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins addressed families’ concerns relating to school safety and communications on Thursday, after thre...
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...
Local Education
Half of this school’s students left when Nashville took it over. Supporters say that’s proof families want LEAD Public Schools to serve more children.
Supporters say LEAD Public School's success serving students across Nashville is proof the charter operator should receive approval to open two elementary schoo...
News
Law enforcement continues investigating threats against Memphis-Shelby County Schools after Wednesday lockdown
Several schools in Memphis and Shelby County were placed on lockdown Wednesday due to threats of mass violence, according to Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS...
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...
News
Memphis-Shelby County School Board poised to approve new agreement for students to earn college credits
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education is poised to approve a dual enrollment agreement for the 2024-25 school year with the Tennessee College of ...
News
Comptroller’s Office investigation finds ‘questionable transactions’ at Knox County’s Farragut High School
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released two investigative reports related to Farragut High School in Knox County Schools System (KCS) after officials th...
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
UT-Chattanooga announces search for Governor’s Chair in Quantum Information Science and Engineering
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has launched a search for a researcher and educator to join its quantum program as a Governor’s Chair scientist with ...
News
Jackson Madison County School System gives special recognition to Superintendent King, declares September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in JMCSS
Jackson Madison County School System Superintendent Dr. Marlon King was named the 2025 Southwest Tennessee Regional Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee ...
Local Education
New study suggests Metro Nashville tutoring program was less impactful than expected
Despite increased investments in academic support to combat “learning loss” that came as a result of COVID-19, a recent report from Brown University researchers...
News
BlueSky Tennessee Institute prepares students for IT careers amid growing demand for tech professionals
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee teamed up with East Tennessee State University in 2021 to create an accelerated learning program for students to earn a bachel...
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
Metro Nashville School Board recognizes James Lawson High staff for saving student’s life, welcomes new members
Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle gave special recognition to a school counselor and other staff at James Lawson High School for savin...
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
Hamilton County Schools partners with Erlanger to expand student health care services
Hamilton County Schools recently teamed up with the healthcare provider Erlanger Health System to open a School-Based Health Center at Howard Connect Academy.
Local Education
Knox County school board approves AI guidelines, hears public comments on ‘outing’ LGBTQ students
The Knox County Board of Education approved new AI guidelines at Thursday's regular meeting. The board also heard comments from community members about a new st...
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...
News
Knox County Schools looks to improve special education programming
Knox County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Dr. Andrew Brown gave an update on special education related matters at Tuesday's school board w...
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
U.S. Dept. of Education report finds Memphis-Shelby County Schools mishandled sexual assault cases
A new report from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights notes that Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) officials have mishandled several s...
Local Education
South Nashville students will soon take a Storybook Trail to reading
Napier Elementary School students helped Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) leaders break ground on a new outdoor learning space Thursday that features an ou...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent says enrollment is up but still below district projections
Enrollment in Memphis-Shelby County Schools has continued to grow year over year despite remaining behind original projections for this school year, according t...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education lauds progress under Director Battle’s leadership
Members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education discussed the district’s progress in efforts to improve student performance under Director Dr. ...
Local Education
Knox County Schools says “cultural shift” in hiring reduced teacher vacancies to near-zero
Knox County Schools says the district has reduced teacher vacancies to near-zero levels through a “cultural shift” in the hiring process that simplifies the pro...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent gives update on SRO issues
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins said during a Tuesday press conference that the district is currently working with school resource of...
State Education
Bryan Kerns created a program to address the state’s firefighter shortage, on the road to winning Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the year Bryan Kerns established a unique career and technical education (CTE) program geared toward preparing students for future careers in fire ma...
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
Memphis-Shelby County school board approves pay raises for school resource officers, STEM lab funding
The Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education approved budget amendments to fund pay raises for school resource officers (SROs) at Tuesday’s special call meeting...
Local Education
These Memphis middle and high schools have a new program to boost student literacy
IOTA Community Schools, formerly Green Dot Public Schools, has partnered with Reading Horizons to boost literacy instruction in four Memphis middle and high sch...
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools updates school nursing policy following new parental consent law
The Hamilton County school board updated its policy to allow school nurses to provide emergency care to students without parental consent, in response to a new ...
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...
Local Education
Six proposed public charter schools appeal denial to state commission
Last month school board members in Nashville and Rutherford County voted down six proposed new public charter schools.Next month supporters from all of them wil...
Data and Polling
Knox County Schools makes changes to early dismissal schedule
Following recent discussions between board members and with parents in the community about their preferences, the board decided to do away with two “early relea...
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 ...
Local Education
Whitehaven STEM lab project remains behind schedule due to funding woes
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. called on local officials to work together and figure out how to cover the remaining costs needed to construct a new ...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools says most bus routes are covered despite staffing challenges
The Rutherford County Board of Education discussed transportation and staffing concerns along with updates on funding for technical education programming at Tue...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent says district is addressing HVAC issues that led to early student dismissals
Memphis Shelby County School Board officials held a press conference on Tuesday to address community members’ concerns about district infrastructure after stude...
Local Education
Knoxville Preparatory School opens doors for first school year
The public charter school operator Prep Public Schools is looking to replicate the success of Chattanooga Preparatory School with another all-boys charter schoo...
Local Education
Knox County Schools outlines security strategies for upcoming school year
Knox County Schools officials highlighted new security measures and investments to enhance school safety this school year as part of the district’s ongoing “Saf...
Local Education
Lawmakers spread misinformation that a Wilson County school library is closed because of a new state law
A viral tweet from the Tennessee Holler claimed that a Wilson County high school library was closed due to a new state law banning books with inappropriate cont...
Local Education
Memphis Shelby County Schools' superintendent begins first full school year amid major changes
Monday marked the beginning of the 2024-25 school year for students in the Memphis-Shelby County school district, which will be Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins...
Data and Polling
Memphis selects new school board members, Democrats dominate Nashville, Republicans maintain control in Knox County
Thursday's election results are bringing major changes to school boards representing the state's largest school districts.Families with children attending Knox ...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools students write and record district anthem, 'Every Student Known'
Metro Nashville Public Schools students recently collaborated to write and record an anthem for the school district, a recent MNPS announcement said.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools approves two new public charter schools
Members of the Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education voted to approve amended charter applications for both the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School fo...
Data and Polling
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission schools' comparing well with other public schools on state tests
State education officials say the schools overseen by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission are faring well when compared to the school districts that ...
Local Education
Memphis Grizzlies boys' prep school looks to replicate success with new girls' public charter school
For nearly 15 years, the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School has leveraged community partnerships with the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team to provide boys w...
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...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools approves new AI policy guidelines
The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education approved new guidelines for using AI in schools at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools recommends approval for an all-girls public charter school
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools charter review team recommended school board members approve an application for the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School...
Local Education
Nashville’s students of color face an achievement gap. These board members just voted down every plan to address it.
MNPS Board of Education members voted down five proposed public charter schools.
Local Education
Nashville continues to overstate the cost of public charter schools. Can any proposed this year get a fair vote?
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education hasn’t approved a new public charter school since members voted in Aventura Community School in 202...
Elections
Tennessee Democrats quick to support Kamala Harris' presidential bid. A popular VP pick has history with school vouchers.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has a history with an issue Tennessee Democrats have spent the last year opposing.
Local Education
Tennessee hospitals need nurses. Dr. Andrea Poynter's proposed public charter school has a plan to provide them.
Nurses Middle College Nashville would open to its first freshman class in 2025 with a curriculum that’s specifically designed to help put future nurses on the r...
Elections
Memphis-Shelby County school board member drops out of race for re-election
Memphis-Shelby County School Board member Frank Johnson announced on Facebook that he’s officially dropping out of the District 7 school board race, citing heal...
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...
Data and Polling
More Tennessee schools now eligible for free meal programs
More school districts in Tennessee are now able to serve free meals to students, thanks to recent changes in federal rules governing free meal program eligibili...
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.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools invests millions into key staffing roles
Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) announced a $3.4 million investment into elevating critical district positions Tuesday.
Local Education
Knox County school board votes to revise book ban policies
The Knox County Board of Education voted Thursday to revise district policies regarding the removal of books containing sexual or age-inappropriate content from...
Local Education
Lawsuit challenges zero tolerance policies for 'threats of mass violence' in schools
A federal lawsuit has been filed by two Tennessee families against Gov. Bill Lee and Williamson County Schools over the enforcement of a zero tolerance law, whi...
Local Education
Bedford County Schools announces new ESL coordinator role
Bedford County Schools has created a new English as a Second Language (ESL) and Instructional Support Coordinator role to address the increasing enrollment of E...
Local Education
TDOE announces $2.6M in Perkins Reserve Grant awards to support CTE and STEM learning
The Tennessee Department of Education has awarded more than $2.6 million in Perkins Reserve Grant (PRG) grant funds to 55 school districts to support career and...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools appoints new assistant superintendent
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins has appointed Janice Tankson as the district’s new superintendent to oversee key educational programs...
Local Education
Kingsport City Schools to provide free meals to all students as Tennessee schools grapple with student lunch debts
All students in Kingsport City Schools (KCS) will be eligible to receive meals at no charge, regardless of socioeconomic status, beginning August 5, a recent di...
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools approves revised budget with $50K starting salary for teachers
The Hamilton County Schools Board of Education voted 8-0 to approve a $663 million revised budget during Thursday’s special called meeting.
Local Education
Tennessee STEM Innovation Network says Innovation Hubs are 'transforming' STEM education
A new white paper from the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network says that Tennessee’s Regional STEM Innovation Hubs are having a “transformative effect on teaching...
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...
State Education
New state assessment data shows economically disadvantaged students are finding more success at public charter schools
This week’s release of state-level Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results is providing some good news for the 44,000 children who attend publ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools approves job cuts and $1.8 billion budget
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education voted 8-1 Tuesday night to approve Superintendent Marie Feagins’ plans to cut over 1,000 district positions...
Data and Polling
Tennessee Department of Education praises steady improvements in TCAP test results
Student performance is slowly but steadily improving in math, English language arts (ELA) and social studies, according to 2023-24 Tennessee Comprehensive Asses...
Elections
Memphis-Shelby County School Board candidates discuss literacy, project funding and need to build public trust
Voters in the Memphis-Shelby County school district got a chance to hear from several school board candidates about their thoughts on student literacy, capital ...
College and Higher Edu...
AI policies are still a work in progress for several Tennessee school districts ahead of 2024-25 school year
Tennessee school districts are finalizing their AI policies ahead of the 2024-25 school year as they navigate new legislation requiring guidelines on AI use in ...
Local Education
Kingsport City Schools passes drug testing policy
Kingsport City Schools approved a new policy requiring random drug testing for students in extracurricular activities, set to take effect next school year.
College and Higher Edu...
Teacher vacancies are a big challenge in Tennessee. Clarksville-Montgomery County may have found a solution.
A recent report from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) found that school districts across Tennessee began the school year with 1,000 teachi...
Data and Polling
EFI Charter School Report: Tennessee charter school sector ranked in middle of the pack
Tennessee ranks 14th out of 30 states included in a recent report from the Education Freedom Institute that measures the quality and accessibility of states’ pu...
Local Education
Nashville’s fourth-graders slightly outpace state average for improvements in reading
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is reporting similar reading gains as the state averages announced yesterday, for both third and fourth-graders.District f...
College and Higher Edu...
Students of color make up the majority of public charter school students in Tennessee. Should HBCUs get involved?
A recent report by the Tennessee Charter Center found roughly 95 percent of the state's 44,000 public charter school students are students of color and supporte...
Local Education
PROPEL Center and Apple host career accelerator for HBCU students
Apple and the PROPEL Center have partnered to host a career accelerator for 50 HBCU students, helping them develop creative and professional skills in the arts ...
Data and Polling
Fourth-graders show reading gains on state assessments while third-graders hold steady
Tennessee's fourth-graders showed noticeable improvements in reading this year while third-graders' scores held steady.That's according to a Thursday announceme...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools director optimistic about the performance of third and fourth-graders on state reading tests
Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle says based on the district’s preliminary “quick scores,” she's optimistic about how third and fourth...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools personnel plan paused by school board
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education passed a resolution during a special meeting Tuesday asking Superintendent Marie Feagins to halt further la...
Elections
Williamson County House candidates weigh in on education funding, book bans and DEI
Candidates running for Tennessee House District 65 discussed their views on state education funding, banning inappropriate books in K-12 schools and how they th...
Local Education
Knox County school board fails to pass policy change banning books depicting sexual imagery
A proposal to ban books depicting sexual imagery in Knox County Schools failed in a 4-2 vote. The board discussed compliance with a new state law set to take ef...
State Education
Report finds Tennessee’s public charter school students showing more academic growth than traditional school peers
A new report from the Tennessee Charter School Center found public charter schools are outperforming traditional public schools on state measurements for studen...
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...
Local Education
Elon Musk's xAI to build world's largest supercomputer in Memphis
Elon Musk’s AI company xAI is planning to build the world’s largest supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, marking the city’s largest capital investment by a new-...
Local Education
House district candidates weigh in on private school vouchers and property taxes
The proposal to allow Tennessee families to use public dollars to send their children to private school proved to be a topic of disagreement for three candidate...
Local Education
Knox County school board discusses banning books with sexual content
Knox County Board of Education officials discussed banning books that depict sex at Monday’s school board work session.
Local Education
Dr. Gwin-Miller designed her proposed public charter school to help Memphis students like she was, escape the cycle of poverty
Dr. Alexis Gwin-Miller grew up in Memphis facing the same challenges that she hopes to help children overcome with the Blueprint College and Career Prep public ...
Local Education
State Board of Education revokes three educators' licenses for sex crimes
The Tennessee Board of Education permanently revoked the educator licenses of three educators for sexual misconduct.
Local Education
Biden Administration announces $12 million in EPA rebates for clean school buses in Tennessee
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing funding to eight Tennessee school districts to purchase more than 40 clean school buses to reduce th...
Local Education
State provides updates to teacher licensure efforts in special ed, ESL and computer science
Tennessee’s additional endorsement program has helped over 1,200 educators add qualifications in special education, ESL, and computer science, while new pathway...
Local Education
Dekalb Schools and Graduation Alliance launch new online high school completion program
Adults in Tennessee who have not graduated from high school can now earn a high school diploma rather than a GED through a new online program recently launched ...
Local Education
John Overton junior selected to serve on Metro Nashville school board
Members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education chose John Overton High School rising junior Hannah Nguyen to serve as one of two studen...
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
TDOE announces presidential teaching award state finalists
The Tennessee Department of Education has named four state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the natio...
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 ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools officials promise staff won't lose their jobs under district reorganization plan
Memphis Shelby County School Board members and Superintendent Marie Feagins addressed concerns about the school system’s plans to reorganize district personnel ...
Local Education
Clarksville-Montgomery school board discusses reading proficiency requirements, arming teachers and COVID-19 relief funding
Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board discussed reading proficiency requirements, the decision not to arm teachers, and the impact of COVID-19 relief fundi...
Local Education
13 new Tennessee schools earn STEM designation, redesignation awarded to Kingsport's DB-EXCEL
The Tennessee Department of Education awarded STEM/STEAM designations to 13 new schools, while Kingsport's D-B EXCEL earned redesignation for its program's cont...
Local Education
Sumner County Schools approves staff pay raises
Local Education
Memphis school and law enforcement officials oppose allowing teachers to carry guns
In a joint video message, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Marie Feagins, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr., and Interim Memphis Police...
Local Education
Williamson County school board discusses reading proficiency requirements, Title IX changes
Williamson County parents will soon learn whether their kids will have to attend summer school to advance under state reading proficiency requirements.
Local Education
Student transition team presents recommendations to Memphis-Shelby County Schools
New Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins has looked to a variety of voices for assistance as she charts a path for the state’s largest...
Local Education
School resource officers to remain the only armed personnel in Knox County Schools
The Knox County Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution affirming that school resource officers (SRO) and law enforcement officers will remai...
Local Education
Budget discussions spark debate during Hamilton County School board meeting
A heated debate over Hamilton County Schools’ proposed $674 million budget led to a failed vote to reinstate it on the agenda. The school board will revisit the...
Local Education
Winning: These four Jackson-Madison schools finished in the top five in STEM competition
The Jackson-Madison County School System Board of Education celebrated four schools that participated in the Greenpower USA Regional Talladega Competition that ...
Data and Polling
Poll finds Tennessee voters are more supportive of public charter schools than the school boards opposing them
A new poll finds the unanimous rejection of new charters at the school board level this year doesn’t align with the values of Tennessee voters who elected them.
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
Memphis Grizzlies “raising the rim” at two Memphis schools
The Memphis Grizzlies National Basketball Association (NBA) team is providing a donation to provide students at Fox Meadows Elementary and John P. Freeman Optio...
Local Education
Knox County parents will know later this month if their children are at risk for retention under new reading requirements
Knox County parents will be notified if their children are at risk of retention under new state reading requirements, with options for retesting or summer inter...
Communities
Student Profile: A high school internship put Choice Champions Scholarship winner on the path to advocate for others
Soulsville Charter School senior Elisha Muhammad says a high school internship set her on a new path to advocate for those trying to overcome systemic barriers.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board denies request from Wooddale Middle School to transition into the district
Ben Frazier says traditional public schools have failed his autistic son.Frazier told members of the Memphis Shelby County School Board last week that his famil...
Local Education
School board members propose separate resolutions to oppose new law allowing teachers to carry guns
Two members of the Knox County Schools (KCS) Board of Education are proposing competing resolutions to push back on a recently passed law to allow armed teacher...
Local Education
MSCS’ $200 million funding request reflects soaring cost of new high schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is asking the county for more than $200 million in funding for school buildings, both to address maintenance needs at existing sch...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board rejects three proposed new public charter schools but leaves the door open for one of them
Brittany Jones told members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board her 13-year-old son has seen real change at the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter Scho...
Local Education
Knox Prep welcomes new students into a family atmosphere
Tawanya Figgs says she felt her 11-year-old son Ta’vion Wilson needed a change going into his sixth-grade school year.Figgs says the traditional public schools ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools to make major investment in teacher salaries
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board unanimously approved an agreement Tuesday night to spend $28 million increasing teacher salaries.The historic investment ...
Local Education
New Memphis public charter school pushing back opening until 2025
Empower Memphis Career and College Prep will begin serving Orange Mound and South Memphis students a year later than planned.Chief Executive Officer Muna Olaniy...
College and Higher Edu...
Scholarship opening doors for KIPP students who worry they can’t attend the University of Tennessee
Daniela Castro Pu says the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) felt like home almost immediately.Castro Pu is now weeks away from finishing her sophomore ye...
Local Education
New Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins receiving advice from a wide variety of sources
New Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins is planning to listen to a diverse set of voices as she charts the path forward for th...
Local Education
Parents lead $5 million fundraising drive to improve three elementary schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) announced a $5 million investment in three elementary schools made possible through a fundraising drive led by parents.For...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools recommends denial for three proposed public charter schools
Three proposed new public charter schools in Memphis may have a challenging road finding approval from school board members next week.Tuesday night the Memphis-...
Local Education
Board of Education turns down expansion of Nashville charter network that's outperforming comparable schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education turns down expansion of a Nashville charter network that's outperforming comparable schools.
College and Higher Edu...
Metro Nashville Public Schools and Vanderbilt University create new educational program at John Early Middle School
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) announced a partnership with Vanderbilt Peabody College to create a new education program at John Early Middle School. The...
Local Education
LEAD Public Schools proposes creating K-12 school pipelines with two new elementary schools
LEAD runs six public charter schools in Nashville, including four in the Metro-Nashville Public School district serving families in South Nashville and Antioch....
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
Independent review finds proposed Memphis Grizzlies affiliated public charter school a slam dunk
For more than a decade the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School has provided middle-school aged boys with a science, technology, engineering, arts, and ...
Local Education
Independent review recommends approval for proposed public charter school looking to close the gap for economically disadvantaged Memphis students
As the job market in the greater Memphis area continues to expand, more schools that focus on career and technical education (CTE) and college prep will be in d...
Local Education
Representative Bo Mitchell suggests Metro Schools bulldoze buildings before allowing organizations serving high numbers of students of color use them
West Nashville Representative Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, provided Metro Nashville Public Schools with some eyebrow raising advice on the House floor Thursday.Mit...
Local Education
Memphis’ Humes school, Elvis Presley’s alma mater, is closing after yearslong turnaround attempt
Humes Middle School in North Memphis will close at the end of this school year as it returns to the Memphis Shelby-County district’s control after a decade in T...
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
Here’s who will guide Marie Feagins as she takes on new superintendent role in Memphis
New Memphis schools leader Marie Feagins plans to rely on a group of former and current superintendents for support during her transition to the role by working...
Local Education
Encompass Community School proposes serving North Nashville students with a mastery-based approach
The mastery-based approach Encompass Community School program wants to bring to Nashville is designed to ensure students receive the instruction they need when ...
Local Education
Independent charter review recommends denial for the Nashville School of Excellence
More than 15 hundred elementary, middle, and high school students attend one of four Memphis Schools of Excellence in Shelby County. The organization that runs ...
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
Restored Craigmont High School planetarium enriches solar eclipse for Memphis students
At 12:39 p.m., as the moon took its first bite of the sun, a group of Craigmont High School students looked up at the dome of the school’s planetarium to watch ...
Local Education
Knox County leaders approve historic salary investment for educators and staff
The Knox County School (KCS) Board approved a historic $39 million investment to raise the salaries of teachers and school staff across the district.The vote wa...
Local Education
House finance committee advances legislation to make it easier for public charter schools to access vacant buildings
Members of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that’s designed to make it easier for public charter schools to access vacant sch...
Local Education
Knox County School leaders propose $39 million increase in district salaries
Knox County School (KCS) leaders are proposing a historic $39 million investment to increase the salaries of educators and school staff.The spending proposal fo...
Local Education
Lawmakers from Nashville and Knoxville vote against effort to expand high performing schools in Memphis
By every measurement, the three public schools the University of Memphis operates on its campus are producing academic results.The university has been operating...
Local Education
Half of Nashville’s public charter schools outperform every comparable district school on state testing
Firefly staff compared each MNPS public charter school’s performance on the Report Card to traditional and magnet schools serving the same age students in the s...
Local Education
Toni Williams celebrates her accomplishments leading Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Toni Williams spent part of her last school board meeting as the leader of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) looking back at everything she’s accomplished si...
Local Education
New Memphis superintendent’s contract includes ethics clause, reflecting lessons of Ray’s exit
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members say the contract being finalized for incoming Superintendent Marie Feagins reflects the lessons learned after former...
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
Memphis-Shelby County Schools poised to spend $12 million ramping up school safety
Members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board are expected to approve a plan later this month to spend more than $12 million upgrading school security.Durin...
Local Education
New legislation would allow the University of Memphis to form its own K-12 school district
Each school day more than a thousand children and teenagers travel from across Shelby County to the University of Memphis for a reason you may not expect.Those ...
Local Education
Acceleration program for at-risk students shining bright in Haywood County
The Star Academy program at Haywood County Middle School is showing success in helping at-risk students advance, with Tennessee awarding a $1 million grant to s...
Local Education
Knox County School Board approves first off-site Bible class
Students at Knoxville’s Farragut High School will be able to earn a full elective course credit in Bible studies next school year.Tennessee is one of several st...
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
Parents ask Knox County School Board to commit to special education changes
Tiffany Matthews says a team of teachers oversees her son’s individualized education program (IEP) for autism at Knoxville’s New Hopewell Elementary School.Matt...
Local Education
New Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent now slated to start April 1
The timeline for Memphis-Shelby County School’s new superintendent to get to work is officially moving up.Members of the Memphis-Shelby County School board vote...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools director touts district pandemic recovery to business leaders
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Director Dr. Adrienne Battle told Nashville business leaders the district’s recent national recognition for learning loss ...
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...
Local Education
Incoming Memphis schools leader Marie Feagins begins work, set to assume superintendent role April 1
Incoming Superintendent Marie Feagins has started working with Memphis-Shelby County Schools under a per diem agreement, allowing her to begin a transition to t...
Local Education
Senate passes legislation to provide public charter school students with better school buildings
Tennessee Senators voted 23 to 1 in favor of legislation designed to improve the school buildings public charter school students across the state attend Thursda...
Local Education
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School community pleads with district leaders to keep middle school grades
Lauren Herring’s daughter spent two years at her zoned middle school before being accepted into Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School.Herring says she desperatel...
Local Education
Audit finds Memphis-Shelby County Schools on solid financial ground
When Toni Williams took over as chief financial officer (CFO) for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) in 2019, the district faced a $58 million deficit and had...
Local Education
Change in strategy cut chronic absenteeism at LEAD Academy
Chronic absenteeism has been an ongoing issue for public schools nationwide and it only increased following the pandemic.LEAD Academy in Nashville was no except...
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
STRIVE Collegiate Academy has overcome challenges operating out of a former hospital. New legislation could remove barriers for other schools.
LaKendra Butler moved to Nashville a decade ago with the goal of starting a public charter school.At the time Butler was the principal of a middle school in Dal...
Local Education
Five Memphis students battling sickle cell disease receive scholarship in honor of Interim Superintendent Williams’ mother
Interim Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Toni Williams says her mother Shirley Yvette Green was a strong woman and a warrior as she battled sickle c...
Local Education
Westview Elementary students show off tech skills by designing personalized coasters
A group of Westview Elementary School students found a unique way to show off the fruits of the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) cu...
Local Education
Vanderbilt researcher says thinking on two levels enabled Nashville’s lauded pandemic recovery
Vanderbilt professor and researcher Jason Grissom told members of the Metro Nashville Board of Education that the nationwide recognition the district is getting...
Local Education
Operations leader to leave Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools may have gained a new superintendent this month but the district is losing its Chief of Business Operations.Julius Muse announced ...
Local Education
New report finds Nashville among the nation's leaders in pandemic recovery
A new report produced by Harvard and Stanford Universities known as the Education Recovery Scorecard, credits MNPS for surpassing national trends for pandemic r...
Local Education
Knox County School Board fails to approve resolution denouncing Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Knox County School Board members failed to pass a resolution Thursday night that would have denounced Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act. The...
Local Education
Board picks Dr. Marie Feagins to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools
The more than yearlong search for a new leader of the state’s largest school district is officially over. Members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board unan...
Local Education
House advances plan to help make vacant property available to public charter schools
Members of the House Education Administration Committee advanced proposed legislation Wednesday to help public charter schools access school buildings that are ...
Local Education
Knox County School Board split on the Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Knox County School Board members are split over Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to let families across the state use taxpayer dollars to attend private school.Gove...
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
Memphis-Shelby County School board will select a new superintendent Friday. Here's how the finalists will address literacy and mental health.
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) superintendent search is finally drawing to a close, with school board members now planning to select a new leader for ...
Local Education
Metro Nashville wants to take back control of LEAD Brick Church. The school’s students and parents have other ideas.
Victavia Walls says she made the wrong choice in middle school to temporarily leave LEAD Brick Church for her traditionally zoned Metro Nashville school. She's ...
Local Education
Meet Janet Bravo, the principal of Knoxville Preparatory School set to open this fall
A decade ago, it would have been hard to picture Janet Bravo working at a public charter school, much less leading the startup of one.Bravo says back then she h...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board votes to keep Vision Prep open
Natoria Carpenter says she chose to drive her daughter thirty miles each day to the opposite side of Memphis just to attend Vision Preparatory Charter School.Ca...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board approves charter school council
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board unanimously voted Tuesday to establish a special council to help guide decisions about public charter schools.The new Cha...
Local Education
Memphis superintendent search nears close with final set of candidate interviews
When the top three candidates for superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools make their final cases to community and board members later this week, they wi...
Local Education
School districts across the state have property they’re not using. A new bill aims to help public charter schools use them.
The House K-12 Subcommittee advanced legislation that aims to help public charter schools access vacant and underutilized buildings.If passed the bill would req...
Local Education
Nashville Collegiate Prep expanding its community classroom model to high school students
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission unanimously approved Nashville Collegiate Prep’s request to continue providing students its community classroom m...
Local Education
State charter commission unanimously approved renewed charter contract
Earlier this month when schools across Memphis shut down for winter weather, Promise Academy Spring Hill Interim Executive Director Patrick Washington says he r...
Local Education
State commission overrules decision to close high performing Nashville public charter school
Sara Vaneel says she chose to enroll her son in Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary School when he was entering kindergarten because she wanted him to hav...
Local Education
New state law may hold 700 Nashville fourth-graders back
Even under a best-case scenario, hundreds of Metro-Nashville Public School (MNPS) students will have to repeat the fourth-grade next year under a new state law....
Local Education
Nashville Chamber provides four recommendations to help guide students to future jobs
A key prediction that’s guiding Tennessee’s workforce development is the belief that the number of jobs requiring some form of credential or degree will grow at...
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
Memphis-Shelby County Schools credits facilities staff for being this week’s MVPs
Memphis-Shelby County School (MSCS) leaders say proactive efforts to winterize schools and increase facility staff is paying dividends during this week’s cold w...
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...
Local Education
Knox County School Board pauses harassment language change critics worry could lead to harassment of LGBTQ+ students
Knox County School Board members voted to hold off implementing a proposed change to school harassment language some fear would remove protections for LGBTQ+ st...
Local Education
Inclement weather pushes back Memphis superintendent search
The snow that’s blanketed Tennessee this week is forcing Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) to push back the final phase of its superintendent search.The dist...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School leaders commit to taking a stand against violence
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Interim Superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams gathered with district leaders Thursday morning to commit to putting forwar...
Local Education
Martin Luther King Academic Magnet faculty make the case to keep seventh and eighth-grade students
Faculty from Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School pleaded with the Metro Nashville School Board Tuesday night to oppose a proposal to remove two middle school g...
Local Education
Nashville’s public charter schools receive higher School Letter Grades than district counterparts
The majority of Nashville’s public charter schools received a better report card from the state than their traditional school counterparts in the Metro Nashvill...
Local Education
Knox County proposes new school to address overcrowding
A long-awaited solution may finally address school overcrowding in the Farragut area of Knox County.At Monday night’s school board work session, Knox County Sch...
Local Education
Superintendent Toni Williams says teacher retention could improve school letter grades in Memphis
Interim Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams says improving teacher retention could play a positive role in elevating lo...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board names the three finalists in superintendent search
The lengthy search for a new leader of the state’s largest school district is down to three finalists.Tuesday night members of the Memphis-Shelby County School ...
Local Education
The next Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent will need to solve a facility crisis. Here’s each candidate’s experience with similar challenges.
One of the biggest challenges the next superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) will inherit is the aging infrastructure of the district’s schools...
Local Education
Empower Memphis Career and College Prep opens in Memphis next year, bringing elementary career exploration to life
ParagraphLife has been busy for Muna Olaniyi ever since the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission unanimously approved her dream of opening a career based ...
Local Education
Five superintendent semi-finalists announced for Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) announced the five finalists it’s picked to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools Friday morning.The firm picke...
Local Education
Davidson County parents ask school board for tutoring accountability
Darrell Grady says his child was at risk of retention in the second grade. That experience, combined with his own time as a former Metro Nashville Public School...
Local Education
Memphis faith-based leaders denounce Satanic club’s plans to hold events at an elementary school
Dozens of faith-based leaders gathered around Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Interim Superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams Wednesday to denounce a Satan...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School leaders unveil plans to move forward without federal COVID funds
Interim Memphis-Shelby County School Superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams says her administration is evaluating multiple strategies to move the district forw...
Local Education
Jackson-Madison County graduation rate improvement outpaces the state
Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) leaders celebrated the district’s surge in graduation rates outpacing the state’s improvement.From 2021, the distri...
Local Education
Knox Prep leaders have had success serving students of color. Why are these board members working against it?
Three members of the Knox County Board of Education continued to work against efforts to establish a public charter school with a history of successfully servin...
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
Opponents of Knox Prep continue to provide resistance seven months after its approval
Multiple members of the Knox County Board of Education who unsuccessfully opposed Knoxville Preparatory School’s approval in April, are continuing to make it mo...
Local Education
Memphis public charter school approved for expansion in Frayser community
Tennessee’s first Montessori public charter school is expanding its personalized learning approach to more students in the Frayser community of Memphis.Monday t...
Local Education
Metro Nashville School Board votes to close one of northeast Nashville’s highest performing elementary schools
Jauana Luiz Cruz says the transition of moving to Nashville from Mexico was a huge challenge for her elementary school age son.Speaking through an interpreter a...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board approves expansion to its second oldest public charter school
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board approved an expansion request Tuesday night for one the district’s oldest public charter schools.Under the expansion plan...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board approves expansion to its second oldest public charter school
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board approved an expansion request Tuesday night for one the district’s oldest public charter schools.Under the expansion plan...
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...
Local Education
Jackson-Madison County Schools launches grant program to support teachers
The Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) announced the launch of a new teacher grant program aimed at supporting innovative teaching methods, profession...
Local Education
Chattanooga family an example of how the district’s school choice options can make a difference
Gueller Gonzalez has always placed a priority on ensuring her kids have access to a quality education in a nurturing environment that treats them equally and wi...
Local Education
Memphis’ school district needs to cut $150 million in spending. Hundreds of jobs are on the line.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools leaders have proposed eliminating 675 jobs along with a mix of student programs as they figure out how to cut $150 million in spen...
Local Education
Alumni celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tennessee's first public charter school
Twenty years ago, Chelsea Bailey was a rising seventh-grader in Memphis who had no idea what a public charter school was.That changed when the founder of the Me...
Local Education
Alumni celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tennessee's first public charter school
Twenty years ago, Chelsea Bailey was a rising seventh-grader in Memphis who had no idea what a public charter school was.That changed when the founder of the Me...
Local Education
Frayser shooting sparks calls for change at Memphis-Shelby County School Board meeting
Memphis-Shelby County School Board member Stephanie Love took a moment during Tuesday evening’s meeting to address the recent shootings in the Frayser community...
Local Education
Student environmental organization urges Metro Nashville School Board take climate change action
Students from Nashville’s chapter of the Sunrise Movement urged members of the Metro Nashville Board of Education to be more proactive in the battle against cli...
Local Education
Memphis families urge state charter commission to keep Promise Academy Spring Hill open
Shirley Quinn says Promise Academy Spring Hill’s name played an important role in why she chose to enroll her granddaughter there.The Memphis fourth-grader stru...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board fails to approve key part of new custodial plan
Local Education
Parents who opposed Invictus Nashville Charter School provided "false information" by their district, school leader says
On the morning of September 18, the Dean of Instruction for Stanford Montessori Elementary School used her publicly funded time and email address to do somethin...
Local Education
Search firm begins interviewing candidates to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) announced Wednesday that its search firm has selected a pool of candidates to interview in the ongoing search for a new sup...
Local Education
Knox County Schools announces new special education councils
Knox County Schools announced more reforms are coming for the district’s special education program.Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Jason Myers unvei...
Local Education
MLK College Prep students will have 6 choices for next year while new school is built
Students at MLK College Preparatory High School in Frayser will get to choose from among six schools to attend beginning next school year, as Memphis-Shelby Cou...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools invests $3 million into free student field trips
Memphis-Shelby County Schools announced Wednesday that it’s launching a new field trip program to give students free learning opportunities outside the classroo...
Local Education
Why this award-winning school superintendent donates his bonus back for his students every year
If his school community had to choose between himself and its nine therapy dogs, David Snowden jokes that “the director of schools would have to go.”Now in his ...
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
Metro Nashville School Board says Dr. Battle met every expectation in the 2022/2023 school year
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education says Director Dr. Adrienne Battle met every expectation for the 2022-23 school year.Board members provi...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Chair proposes creating three committees to help with superintendent search
The search for a new superintendent to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools appears to be reaching its home stretch.Tuesday night School Board Chair Althea Green ...
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
Metro Nashville Public Schools breaks ground on the new Lakeview Elementary School
Metro-Nashville Public Schools broke ground Thursday morning on the new and updated Lakeview Elementary Design Center.The district plans to build the school on ...
Local Education
Interim Superintendent Toni Williams says closing Memphis schools isn’t the goal of facility reuse plan
Interim Superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams told members of the Memphis-Shelby School Board that closing buildings is not the goal of the academic facilitie...
Local Education
Jackson-Madison County seeks legal action to stop its first public charter school from opening
The Jackson-Madison School Board is considering court action to prevent the county’s first public charter school from opening.Board members voted Monday morning...
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
MNPS Awarded Federal Magnet Schools Grant
The US Department of Education has awarded Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant for the third time in six ye...
Local Education
Author: Black teachers’ resistance to segregation 60 years ago holds lessons for teachers today
As a Birmingham, Alabama, native, Tondra Loder-Jackson was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. She was especially inspired by the ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools considering designating 23 academic spaces for reuse to save money
The new Facilities Steering Committee for Memphis-Shelby County Schools will be evaluating a potentially major change for district buildings to raise money for ...
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
State charter commission overturns one Memphis-Shelby County School Board decision and upholds another
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission provided a mixed bag for supporters of two public charter schools vying to transfer into the Memphis-Shelby Count...
Local Education
Mold repair forces Memphis’ Peabody Elementary to remain closed for the school year
Students at Memphis’s Peabody Elementary School will continue to attend classes elsewhere for the remainder of the school year.Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MS...
Local Education
Charter Commission approves East Nashville native’s dream of opening Invictus Nashville Charter School
Dr. Brenda Jones made Nashville education history Friday by not just becoming the first Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) graduate to open a public charter ...
Local Education
Charter Commission approves new public charter school for Orange Mound and South Memphis
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission unanimously cleared the way Friday for Memphis educator Muna Olaniyi’s dream of disrupting the cycle of poverty i...
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
Jackson-Madison County Schools attacks “inconsistencies” in two recommendations for American Classical Education
Jackson-Madison County Schools made the unusual move Wednesday to publicly attack a recommendation by the Executive Director of the Tennessee Public Charter Sch...
Local Education
Knox County Schools expanding student mental health resources
The Knox County Schools (KCS) Department of School Culture is aiming to make stronger connections with students who access the district’s mental health resource...
Local Education
Metro Nashville School Board seeks community input to improve diversity at two magnet high schools
The Metro Nashville School Board indefinitely deferred a proposed major change to the district’s magnet school policy Tuesday to allow for more discussion on ho...
Local Education
Donelson and Hermitage parents ask state board to approve Invictus Nashville Charter School
More than 30 parents in Donelson and Hermitage wrote the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission to urge members to overturn a decision by the Metro Nashvill...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools moves back superintendent search interviews
The ongoing search for a new leader of the state’s largest school district is once again seeing another key date moved back.At Tuesday night’s Memphis-Shelby Co...
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
Althea Greene remains Memphis-Shelby County Schools board chair for second year
Althea Greene will remain chair of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board for a second year as the district continues its search for a permanent superintendent...
Local Education
Nashville Collegiate Prep students urge state board to approve high school expansion
Nashville Collegiate Prep’s (NCP) appeal to open a high school in southeast Davidson County is finding support from those who are still too young to drive. More...
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
Lane College among those opposing American Classical Education’s appeal in Madison County
American Classical Education (ACE) will have to overcome opposition from one of Tennessee’s historically black colleges and universities if it’s going to succes...
Local Education
School repair needs spark heated debate at Memphis-Shelby County School Board work session
A discussion on the condition of school buildings turned heated at Monday’s Memphis-Shelby County School Board work session.Board member Stephanie Love and Inte...
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...
Local Education
Alex Green Elementary recognized as Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
The Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) has named Nashville’s Alex Green Design Technology Magnet Elementary School a 2023 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence...
Local Education
Dozens of parents write in support of career focused public charter school
Laquita Perry says she was born and raised in a South Memphis community where public schools struggled to provide a quality education.In an email to the Tenness...
Local Education
New partnership provides higher education opportunities for students at two Nashville high schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) announced a new partnership designed to provide more high school students with access to college-credit bearing courses.Th...
Local Education
Memphis Area College Night provides students with an introduction to more than 100 colleges and universities
Memphis high school students Steven Brown, Paris Brown, and Natalina Gallardo each had their own goals in mind when attending the annual Memphis Area College Ni...
Local Education
State Charter Commission receives heartfelt pleas from families asking for the return of a Memphis public charter school
Supporters of a proposed public charter school run by Pathways in Education (PIE) provided the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission with heartfelt testimo...
Local Education
Porter-Leath recognized as a program of excellence
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is recognizing Memphis organization Porter-Leath as one of 13 Programs of Excellence.This designation is a symbol of ...
Local Education
State Charter Commission receives more than 200 emails of support for Fairley High School
Fairley High School’s fight to remain a public charter school in Memphis is receiving a boost from the more than 200 people who submitted comments in support of...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools celebrates 33 schools achieving the highest level of academic growth
Metro Nashville Public Schools unveiled the names of 33 schools achieving the highest level of academic growth on the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (T...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools accused of misusing the law to make it impossible for new public charter schools to receive approval
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) did something different this year when school board members voted to deny three applications to open new public charter sc...
Local Education
Tailgate Talks score helpful information for Memphis superintendent search
The ongoing Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent search is receiving helpful information from an unlikely source.At Tuesday’s Memphis-Shelby County Scho...
Local Education
Gas leak forces temporary relocation of elementary school students in Goodlettsville
Goodlettsville’s Old Center Elementary students will once again need to attend classes in another school Wednesday.Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) initial...
Local Education
Opponents of proposed public charter school in Nashville inadvertently make the case for its approval
Multiple parents of students who attend Stanford Montessori Elementary school in Nashville’s Donelson community made the trip downtown Monday morning to speak o...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools host “tailgate talks” to get parental input on superintendent search
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is hosting a series of “Tailgate Talks” before sporting events across Memphis to learn more about what parents are looking ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools host “tailgate talks” to get parental input on superintendent search
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is hosting a series of “Tailgate Talks” before sporting events across Memphis to learn more about what parents are looking ...
Local Education
Knox County Schools Board of Education approves sweeping changes to special education services
Members of the Knox County Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to approve board chair Betsy Henderson’s resolution to follow all five recommendations m...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools once again declines to “celebrate" schools serving historically disadvantaged students
For the second year in a row, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is excluding its schools that serve some of the highest percentages of economically disadvan...
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...
Local Education
Proposed Nashville public charter schools make appeals to the state next week
Members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education have seen four of their decisions against proposed public charter schools overturned by ...
Local Education
Supporters say proposed Memphis public charter school is needed to disrupt the cycle of poverty
Alice Lockett is an example of the generational challenges many families in Memphis face.As a teenager she dropped out of school after becoming pregnant and had...
Local Education
Misconceptions abound for who public charter schools are serving. Subira Gordon plans to change that.
When Subira Gordon took over as the CEO of the Nashville Charter Collaborative last July there was no question what challenge she wanted to work on first.Public...
Local Education
Supporters of Fairley High School make their case for it to remain a public charter school
Patricia Adams graduated from Fairley High School in 1989, when the school was still a traditional public school in Memphis.Since then, she’s witnessed the scho...
Local Education
Former students make emotional plea for the return of a former Memphis public charter school
Zephan Alexander describes his time as a public-school student in Memphis as a challenge. He struggled in traditional public schools and public charter schools ...
Local Education
Former students make emotional plea for the return of a former Memphis public charter school
Zephan Alexander describes his time as a public-school student in Memphis as a challenge. He struggled in traditional public schools and public charter schools ...
Local Education
New Cordova high school will have larger campus as board approves replacement land purchase
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board voted Tuesday to approve a $5 million deal to buy 45 acres of land for the new high school in Cordova, after the distric...
Local Education
Denied proposed public charter schools make their appeal to the state this week
Proposed public charter schools have not found an easy road to approval in Tennessee this year.Local school boards approved just two charter applications, Ameri...
Local Education
School board endorses Freddie O’Connell in Nashville mayor’s race
For the second time members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education are taking the unusual position of stepping into the Nashville mayoral elec...
Local Education
Knoxville parents have a personal reason for joining the school district's special education task force
Cary Byrge began noticing something frustrating towards the end of her son’s second-grade year in school.Byrge’s son was supposed to receive regular speech ther...
Local Education
Nashville mayoral candidates debate school choice and literacy ahead of runoff vote
Nashville mayoral candidates Freddie O’Connell and Alice Rolli provided differing views for how to support school choice at the first education-focused debate.D...
Local Education
Intrepid College Prep offers hands-on approach to guiding students on the higher education path
Fifth-graders walking into Intrepid College Prep’s Opportunity Academy Middle School this month will immediately notice something different.Unlike traditional p...
Local Education
Longtime Chattanooga coach and administrator honored for distinguished service
For more than two decades, Levar Brown has been proving to himself exactly what he can and cannot do.Along the way, Brown likewise has proven a consistent, pers...
Local Education
New MSCS board member Mauricio Calvo has one year to make an impact. Here’s how he plans to use it.
Mauricio Calvo, the newest member of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board, took his oath of office next to the children’s section of a public library, with t...
Local Education
Nashville mayoral candidates to face off in education focused debate
Nashville mayoral candidates Freddie O’Connell and Alice Rolli have taken part in numerous debates in the last few months but education hasn’t always played a l...
Local Education
“We Go All In!” Nashville Classical Charter School is giving West Nashville families a long-awaited public school choice.
Marguerite Powell felt her prayers had been answered when she first met Nashville Classical West principal Alexandria Lambert.Lambert was passing out flyers for...
Communities
Tennessee Comptroller finds CTE grant programs making a difference for rural county students
In 2021, Lewis County Schools’ career and technical education (CTE) department utilized a $124 thousand state grant to give its rural Middle Tennessee students ...
Local Education
Knox County Schools special education task force makes recommendations to address “cultural problems”
A special education task force says Knox County Schools (KCS) needs curriculum modifications and other culture changes to ensure special education students are ...
Local Education
Activists banned from Memphis school property can’t return early, federal judge rules
Two of the Memphis activists who were banned in May from entering Memphis-Shelby County Schools property lost a bid in court to have their bans lifted early.
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools begins new school year without a permanent superintendent
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) kicked off the 2023-24 school year Monday morning with teachers holding welcome back signs for students and bands on the st...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools posts new superintendent job listing seeking “dynamic, visionary, and adaptable leader”
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) released new details this week for what the district’s school board will be looking for in the search for a new superintend...
Local Education
Chattanooga Changemaker: How one public charter school went from at risk for closure to the highest performing.
In 2010 the future looked anything but bright for the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA).The new public charter school had just finished its first year...
Local Education
How Memphis’ investment in teacher salary schedules will increase paychecks
Memphis-Shelby County Schools teachers will get salary raises and be able to move up the district’s salary schedule faster under an agreement with the two teach...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Schools approves new plans for student safety
The Metro Nashville School Board approved new changes to the district safety policy Tuesday night in response to school safety legislation signed into law by Go...
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
More for Memphis initiative aims to create radical change
A middle school and improved financial education are among the improvement’s residents in Memphis’ Orange Mound community say are desperately needed to improve ...
Local Education
American Classical Education blasts decision against proposed Madison County school that included 74 reasons for denial
Leaders of American Classical Education (ACE) didn’t hold back their criticism of Jackson-Madison County school board members who voted down a proposal to estab...
Local Education
Metro Nashville School Board Members mislead the public in voting down former teacher’s proposed school
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) District 5 school board member Christiane Buggs listed public charter school demographics as one reason why she planned to...
Local Education
Invictus Nashville’s holistic education vision up for vote Tuesday
Public charter schools haven’t exactly received the warmest of welcomes from the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education in recent years, but Dr. Bren...
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
Students in four Achievement School District schools left in limbo following Memphis-Shelby County School Board vote
Members of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education voted to deny four out of five applications Tuesday night from public charter schools vyi...
Local Education
James Lawson High School junior to represent students on the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) selected Christine Tran to represent her fellow MNPS students on the school board next year. Tran is a rising junior at th...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Board denies proposed public charter school that meets state standards but leaves door open for one that doesn’t
A short-handed Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education chose an unexpected path in the public charter school approval process Tuesday night. Wit...
Local Education
Mauricio Calvo appointed to fill vacant school board seat in Memphis
Shelby County Commissioners chose non-profit leader Mauricio Calvo to fill a vacant spot on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board.District 5 has been without r...
Local Education
Mauricio Calvo appointed to fill vacant school board seat in Memphis
Shelby County Commissioners chose non-profit leader Mauricio Calvo to fill a vacant spot on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board.District 5 has been without r...
Local Education
Nine proposed public charter schools are up for vote this month. Will school boards follow the recommendations from independent reviewers who gave five applications high marks?
The approval process for proposed new public charter schools is about to begin its second round for school districts across the state.Four school boards will be...
Local Education
Knox County Schools approves religious course policy some members consider to a “slippery slope”
The Knox County Schools board of education approved a policy to allow students to leave school for an hour to earn elective credits for religious courses.The 7-...
Local Education
Hamilton County Schools announces new elementary school principals
Hamilton County Schools announced Dr. Martha McMillan and Alisan Taylor will take over as the new principals for East Ridge Elementary School and Thrasher Eleme...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools recommends denial for five public charter schools applying to transition into the school district
Local Education
District recommends denial for every proposed public charter school in Memphis, including one that met state standards
Four proposed public charter schools may face a tougher road to finding approval in Memphis.The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) charter review team is reco...
Local Education
“Deep dive” review finds Knox County Schools needs to do a better job making resources available to special education students and English learners
A “deep dive” review of student support services by Knox County Schools (KCS) found challenges providing resources to special education students and English lan...
Local Education
Schools starts in August. Here’s what you need to know
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has launched a “Back to School” webpage to help families prepare for the new school year that begins August 8.“The morning...
Local Education
Interim superintendent no longer a finalist to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Interim superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams is no longer a contender to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) on a permanent basis.At Tuesday evening’s ...
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...
Local Education
School board to consider using COVID funding to address inequity in Nashville teacher pay
Members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education plan to consider using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding approve...
Local Education
Shelby County Commission give support to new schools and teacher raises
Shelby County Commissioners voted in favor of building two new high schools and providing a substantial raise to teachers Monday night.Both are key educational ...
Local Education
A Season of Scandal Leaves Memphis-Shelby Parents in the Dark on COVID Spending
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Tennessee’s largest district, received almost $776 million in federal relief funds to help students recover from the pandemic...
Local Education
Founder of two proposed public charter schools inspired by his own struggles overcoming a learning disability
The path that Pathways in Education (PIE) takes its name from began decades ago with the challenges organization founder John Hall faced when he was in school.H...
Local Education
Choice Champions Student Profile: Kalen Sy dreams of making a difference in Memphis
Kalen Sy learned the value of education at an early age.His grandmother and mother repeatedly stressed the importance of education, and it charted a path forwar...
Local Education
Metro Council approves a lower cost of living increase for teachers than regular Metro Nashville employees
Metro Council approved a 6 percent cost of living increase for Metro Nashville employees Tuesday night, but teachers won’t be receiving the same amount. The cou...
Local Education
Former MSCS board member alleged ‘corruption.’ Here’s what an MSCS audit found.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools paid a lawn care vendor more than its contract allowed, lost some lawn equipment to theft, and paid an employee for days they didn...
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...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools approves teacher raises and safety improvements in new budget
Memphis-Shelby County School Board members voted in a major salary increase for teachers in the district’s 2023/2024 proposed budget.Under the spending plan, th...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools unveils new safety plan
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Director Dr. Adrienne Battle unveiled the district’s new plan to keep students safe during Tuesday’s Board of Education me...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education reassures parents the superintendent search is moving forward
School board members with Memphis-Shelby County Schools sent a letter to parents Wednesday to assure them that the turbulent search for a new school superintend...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board vice chair steps down from following heated discussion about superintendent search
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is down one school board member and is no closer to finding a new superintendent following Tuesday evening’s special called...
Local Education
Nashville mayoral candidates debate their plans to improve student test scores
The candidates vying to become Nashville’s next mayor finally answered a question about how they plan to improve education.During Monday’s televised debate, Fox...
Local Education
Memphis activists challenge bans from school district property in federal lawsuit
Five people who were banned from Memphis-Shelby County Schools buildings and property have filed a federal lawsuit against the district, claiming officials viol...
Local Education
Member of the “Tennessee Three” lends support to Memphis “School Board Five”
Representative Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis) joined four members of the so-called “School Board Five” in a protest Friday outside the Memphis-Shelby County Scho...
Local Education
Retests whittle down number of MSCS 3rd graders facing retention over reading scores
About 1 in 5 Memphis Shelby-County Schools third graders who took a state retest in reading last month succeeded in earning an easier path to fourth grade — som...
Local Education
Knox County Schools unveils "Region 5 Way" to improve low performing schools
Knox County Schools (KCS) Superintendent Jon Rysewyk unveiled a new strategic plan at Monday’s school board meeting to improve schools in the district’s Region ...
Local Education
Knox County Schools unveils "Region 5 Way" to improve low performing schools
Knox County Schools (KCS) Superintendent Jon Rysewyk unveiled a new strategic plan at Monday’s school board meeting to improve schools in the district’s Region ...
Local Education
Choice Champions Scholarship Student Profile: James Loc wants to expand representation in media through animation
Games have a way of expanding the world around us by introducing worldbuilding, writing, art, and fantasy.For Knowledge Academies senior James Loc, the game Sky...
Local Education
More delays expected in the turbulent search for a new leader of Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board admit they don’t expect to be able to name a permanent superintendent by the start of the 2023/2024 school yea...
Local Education
Nashville third-graders improve in TCAP retake but some still need work to advance to the fourth-grade
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) reported a welcome increase in scores from last week’s retake of the English language arts section of the Tennessee Compre...
Local Education
Ban of five public speakers on Memphis-Shelby County School property faces criticism
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is facing pushback for banning five public commenters from all district property.The district made the decision to ban form...
Local Education
Parents of Memphis third-graders should learn the results of the TCAP retest today
Administrators with Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) say parents should learn today if their third-graders need to attend summer school and/or tutoring in t...
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
New school a breath of fresh air to Nashville students
Nature isn’t just a part of the name of the Tennessee Nature Academy or even just a component of the new public charter school’s curriculum.When the academy ope...
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
Memphis 3rd graders improved in reading from 2nd grade, but thousands could still be held back
Early state test results show Memphis third graders improved in reading this year, and more students in the cohort are mastering state reading goals.But about t...
Local Education
Dr. Adrienne Battle makes case for $1.2 billion Metro Nashville Public Schools' budget
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Director Dr. Adrienne Battle laid out the district’s $1.2 billion spending plan to raise salaries, provide universal free ...
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
Memphis district may drop ServiceMaster custodial contract as cleanliness concerns persist
Memphis-Shelby County Schools wants to clean up the way it cleans up its schools.Last year, the board approved a four-year, $34 million contract with ServiceMas...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board poised to widen superintendent search
Local Education
Poll finds Nashville voters support raising taxes to give teachers a raise and expanding school choice
A new poll of likely Davidson County voters found strong support for raising teacher pay, even if that meant raising taxes.More than 56 percent of those polled ...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public School budget plan includes raises for administrators, free lunches, and full-time substitute teachers
The proposed 2023/2024 budget for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) includes pay increases for school administrators, universal free lunch for students, and...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board pauses superintendent search
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) superintendent search is officially on hold, much to the frustration of some residents in Memphis.MSCS school board mem...
Local Education
Knox County Schools launches special education task force
Local Education
LEAD Public Schools names prominent Metro Nashville Public Schools principal to key leadership role
Two years ago, Dr. Ricki Gibbs featured prominently in WPLN’s Peabody award winning series the Promise, in an episode that contrasted two East Nashville public ...
Local Education
New legislation to raise teacher pay hasn’t quieted calls in Memphis for better compensation for all educators
The recent passage of a teacher pay raise by the Tennessee General Assembly hasn’t quelled calls to improve the compensation for Memphis educators.Multiple teac...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools says summer learning program is helping stop the “summer slide”
Every summer, students across the country experience learning loss during the months they’re away from school on summer break.Two years ago Metro Nashville Publ...
Local Education
American Classical Education finds mixed bag in second attempt to open public charter schools in Tennessee
American Classical Education (ACE) will open at least one public charter school in Tennessee, but the group’s controversial history remains a roadblock in sever...
Local Education
Memphis school district’s superintendent search: Here’s the latest on the applicants
Local Education
Knox County Board of Education approves the county’s second public charter school
Knox County School Board Member Susan Horn (District 5) provided the tie breaking vote at Thursday’s special called meeting to approve the county’s second publi...
Local Education
Fairley High at a Crossroads: Students and Alumni Rally to Keep Charter School Alive
Fairley High School students and alumni told the Memphis-Shelby County School Board they want the school to remain open as a public charter school.Fairley is am...
Local Education
Knox County School Board ignored its own district’s recommendation to approve a public charter school. That could change Thursday
Supporters of the proposed Knoxville Preparatory School will learn Thursday if having every school board member in attendance improves their chances of approval...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools denies three high quality public charter school applications including one by a former student
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education said no to three proposed schools Tuesday night, including one by a former student.The board voted 5 to 2 agai...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County School Board denies five applications for new public charter schools with one vote
School board members with Memphis-Shelby County Schools denied all five applications for new public charter schools with one vote Tuesday.The board opted to fol...
Local Education
Memphis charter review recommends denial for all new charter applicants including those rated highly by independent reviewers
A review committee for Memphis-Shelby County Schools recommended a denial for all five new public charter school applications the district received this year, i...
Local Education
MSCS superintendent search remains on hold until board members agree on an approach
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members decided Monday to keep their search for a new superintendent on pause while they try to reach consensus on what they...
Local Education
Knox County School Board Member makes insensitive comments towards a student and his immigrant family during unusual meeting
Katherine Bike (District 4) accused Chattanooga Prep Sophomore Theo Pedro Orozco of being a pawn for Knox Prep supporters when he referred to his mother as "ill...
Local Education
Brenda Jones hopes to be the first Nashville public school graduate to open a public charter school
Brenda Jones has a personal reason behind her mission to establish a new public charter school in Nashville.In a city that’s increasingly full of transplants, J...
Local Education
One candidate emerges and two exit in search for a new Memphis-Shelby County School superintendent
The search for a new superintendent to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools took another unexpected turn Tuesday.Former Boston Public Schools superintendent Brend...
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...
Local Education
Memphis superintendent search put on pause after reveal of the three finalists
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members postponed finalist interviews for the next superintendent until further notice Saturday following allegations of a l...
Local Education
MSCS superintendent search firm isn’t enforcing board’s policy on minimum job requirements
A national superintendent search that officials promised would restore trust in the embattled Memphis-Shelby County Schools district could yield finalists who d...
Local Education
High-quality public charter school breaks ground in West Nashville
Amber Green had a few specific characteristics in mind when she began looking for an elementary school for her son Greyson. Green says she wanted a school that ...
Local Education
Proposed budget for Memphis-Shelby County Schools includes increased teacher pay and new school security
Local Education
Vote to approve Knoxville public charter school results in tie. What comes next?
Local Education
Tennessee law could hold back thousands of third graders in bid to help kids recover from the pandemic
A retention policy tied to state reading test scores is drawing both support and skepticism.
Local Education
Proposed public charter school in Knoxville receives support from district evaluators and students
The charter evaluation team for Knox County Schools is recommending approval for a second public charter school. The team formally presented its findings to the...
Local Education
Hanley School in Tennessee’s turnaround district will return to MSCS control
For the first time, a charter school in Tennessee’s turnaround district will exit the state program and return to the Memphis district’s management, Memphis-She...
Local Education
Proposed public charter school aims to bring two teacher classroom approach to East Davidson County
The McGavock Cluster in Donelson and Hermitage serves close to ten percent of the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) student population and houses the larges...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools announce a school closure and other changes for the upcoming school year
Memphis-Shelby County Schools announced four important updates, including one school closure, for students and families in the coming 2023/2024 school year.
Local Education
Memphis parents and activists demand more transparency and public input into superintendent finalist interviews
Local Education
Proposed public charter school aims to serve the needs of at-risk students in fast-growing Southeast Nashville
Local Education
Proposed public charter school seeks to fill the gap for at-risk students in southeast Davidson County
Local Education
MSCS interim schools chief Toni Williams says she has applied for superintendent job
Interim Memphis schools leader Toni Williams has applied to be the district’s superintendent, a role she once said she was not interested in assuming on a perma...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools unveils plans to expand literacy and career development
Local Education
MSCS board prepares to narrow superintendent search, without public input on finalists
Memphis-Shelby County Schools plans to whittle a growing list of applicants for its superintendent job to three finalists within the next month. For this final ...
Local Education
MSCS board prepares to narrow superintendent search, without public input on finalists
Memphis-Shelby County Schools plans to whittle a growing list of applicants for its superintendent job to three finalists within the next month. For this final ...
Local Education
National education model for educating at-risk students receives support for a return to Memphis
Local Education
Memphis Lift helping bring literacy awareness to Memphis families
Parents’ movement the Memphis Lift is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Education to help raise awareness of the of the challenges students are facing...
Local Education
Independent review finds proposed “male-only” public charter school in Memphis lacks evidence its single gender model works
Memphis based TGAND Outreach Ministries envisions its CHANGE Academy as a new type of public charter school that focuses on the needs of male students with a vo...
Local Education
Contracts for Memphis Shelby County Schools security upgrades await board approva
Memphis-Shelby County Schools would spend up to $6.3 million to bolster security in the district’s schools under a pair of contracts awaiting board approval.The...
College and Higher Edu...
Senate Education Committee gives a negative recommendation to Tennessee State University’s budget
Local Education
Curious about the public charter school applying to open in your community? This new resource can help you learn more.
Education organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) announced a new resource Thursday to provide parents and local school districts with more informati...
Local Education
Memphis School Board encouraged to let the public to submit questions to superintendent candidates
Local Education
Memphis School Board encouraged to let the public to submit questions to superintendent candidates
Local Education
MSCS board backs land purchase for new Cordova high school under ‘three G’s’ settlement
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board agreed to buy nearly 36 acres of land north of Shelby Farms for a new high school that will accommodate 1,800 students an...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools now accepting applications for Pre-K Program
Metro Nashville Public Schools opened its application portal Wednesday for parents who want to enroll their child in the district’s Pre-K program.Children who w...
Local Education
Joint state committee recommends TSU's board of trustees stay on the job despite scathing Comptroller audit
Local Education
School Choice Profile: Two Nashville mothers explain how Rocketship’s model is enabling their children to succeed
Local Education
What qualities should the next superintendent in Memphis have? One student and one teacher see race and gender differently
Six months after former Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) superintendent Joris Ray resigned while facing claims of abusing his power, the district is narrowi...
Local Education
Knox County School Board members refuse resolutions to “empower” parents, prohibit explicit content, and support women’s sports and literacy
Each year the Knox County Board of Education provides members of the Tennessee General Assembly with a list of legislative priorities the board hopes legislator...
Local Education
Memphis Representative says Tennessee needs to do a better job providing school options to low income families
Local Education
Day on the Hill provides an educational opportunity for Memphis teachers
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board picks Illinois firm Hazard Young to lead superintendent search
Local Education
Bill would make summer learning camps designed for COVID continue beyond the pandemic
Like many school districts across the country, Elizabethton City Schools entered the 2020/2021 school year with a new hybrid schedule that allowed students to s...
Local Education
Memphis students focus on hope and healing following the death of Tyre Nichols
Local Education
Memphis students focus on hope and healing following the death of Tyre Nichols
Local Education
School Turnaround Program is working for two Memphis schools
Memphis schools Hawkins Mill Elementary and Trezevant High have been on the state’s priority list since the list’s formation in the 2011-12 school year. This me...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools cancels Friday events and reschedules School Showcase
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is cancelling events Friday evening and rescheduling Saturday’s School Choice Showcase as a safety precaution for expected protest...
Local Education
National School Choice Week gives parents the power to choose the best education for their children
Local Education
Despite transportation challenges, Nashville Chamber recommends expanding work-based learning program
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce presented its Education Report Tuesday, citing four specific recommendations for Metro Nashville Public Schools to improv...
Local Education
Memphis community panel says superintendent search may be moving too quickly
Local Education
MNPS offers families a convenient way to engage in school choice
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has opened the optional schools application process for the 2023-24 school year.This process provides families and parents...
Local Education
Commitment to diversity and change among the qualities Memphis parents want in next superintendent
Memphis-Shelby County School Board members received a clearer picture of the priorities parents want the next superintendent to have Wednesday night and two of ...
Local Education
Is the ideal candidate to lead Memphis Schools already on the job? Some say yes despite national search support
The search for a new superintendent to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is seeing disagreement over whether the ideal candidate is already on the job.A...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools opens registration for summer learning program
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...
Local Education
Community panel advising MSCS on superintendent search sets first public meeting
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board poised to select superintendent search firm this month
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board is poised to choose a firm by the end of the month to lead its national search for a new superintendent.MSCS received ap...
Local Education
Nashville State Launches Darrell Freeman Fellowship
Nashville State Community College has partnered with BGSF to create the Darrell Freeman Fellowship, an opportunity for students pursuing careers in Information ...
Local Education
Memphis schools hit hard by last month’s winter weather
Local Education
State audit found school officials in Dyer County wrongfully used COVID grant for bonuses
A state audit revealed that Dyer County Schools wrongfully used over $63,000 from a COVID-19 grant to award bonuses to administrative staff without proper appro...
Local Education
Nashville, Shelby County to appeal court’s dismissal of Tennessee school voucher case
Plaintiffs behind two lawsuits challenging Tennessee’s private school voucher law plan to appeal a judicial panel’s dismissal of their remaining legal claims.Me...
Local Education
Nashville celebrates ten years of the Community Achieves initiative
Metro Nashville Public Schools is celebrating ten years of the Community Achieves initiative and its work to positively impact students.Founded in 2012 with 9 s...
Local Education
How MSCS is trying to get pre-K programs — and preschoolers — back on track after COVID
When schools closed abruptly in 2020, derailing education for students across Memphis and the country, Jairia Cathey, a teacher at Evans Elementary, scrambled t...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools asks parents to help with search for new superintendent
Tennessee’s largest school district is asking parents to play a larger role in the process of picking its next leader.The Memphis-Shelby County School Board is ...
Local Education
MSCS and Millington school boards approve transfer of Lucy Elementary with 4-year transition
Local Education
Tennessee could see nearly two dozen new public charter schools proposed next year
School districts across the state received 23 letters of intent this month for applications to open new public charter schools next year. That’s the first step ...
Local Education
Fulton coach recognized for distinguished service as an administrator and coach
The job wasn’t even one for which he had applied, and after three years and 13 wins, it hardly seemed destined to result in one of the most remarkable coaching ...
Local Education
MSCS and Germantown school boards back ‘three G’s’ settlement, ending 10-year dispute
The decade-old dispute between Memphis-Shelby County Schools and the Germantown Municipal School District ended Thursday as the two districts’ school boards sig...
Local Education
Shelby County Commission approves pact to transfer ‘three G’ schools to Germantown
The Shelby County Commission Wednesday moved closer to resolving a decade-old dispute over control of three schools in Germantown, approving a deal that would, ...
Local Education
Germantown city leaders approve settlement to take over ‘three G’ schools from MSCS
City leaders in Germantown unanimously backed an agreement Monday that would allow its municipal school district to take over two schools currently operated by ...
Local Education
Public charter schools continue to find an easier path in Memphis than Nashville
Last week’s Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education meeting provided yet another example of how differently the state’s two largest school districts ch...
Local Education
Amid MSCS’ national superintendent search, some in Whitehaven push for a local candidate
Beverly Davis, president of the Whitehaven Empowerment Zone PTSO, believes the next superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools should possess one main asse...
Local Education
Tennessee Education Savings Account law would expand to Hamilton County under bill
Tennessee’s private school voucher law, which now only affects districts and some students in Memphis and Nashville, would widen to include Hamilton County Scho...
Local Education
Four Memphis charter schools are spared in MSCS board vote, despite academic deficiencies
Local Education
Flu outbreak threatens more disruptions for Tennessee schools
Districts throughout Tennessee and the nation are working to help students recover from learning losses spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. But another respirator...
Local Education
MSCS board speeds up superintendent search, unveils new website
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board on Thursday announced a sped-up timeline for its superintendent search and launched a website to give the public more vi...
Local Education
TSSAA Rewind: 1972 Tennessee High team wins second consecutive state football title
There had been a previous state championship, and some national acclaim.Yet as Tennessee High School’s legendary squad entered the 1972 football season, the Vik...
Local Education
TSSAA Rewind: 1972 Tennessee High team wins second consecutive state football title
There had been a previous state championship, and some national acclaim.Yet as Tennessee High School’s legendary squad entered the 1972 football season, the Vik...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board approves expansion of two charter schools
Two charter schools that have been at odds with Memphis-Shelby County Schools administrators won approval from the school board for their requests to expand.In ...
Local Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools looking for teachers for the upcoming school year
Metro Nashville Public Schools will host a Teacher Recruitment Fair Saturday to recruit certified and permitted educators across all grade levels. The district ...
Local Education
Tennis Star helps provide another winner for public charter school students
It’s been sixteen years since Andre Agassi retired from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, but he’s still serving up aces in communities across...
Local Education
MNPS doubles down on excluding schools serving historically disadvantaged students from celebration
When the parade begins Saturday morning to celebrate Nashville’s public schools, the students marching will not totally reflect the city’s diverse student popul...
Local Education
Cleared of wrongdoing, two top MSCS officials opt to leave their posts
John Barker, a Memphis-Shelby County Schools deputy superintendent who was on leave pending an investigation into a complaint against him, has retired from the ...
Local Education
Surprise! West Tennessee teacher receives one of the highest honors in education
Alexa Guynes didn’t expect to win an award when she walked into her school gymnasium Thursday but that’s exactly happened.Surrounded by her 5th grade students a...
Local Education
Titans offer to help Nashville high schools get new athletic fields
Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced a plan Wednesday to provide every district run public high school athletic program with new or improved sports fields.The ...
Local Education
Student homelessness in Memphis-Shelby County Schools more than doubles
Homelessness among Memphis-Shelby County Schools students has hit its highest level in at least four years, more than doubling from the same time last year.New ...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board to pick next superintendent in July under proposed timeline
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board wouldn’t select the next leader of Tennessee’s largest school district until July — a month before the 2023-24 school ye...
Local Education
Memphis school board chair aims to rebuild trust, focus on academics as superintendent search starts
Althea Greene understands the assignment.Memphis-Shelby County Schools is in a moment of major transitions. The school board is preparing to embark on its first...
Local Education
Memphis LIFT launches parent task force to give input on next superintendent
As the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board prepares to launch its first national superintendent search in a decade, Charles Lampkin has several thoughts on the ...
Local Education
MSCS board will launch national superintendent search this month
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board will look nationwide for a replacement for its former scandal-plagued superintendent Joris Ray. The search will begin thi...
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
One Memphis teachers union takes the first step toward the bargaining table
Local Education
Memphis district records its lowest NAEP scores, showing COVID’s devastating impact
Memphis-Shelby County Schools showed some of the country’s sharpest declines in math and reading scores on the test known as the “nation’s report card.”Results ...
Local Education
MSCS human resources chief is suspended after complaint
For the second time in six weeks, a Memphis-Shelby County Schools official has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into an employe...
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
MSCS board will add community activist and former educator Frank Johnson
Local Education
Service for students with disabilities in question for proposed Classic charter schools
Local Education
Financial questions raised for proposed high-quality nature-based charter school
The Tennessee Nature Academy aims to be Middle-Tennessee’s first nature-based public charter school but it’s a different type of green that could cause challeng...
Local Education
Reading champ a bookworm since he was a toddler
Jeffrey Stubblefield didn’t spend his summer break like most elementary school children. Then again, Stubblefield is no ordinary fourth grader.From May 31 to Au...
Local Education
Germantown High students join fight to keep the ‘three G’s’ open
After three years at Germantown High School, Maya Logan has come to think of it as home — a place where she’s made friends who are more like family, that has he...
Local Education
Charter commission sides with KIPP Nashville over Metro Nashville Public Schools
The Tennessee Charter Commission overturned MNPS’s decision to reject KIPP Nashville’s applications, approving two new schools in Antioch.
Local Education
Three candidates seek open Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seat
Three Memphians have thrown their hat in the ring to fill the District 7 seat on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board vacated by Miska Clay Bibbs.Clay Bibbs ...
Local Education
Memphis school board delays start of superintendent search
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board has delayed the start of its search for a new superintendent to replace Joris Ray, so that its newest members can get up...
Local Education
Charter commission executive director provides mixed recommendations for proposed Nashville charters
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will decide whether Nashville families in Antioch and Southeast Davidson County have new high-quali...
Local Education
Fayette County charter school proposed to support future Ford families
The proposed Academy of the Arts charter school aims to provide a school choice option for future Ford employees in Fayette County, but faces concerns from the ...
Local Education
Charter Commission Executive Director recommends denial for proposed first Clarksville public charter school
Supporters of school choice received another setback to efforts to establish a high-quality public charter school in Tennessee's largest city without one.Friday...
Local Education
Appeals withdrawn for proposed charter schools with connections to Hillsdale
American Classical Education withdrew its appeals for proposed charter schools connected to Hillsdale College after local districts rejected them and public out...
Local Education
Former Mayor Karl Dean among those providing comments supporting denied Nashville public charter schools
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission received no written comments from the public in opposition to the four charter school appeals members are hearing...
Local Education
Six school districts recognized for helping students recover from COVID learning loss
Tennessee is celebrating six school districts for their work to accelerate student learning following the pandemic.The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) ...
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
Proposed military charter school aims to be the solution to the school to jail pipeline
Supporters of the Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy believe their public charter school model is the solution to the school to jail pipeline too many student...
Local Education
Supporters of proposed Memphis charter school tell state commission it fills a vital need for Binghampton families
The Binghampton neighborhood in Memphis is a community with a diverse population that’s struggling with poverty.Nora Jendoubi says her organization Maslow Devel...
Local Education
New poll finds students lack information for life after high school
A national student poll from the Data Quality Campaign (DQC), in collaboration with the Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT) found that high school students lack ...
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
Nashville’s Glendale Elementary Receives Prestigious Award
Local Education
State commission hears appeal from denied charter school designed for students who've dropped out
Administrators of a proposed public charter school in Clarksville told the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission their concept to serve at risk students an...
Local Education
Community support and curriculum once again under question with charter application connected to Hillsdale College
For the third straight day, administrators with a proposed public charter school connected to Hillsdale College faced questions about their community support an...
Local Education
Proposed charter connected to Hillsdale College faces more questions about how it would serve students with special needs
At a public hearing in Jackson Thursday morning, Administrators with the Jackson-Madison County School System told the Tennessee Public Charter School Commissio...
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...
Local Education
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 distric...
Local Education
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) an...
Local Education
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 differen...
Local Education
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 clas...
Local Education
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’...
Local Education
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 st...
Local Education
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 m...
Local Education
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 ...
Local Education
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...
Local Education
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...
Local Education
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...
Local Education
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 stat...
Local Education
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 stat...
Local Education
Report questions Tennessee public school's spending of $3.5B in COVID-19 relief funds
A new report from Beacon Center of Tennessee shows that school districts throughout Tennessee received a total of nearly $3.5 billion sent directly to districts...
Local Education
Joris Ray agrees to resign as Memphis-Shelby County Schools chief under deal with board
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray, who was under investigation over claims that he abused his power and violated district policies, resigne...
Local Education
KIPP Memphis leader discusses his vision for the city’s oldest charter network
As KIPP Memphis celebrates its 20th anniversary, CEO Antonio Burt thinks the charter network is on its way to “finding our sweet spot” in Memphis’ changing educ...
Local Education
One charter school wins Memphis school board approval
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board on Tuesday approved just one of four charter school applications for the 2023-24 school year.
Local Education
Nashville school board decides against charter legal fight
The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education provided school choice supporters with a mixed bag at Monday afternoon's specially called meeting.
Local Education
MSCS reports over 200 teacher vacancies three weeks before school starts
With less than three weeks to go before students return to classrooms, Memphis-Shelby County Schools has 220 unfilled teaching positions.
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...
Local Education
Nashville school board says no to new public charter schools
The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education sent another sign Tuesday night that public charter schools will not have an easy time making their case i...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ TCAP scores return to near pre-pandemic levels, but gaps persist
Nearly 17% of Memphis students in grades 3-12 performed at or above grade-level expectations in math and English on state standardized tests in 2022 — a sign th...
Local Education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools sells former Brookmeade Elementary to Libertas charter school
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board on Tuesday agreed to sell the former Brookmeade Elementary School building, located at 3777 Edenburg Drive, to the chart...
Local Education
State board sides with public charter school in dispute with Metro Nashville Public Schools
Hundreds of Nashville public school children won’t have to endure the uncertainty of switching middle schools next month after all. At a specially called June m...