State Education
Finding and Funding School Buildings Remains Biggest Barrier to Expanding Student Options
Two state-approved schools postponed planned openings after failing to find suitable facilities.
State Education
Coverage, analysis, and reporting on state education across Tennessee.
819 articles
State Education
Tennessee Public Charter Schools Commission Reverses Gate School, Music City Academy Application Denials
The Commission’s reversals of the Metro Nashville Public Schools denials trigger the five-year state application option.
State Education
Merrol Hyde Third Grader Timothy Bell Jr. Named Tennessee’s Top Elementary Reader in Tristar Reads
Bell logged an incredible 8,172 minutes of reading over the summer.
State Education
New Federal Rules Clear Path for Tennessee's K-12 Scholarship Tax Credit Program
With the federal scholarship tax credit set to launch in 2027, new guidance establishes deadlines for states and creates opportunities for new scholarship-grant...
State Education
Tennessee Leads the South in National Education Rankings Following Decades of Improvements
A new analysis finds Tennessee made the largest improvement of any state in national rankings for fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math between 2003 and 202...
State Education
State Director Recommends Overturning Two MNPS Charter Denials; Decisions Could Reshape Nashville Approval Process
Two commission reversals would let future applicants looking to expand public school options take their proposals directly to the state.
State Education
Study Ranks Tennessee Second in Nation for Return on Investment in Education
The Volunteer State ranks seventh overall in the 2026 Education Freedom Report Card, with high marks for education spending efficiency and academic transparency...
State Education
New Fund Aims to Help Tennessee Public Charter Schools Pay for Facilities
The Tennessee Charter School Center (TCSC) introduced the Volunteer Facilities Fund to narrow the funding gap for high-performing public charter schools.
State Education
East Tennessee 6th Grader Logs 552 Summer Reading Hours to Win Scholarship
12-year-old Wesley Martin, who also writes his own books, balanced assigned books for school with books he chose for enjoyment.
State Education
Representative Aron Maberry Recognized for Public School Education Contributions
Maberry became the fourth lawmaker to receive a TSS Action Hero Award and highlighted education legislation accomplishments.
State Education
The Academic Year Is Getting Longer, But Students Aren’t Getting More School
With vacation breaks, long weekends and religious holidays, 180 days of instruction in Fairfax County, Virginia, stretch out over 297 days.
State Education
Senator Bill Powers Recognized for Supporting Tennessee Public School Students
Powers became the third lawmaker to receive a TSS Action Hero Award, highlights public school options.
State Education
High School Student Logs 382 Hours of Reading to Win Tristar Reads High School Competition
Tallen Haag has now won the elementary, middle, and high school divisions of the competition across seven years.
State Education
To Get Past AI Hype, Researchers Watch Students Use Actual Tools in Class
Instruction Partners' Emily Freitag spent six months in real classrooms and found that a few AI tools worked well … others not so much.
Local Education
Hearing Could Decide Control of School District Amid Pending State Intervention
Memphis-Shelby County Schools seeks a preliminary injunction as it challenges Tennessee’s takeover law in federal court.
State Education
Tennessee Education Commissioner Urges Students to Pair Academics with Career Exploration
Lizzette Reynolds tells students to prepare for their futures through coursework, work-based learning, and extracurriculars.
State Education
U.S. PISA Scores Near Historic Lows, but Declining Less Than Peers
The PISA measures 15-year-old students globally in problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication.
State Education
Tennessee’s Work in Literacy, Workforce Readiness Cited in National ‘Playbook’
The U.S. Department of Education included Tennessee reforms in its guide for returning education authority to states.
State Education
Education Freedom Tax Credit Could Raise More Than Initially Projected
New research by the American Federation for Children found the program could provide Tennessee students with $377 million if just ten percent of taxpayers parti...
State Education
This Nonprofit is Giving Appalachian Students a New Chance at Education
The Genesis Generation Foundation focuses on bringing access to education and career pathways to disadvantaged Tennessee students.
State Education
Beacon Poll Reveals Blackburn Leading Governor’s Race, AI Approval Supportive With Controls
Senator Marsha Blackburn remains the clear favorite to become the next governor and most voters support AI use in the classroom.
State Education
Republican Leaders Propose Fully Funding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton and Senator Bo Watson announced a plan to end local communities paying for the program.
State Education
Tennessee SCORE Names Nine Recipients of AI Innovation Fund Grant
The organization is providing $450,000 in development funds to support recipients in developing AI-related classroom pilots.
State Education
New Report Finds Virtual Schools are Underperforming Traditional Public Schools
Virtual students are showing less academic growth than their peers.
State Education
Representative William Slater Recognized for Public School Choice Support
Slater became the second lawmaker to receive a TSS Action Hero Award on Thursday.
State Education
Tennessee Superintendent Turnover Remains Steady as Districts Focus on Long-Term Gains
Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents says districts continue to build pipelines for superintendents and teachers.
State Education
Charter School Students Outperform Peers in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville
New analysis of state testing data found positive news for charter students, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
State Education
Country Music Icon and Tennessee Royalty Dolly Parton Dies at 80
Parton was beloved in Tennessee not just for her music, but also for her extensive educational philanthropy.
State Education
Businesses May be Placing a Higher Value on AI Than Schools
Experts at a recent symposium in Nashville made the case for districts to adopt an organization-wide approach to AI.
State Education
Rutherford County’s Central Magnet Named Nation’s Best High School
The school is one of four Tennessee choice schools to be ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report.
Elections
Gubernatorial Candidates Take Differing Views on AI in the Classroom
Jerri Green has "major reservations" about AI use for younger grades, while Senator Marsha Blackburn sees age-appropriate uses that students will benefit from.
State Education
Tristar Reads Winners Turn Summer Pages into Scholarships
The contest’s four winners racked up more than 1,400 hours of reading this summer, including overall winner Wesley Martin, who spent nearly 8 hours a day readin...
State Education
Mobile Workshops to Provide Students with Hands-On Trade Skills Experience
Nissan and Be Pro Be Proud are partnering to send the workshops to schools across the state this year.
State Education
Some of Tennessee’s Largest School Districts Absent from Annual Educator Survey
Multiple large school districts were unrepresented after failing to reach the minimum 45 percent response threshold.
State Education
Despite Concerns, AI Offers Hope to Enrich the Learning Environment
Experts say equipping teachers with AI literacy is a key first step to better utilizing the technology.
State Education
Senator Adam Lowe Named First TSS Action Hero Award Recipient
Lowe was recognized for sponsoring open enrollment legislation and supporting public-education transparency.
State Education
Public Charter School Founders Warn Funding, Facility Challenges Threaten Long-Term Viability
Two charter founders discussed gaps their schools face compared to traditional public schools.
State Education
Marsha Blackburn Proposes Expanding State Law With “Bell-to-Bell” Cell Phone Ban
Though some criticized the proposal as duplicative of 2025 legislation, the ban addresses an important nuance in the law.
State Education
Tennessee Considers Alternative Certification Options for Teachers Who Fail the Praxis
Supporters point toward the state's teacher shortage, while skeptics warn that loosening standards could put the state's recent academic gains at risk.
State Education
Tennessee Department of Education Dashboard Details District Academic Gains
The department says more than 80 school districts increased proficiency compared to last year.
State Education
Research Finds Economically Disadvantaged Student Proficiency Gap Not Closing
Recent state testing results show that these students are improving, but not enough.
State Education
Report Finds the Literacy Success Act Is Delivering Results
Third- through fifth-grade ELA proficiency has increased significantly since the act’s implementation.
State Education
Tennessee Schools Rank Highest in the South for Racial and Economic Segregation
The report by Brown’s Promise uses analytics to track student makeup across the country.
State Education
Former Senator Lamar Alexander Says Tennessee Needs More Political Competition
Alexander told Nashville leaders that the state made key progress under a two-party system.
State Education
Proposal to Directly Target Higher Education Funding Moves Closer to Approval
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will vote next month on changes designed to promote good-paying, in-demand jobs.
State Education
State Testing Results Show Notable Improvements in Reading
Leaders credit investments in literacy and education for testing improvements.
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.
State Education
Rep. Cepicky Calls for Renewed Emphasis on a Traditional Classroom
The Culleoka lawmaker plans to propose more reliance on teacher-led instruction and less use of electronics.
State Education
Nation’s Report Card finds signs of pandemic recovery
Southern students continue to lag behind other regions.
State Education
Oneida Principal Selected for Distinguished National Program
Ashley Billingsley is one of only 13 educators selected by the National Institute for Exclusive Fellows.
State Education
Bonnaroo Donates $100,000 to Student Mental Health Services Program
The donation will support mental health assessments, group interventions, and psychoeducation.
State Education
University President Gives Thoughts on Potential Outcomes-Based Funding Changes
The OBF allocates funding to public colleges and universities based on student success metrics instead of student enrollment.
State Education
16 Tennessee Seniors Make Presidential Scholars Program Semifinals
The program recognizes the most outstanding graduating students in the country.
National Education
New Research Finds Tennessee’s Teacher Unions are the Third Weakest
Union strength dropped eight places from the Fordham Institute’s last ranking a decade ago.
State Education
Students Across the State Compete in Tristar Reads
The summer reading contest officially kicks off today.
State Education
Seven Memphians Appointed to Memphis-Shelby County School Oversight Committee
All but one of the appointees must be residents of Shelby County.
State Education
Tennessee Moves Closer to Changing World Language Graduation Requirements
The Tennessee State Board of Education approved the first reading of a policy that would allow some students to substitute elective courses for one of the two r...
State Education
Higher Education Funding Changes Expected This Summer
Those potential tweaks include changing the criteria for an institution to receive funding for on-time student graduation
State Education
Suburban School Districts Opposed Open Enrollment Efforts
A Tennessee Firefly investigation found that at least one district asked lawmakers to vote down reducing enrollment barriers for nonresident students.
State Education
Tennessee Ranks Second in Math Recovery and Fourth in Reading
New statistics indicate that Tennessee students are among the top in the country in post-pandemic academic recovery.
State Education
Rural High School Program Celebrates FAFSA Achievement
All 40 schools participating in the Ayers Scholars Program were named 2025-2026 FAFSA Champions with a combined completion rate of 98.9 percent.
State Education
Lawmakers Pass Redistricting Plan Amid Interruptions and Democratic Walkout
The legislation designed by Republicans to pick up a congressional seat was signed by Governor Lee shortly afterward.
State Education
Governor Bill Lee Signs Education Freedom Scholarship Expansion
35,000 students will qualify for assistance with private school expenses.
State Education
Education Secretary Defends Cuts that Could Impact Tennessee Schools
Linda McMahon fielded questions from Senators about her department’s proposed smaller budget.
State Education
Something is Missing from the Memphis School Intervention Debate
Opponents brought up union concerns this week, but didn’t mention students.
State Education
Tennessee On Pace For Record-High FAFSA Completion Numbers
The THEC announced that nearly 55,000 seniors completed a FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year, ranking first in the nation and the highest level of FAFSA enga...
State Education
Legislative Session Wraps with Late Drama, Key Reforms, Historic Investments
One unresolved question was whether lawmakers might further expand the number of families who can use tax dollars for private school expenses.
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
House Members Debate Whether Charter Schools are “Real” Public Schools
Rep. Slater pushed back on Rep. Clemmons’ criticism of public charter schools.
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.
State Education
Lawmakers Consider Late Change to Expand Education Savings Account Program
An amendment under consideration would expand the scope of who can qualify to use tax dollars for private school expenses.
State Education
Innovation Committee Chooses Not to Recommend Reductions in State Testing
Members instead provided multiple proposals to improve teacher evaluations and CTE.
State Education
Lawmakers Approve Historic Funding for Public Charter Schools
The plan passed despite Rep. Clemmons’ attempt to strip the funding that supports high-performing schools serving his district.
State Education
Senate Passes Reduced Expansion of Education Freedom Scholarship Program
The legislation now heads to Governor Bill Lee’s desk.
State Education
Education Freedom Scholarships Expansion Moves Forward
The House’s version of the legislation increases the number of available scholarships by 15,000.
State Education
Bill to Close Underperforming Virtual Schools Passes House
House Bill 2420 will require the state to close virtual schools falling “significantly below expectations” for three consecutive years.
State Education
SCORE Report Finds Academic Improvement Linked to Coaching and Grants
The report suggests that postsecondary students who receive persistent coaching and grants are more likely to return to campus for a second year.
State Education
Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public Schools Act Tabled for Summer Study
The bill would require public schools to set aside a period for prayer and the reading of religious texts, namely the Bible.
State Education
Nursing Group Backs Knoxville Representative’s Proposals to Improve School Nurse Access
Rep. Elaine Davis is sponsoring three bills, including one that’s up for a vote Tuesday.
State Education
House Advances Smaller Expansion of the Education Freedom Scholarship
The amended legislation reduces the expansion of scholarships from 20,000 to 15,000.
State Education
Charlie Kirk Act Moves Past House Education Committee After Stern Discussions
The debate on the bill moved into a tense discussion about the Civil Rights Act and DEI.
State Education
Accountability Hearing Finds East Tennessee Virtual School Isn’t Taking Daily Attendance
Carter County leaders say the failing virtual school is only taking weekly attendance.
State Education
Education Freedom Scholarship Expansion Moves to Senate Floor
Supporters say the expansion is needed because the program has reached its 20,000-scholarship capacity for two consecutive years.
State Education
Immigrant Data Collection Bill on Hold to “Allow More Time for Conversations”
The bill will be put on hold for the year because of concerns it might cause the state to forfeit a billion dollars in federal funding.
State Education
Charlie Kirk Act Close to Becoming State Law
The bill would require all public colleges and universities to adopt policies on freedom of expression and on each institution’s role in political and social ac...
State Education
Representative Scott Cepicky Proposes a Solution to Students Avoiding Algebra I
The lawmaker’s legislation would require some eighth-graders to take the subject.
State Education
House Democrats Break with Senate Counterparts to Block Public School Choice
Representatives Yusuf Hakeem and Sam McKenzie helped preserve barriers for families enrolling out-of-district.
State Education
Grundy County Teachers Poised to Get Their Bonus, Despite Unexpected No Votes
18 Democrats and 1 GOP gubernatorial candidate voted against the bill.
State Education
Ten Commandments Closer to Presence In Public School Classrooms
School districts may display the Biblical texts, along with the first sentence of the second paragraph of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and t...
State Education
Senators Unanimously Approve Legislation Reducing Open Enrollment Barriers
The legislation faces a key vote in the House next week.
State Education
Proposal to Reduce Testing Advances Despite Evidence of Positive Impact
The House K-12 Subcommittee advanced House Bill 2422 to the full Education Committee on a vote that split both parties.
State Education
House Committee Advances Education Freedom Scholarship Expansion
Democrats fail in bid to increase accountability for the program.
State Education
House Approves Legislation Requiring Data Collection on Immigrant Students
Leaders will still need to reconcile differences with the Senate version of the bill.
State Education
New Weekend College Offers Nashvillians New Opportunities for Higher Education
Nashville State University’s North Davidson campus is launching the new college beginning Aug. 25 for the upcoming fall semester.
State Education
Sen. Adam Lowe Hopes to Reduce Barriers for Public School Choice
Lowe’s legislation would address challenges students face enrolling in out-of-district schools.
State Education
Charlie Kirk Heritage Act Moves Closer to Passage
The bill was passed after testimony from Lakie Derrick, who started the Turning Point USA chapter at East Tennessee State University and represented Club Americ...
State Education
Expansion of Education Freedom Scholarships One Step Closer
If passed, the bill will increase the maximum number of scholarships to 40,000 in the 2026-2027 school year.
State Education
Bill Requiring Immigrant Student Data Collection Advances to House Floor
Lawmakers received conflicting reports on how much the requirement could cost.
State Education
Education Freedom Scholarship Expansion Passes First Test
The House K-12 Subcommittee advanced the plan on a 5-3 vote on Tuesday morning.
State Education
Governor says Educational Opportunity is Moving in the ‘Right Direction’
Lee said the number of economically distressed poverty counties has been cut in half due to greater access to opportunity and to education.
State Education
Bill to Close Underperforming Virtual Schools Advances
Bill affects virtual schools falling “significantly below expectations” for three straight years.
State Education
Proposed Legislation Could Finally Deliver Bonus to Grundy County Teachers
Grundy County teachers were the only educators in the state who didn’t receive a $2,300 bonus.
State Education
House Subcommittee Advances Bill Requiring Data Collection on Immigrant Students
The bill attracted attention last year before being put on hold due to funding concerns.
State Education
House Subcommittee Advances Potential First Step to Reducing Locally Mandated Tests
The bill requires schools to submit a schedule of local assessments.
State Education
Rep. William Slater Proposes ‘Fair Opportunity’ for Public School Choice
Slater is sponsoring legislation to make it easier to enroll children outside their zoned school district.
State Education
Tennessee SCORE Pilot Study Validates High-Dosage Tutoring and Instructional Coherence
The presentation, titled “Making Instructional Coherence Work Through Evidence, Practice, and Scale,” included a panel discussion reflecting on shared lessons t...
State Education
Proposal to Cut World Language Graduation Requirement Shelved
The item is likely to come up again in the future, but with added language that allows students and their parents/guardians to sign a waiver to opt out of takin...
State Education
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally Announces Retirement
McNally was first elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1978 as a state representative
State Education
Commissioner Reynolds Makes the Case for Investments in Teacher Raises, Summer Learning Camps, and Education Freedom Scholarships
Governor Lee is proposing $339 million in new K-12 spending.
State Education
State Senators Vote Against Policy They Approved 10 Months Ago
Sen. Seal and Hatcher helped reform the approval process for charter schools.
State Education
Testing Window Extended for Districts that Need Additional Time Following Winter Storm Fern
Multiple districts, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, remained closed for more than a week following the storm due to transportation and power disruptio...
State Education
HOPE Scholarships Could Be Reduced Amid $114 Million Deficit
The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program (TELS) sits with a projected $114 million deficit, though it is not set in stone – it can be mitigated, thou...
State Education
Survey Finds Tennessee More Likely to Support Charter Schools, Open Enrollment, and Raising Teacher Pay Than Other States
Tennessee ranks above the national average for parents who favor charter schools.
State Education
Lawmakers Consider Making Election Day a Holiday for Students
New legislation would make it easier for college students to vote.
State Education
Sports Wagering Council Raises Alarm on Lottery Scholarships Revenue
December saw the first dip in sports betting volume since legalization in Tennessee.
State Education
Poll Finds Voters Oppose Removing Algebra II as a Graduation Requirement and Reductions in Required Exams
Of those surveyed, nearly 67 percent oppose removing Algebra II as a graduation requirement.
State Education
State House Passes Bill to Allow Ten Commandments be Displayed in School Classrooms
State Education
Department of Education ‘Actively Reviewing Options’ to Delay State Testing
The move is a response to school districts closing due to Winter Storm Fern.
State Education
New Poll Finds Voters Support Removing Barriers to Enroll Students Across County Lines
The poll comes as lawmakers are poised to reduce barriers to open enrollment.
State Education
House Democrats Fail to Require the Release of Additional Education Freedom Scholarship Data
The House K-12 subcommittee voted the legislation down on a 2-5 party-line vote Tuesday morning.
State Education
Governor Lee Proposes $155 Million to Double the Number of Education Freedom Scholarships
Lee said demand warrants the investment in what’s expected to be a tighter budget year to expand the number of scholarships to 40,000.
State Education
Applications for the Education Freedom Scholarship Program Exceed Last Year’s Total with Two Weeks Left to Apply
According to a news release, the Tennessee Department of Education has received more than 50,304 new and renewal applications for the program that allows famili...
State Education
Tennessee Republican Proposal Could Send Student Immigration Data to ICE
State Republican leaders announced a series of bills on Thursday designed to target illegal immigration, including one that would require a verification of whet...
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...
State Education
New Poll Finds Strong Support for Expanding School Choice and Open Enrollment
More than 60 percent of respondents said they support expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship and adopting policies that allow parents to send their childre...
State Education
Education Savings Account Participants Grow Math Proficiency by More than 70 Percent in the Program’s First Three Years
Just 11 percent of participating students tested proficient in math on state testing during the program’s initial 2022-23 year. That number rose to 19.5 percent...
State Education
State Senator Bill Powers Proposes Legislation to Collect ‘Early Warning Signs’ in Schools
The “Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act” defines those signs as including students engaging in or being the victim of harassment, intimidation, bul...
State Education
Lincoln County Teacher Proposes Tweak to Align School Funding to the ‘Real World’ Her Students are Entering
Marty LeBlanc says programs that would help prepare her students for a cybersecurity career are a good example of industries that don’t meet existing funding re...
State Education
Most Schools Run by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Receive Either an ‘A’ or ‘B’ on the State’s School Letter Grades
56 percent of the commission’s schools received either an A or a B letter grade, 7 percentage points higher than the state average.
State Education
Report Finds Tennessee Students Outperforming Southern States on the ACT
Tennessee’s average composite ACT score of 19.3 in 2025 is higher than every other southern state with an estimated participation rate of at least 91 percent on...
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.
State Government
Tennessee Library Association Pushes Back on Order to Conduct Age-Appropriate Book Review
Hargett sent a letter to all 181 libraries in the Tennessee Regional Library System requesting the review in late October.
State Education
SCORE Provides Recommendations to Move Every Student Forward
Differentiated compensation based on performance and strategic staffing structures to expand the reach of effective educators are both among SCORE’s recommended...
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...
State Education
House Education Chairs Offer Different Responses to Proposed Associate’s Degree Teaching Program
Under the proposal House Speaker Cameron Sexton plans to unveil next year, K-6 grade teachers would only need two years of higher education and an internship.
State Education
Representative Mark White Proposes Plan to Improve Childcare
Representative White said that too many parents across the state lack access to childcare, either because of a shortage of available slots or because of cost.
State Education
Tennessee State Board of Education to Consider Cutting World Language Graduation Requirement in Half
Tennessee State Board of Education Chair Robert Eby unveiled an updated proposal at Thursday’s board workshop that would reduce the World Language credits high ...
State Education
One Out of Every Three Reward Schools in Memphis and Nashville are Public Charter Schools
Sixteen of Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ 44 Reward schools are public charter schools, along with eight of Nashville’s 28 Reward schools.
State Education
ACLU Representing Legal Challenge to the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Parents named in the suit argue the program violates the Education Clause of the Tennessee Constitution by diverting funds from public schools and preventing st...
State Education
University of Tennessee Report Finds Nontraditional Students are Benefiting from a College Support Program
The report found that Navigate Reconnect participants are 11 percentage points more likely to remain enrolled in college than similar students who aren’t partic...
State Education
Tennessee Joins Multistate Collaborative Working to Improve Career Pathways
Through Lumina Foundation’s State Attainment Collaborative, state leaders will work alongside education, business, civic, nonprofit, and policy leaders from 12 ...
State Education
Organization Founded by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp Argues Tennessee ‘Must Prepare’ for Federal Education Funding Reductions
A new report from the Millennial Debt Foundation’s In the Black initiative argues that federal education funding “rests on shaky long-term economic foundations”...
State Education
Department of Education Requests $30 Million for Summer Camps
Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds reported that roughly 90,000 students have been participating in the camps each summer, and 73 percent of those student...
Data and Polling
Senator Marsha Blackburn Holds Strong Lead in Latest Poll of Governor’s Race
Blackburn held the support of 60 percent of the 484 Republican voters surveyed online in the poll, well ahead of Congressman John Rose’s 10 percent and State Re...
National Education
Amid Federal Shutdown, Tennessee Weighs Impact of Potential School Funding Changes on Disadvantaged Students
Tennessee lawmakers pressed state education officials this week for answers on how the ongoing federal shutdown and potential Trump-backed block grant proposals...
State Education
House Speaker Proposes Removing Bachelor’s Degree Requirement for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
In an interview with the Tennessee Firefly, Sexton said he’ll propose creating an associate’s degree program for future kindergarten through sixth grade teacher...
State Education
Lawmakers Poised to Review the Need for Locally Mandated Tests
At Thursday’s Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education meeting, lawmakers agreed to recommend that the Department of Education conduct a full review ...
State Education
Tennessee Education Leaders Debate the Value of Charters, Vouchers and Accountability in School Choice
On Monday, a panel hosted by the League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro‑Rutherford County brought together education leaders from private, charter, and traditio...
State Education
Teachers Union Calls for Ending Annual Evaluations for Every Teacher, Even Though Polls Show Most Oppose the Change
The recommendations come in advance of the final meeting of the Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education on Thursday.
State Education
UT System Reports Record Enrollment, Research Growth, and Workforce Development Push in 2025
The University of Tennessee System has reached historic highs in 2025, reporting record enrollment, retention, and research funding across its campuses.
State Education
Tennessee Sets New Record with 92.3 Percent Graduation Rate in 2024-25 School Year
Tennessee has achieved a record-high graduation rate of 92.3 percent for the 2024–25 school year, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Educati...
Elections
Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidate Jerri Green Wants to End ‘Voucher Scheme’ and Follow Kentucky’s Lead
Speaking at a town hall event in Jonesborough, Tennessee last week, Green said her priorities would be to expand Medicaid, repeal Tennessee’s grocery tax, and e...
State Government
Tennessee Education Subcommittee Chair Wants to Reduce Locally Mandated Tests and Build Better Career Pathways for Students
Representative Scott Cepicky tells the Tennessee Firefly he plans to introduce legislation next year to regulate local benchmarks and improve career pathways fo...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Names Finalists for 2025–26 Principal and Supervisor of the Year Awards
The Tennessee Department of Education has announced the finalists for the 2025–26 Principal and Supervisor of the Year awards, recognizing outstanding school an...
State Education
Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidate Votes Against Continuing the State Department of Education
Tennessee gubernatorial candidate and state lawmaker Monty Fritts was the only legislator to oppose continuing the Tennessee Department of Education during this...
State Education
Proposed Public Charter Schools in Rutherford and Madison Counties Receive Key Support
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission is holding a meeting tomorrow to decide appeals from the Jackson Museum School and Rocketship Public Schools.
State Education
Tennessee Education Savings Account Participants Mostly Outperform Economically Disadvantaged Students in Their Home Districts
Last school year, 3,693 students in Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga received assistance for private school expenses through the Education Savings Account (E...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Charter Commission Executive Director Recommends Denial for Four Memphis Charter School Proposals
Tennessee Charter Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall has recommended denying four Memphis charter school proposals, citing concerns over financial readi...
State Education
SCORE Recommends Tennessee Revise Its College Funding Formula to Focus on Student Success
Tennessee SCORE is urging the state to update its higher education funding formula to better reward colleges for helping students earn degrees that lead to stro...
State Education
Tennessee Charter Commission Moves Closer to Approving Opportunity Public Charter School Expectations
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission advanced a proposed framework Tuesday outlining how it will evaluate Opportunity Public Charter Schools serving a...
National Education
Representative Mark White to Chair the Governing Board Overseeing the Nation’s Report Card
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon named White as the chair of the National Assessment Governing Board that oversees the National Assessment o...
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...
College and Higher Edu...
TSSAA Partnership Seeks to Help Student Athletes Succeed After High School
The partnership will produce TBR (frequently referred to as the Tennessee Board of Regents) branding at all TSSAA High School and Middle School State Championsh...
State Education
2026–27 FAFSA Application Opens for Tennessee Students
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission announced that the 2026–27 FAFSA is now open, the earliest launch in history, giving students and families more time t...
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 ...
State Education
Which Tennessee Degrees Pay Off? New Research Highlights Programs Tied to Economic Self-Sufficiency
Last week, Nashville-based education organization TN SCORE outlined which types of Tennessee postsecondary programs lead to employment where earnings are enough...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Lawmakers Discuss Tweaks to a Testing System Experts Say is Already Driving Student Improvement
The Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education will make recommendations for the General Assembly to consider next year on testing and other education ...
State Education
Four Tennessee Lawmakers Recognized as “Team Kid Heroes” for Supporting Education Policies
Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) recognized four state lawmakers for their leadership in education policy during the 2025 l...
Elections
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Calls for Removing Barriers to Open Public Charter Schools
The U.S. Senator utilized her appearance at Nashville Collegiate Prep’s high school grand opening to promote her support for removing barriers that organization...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Program Reaches Capacity in First Year
Tennessee’s new Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program has filled all 20,000 available seats in its first year, according to TDOE.
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.
State Education
New Research Provides a Caution as Tennessee Lawmakers Consider Potential Reductions in Graduation Requirements for CTE Students
Tennessee lawmakers are reconsidering graduation requirements for career and technical education (CTE) students, but new national research raises caution.
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
Fewer Tennessee Grads Heading to College, but Future Trends Signal a Rebound
Tennessee’s college-going rate for the Class of 2024 has dropped to 56 percent, with the steepest declines among minority and low-income students.
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,...
State Education
New Analysis Finds Public Charter School Students are Playing an Oversized Role in the Historic Growth in Nashville and Memphis
New research by the Tennessee Charter School Center found public charter school students, including those in Nashville and Memphis, are making more academic pro...
State Government
‘What Gets Measured Gets Done,’ Rep. John Rose Commits to Protecting Tennessee’s Assessment and Teacher Evaluation Systems if Elected Governor
In an interview with the Tennessee Firefly’s On the Fly podcast, Rose said he’d be open to tweaks to assessments and evaluations, but believes the state should ...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Virtual School Enrollment Distorts Funding, Officials Warn
Virtual students in Tennessee are causing unexpected distortions in how the state calculates school funding, according to findings presented Thursday by the Ten...
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 ...
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...
State Education
Tennessee Lawmakers Stress the Importance of Accountability in Moves to Remove Teacher Licensure Barriers
As Tennessee education leaders are moving forward with major changes to teacher licensure requirements, state legislators emphasized the need for these measures...
State Education
Tennessee Lawmakers Express Interest in Tweaks to the Teacher Evaluation System while Preserving its Annual Timeline
Currently, 96 percent of teachers receive a level of effectiveness of meeting expectations or higher on the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) evaluat...
National Education
New Survey Finds Most Parents Would Send Their Kids to Private School if Tax Dollars Were Available
A new national survey reveals that most parents would send their children to private or religious schools if public funding were available, signaling a major sh...
State Education
Tennessee’s $9.5 Billion School Funding Plan Provides Fewer State Dollars Per Student than the Education Freedom Scholarship Plan
Tennessee education officials on Friday unveiled the full set of public-school funding allocations for districts across the state, and the average portion the s...
State Education
Teacher’s Union President Encourages Advisory Committee to Recommend Reducing the Frequency of Evaluations
The Tennessee Education Association reaffirmed its support for proposed legislation from earlier this year it called “Freedom to Teach,” that would have removed...
State Education
Analysis of Tennessee’s Testing Data Finds Public Charter School Students Improving in Math and English
Statewide, three percent more charter students tested proficient in math on the TCAP than last year and English language arts proficiency grew by a single perce...
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 ...
Elections
Sen. Blackburn Says Ed Freedom Scholarship Program Will be a Key Part of Her Ed Policy
The program, frequently referred to as vouchers, is providing 20 thousand children with tax dollars to pay for private school expenses, and Blackburn says it wi...
College and Higher Edu...
Trump-Appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon Visits Tennessee to Promote State-Led School Policy and Literacy Gains
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Tennessee on Wednesday as part of her nationwide “Returning Education to the States” tour,.
State Education
Tennessee Non-Traditional Degree Pathway Programs Need More Support to Retain Teachers, Researchers Say
Tennessee teachers who complete non-traditional pathways to licensure are significantly less likely than traditional degree program graduates to remain in the p...
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.
State Education
Poll: Tennessee Teachers Strongly Support Student-First Teacher Performance Evaluations
More than 80 percent of Tennessee teachers surveyed hold positive views of the state’s student-outcomes-based teacher evaluation system, according to the 2025 T...
State Education
Future Tennessee Teachers Can Now Qualify for Loan Forgiveness with Fewer Requirements
Aspiring Tennessee teachers now have a clearer and more affordable pathway into the classroom. THEC voted this week to revise the TN Future Teacher Scholarship ...
Elections
Senator Marsha Blackburn Highlights Support for School Choice in Gubernatorial Campaign Announcement
Blackburn promised to make Tennessee America’s number one “job-creating, energy-producing powerhouse” and highlighted her support for President Trump and his pr...
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...
State Education
Tennessee High School Class of 2026 Now Eligible to Apply for TN Promise
Tennessee’s Class of 2026 high school seniors can now take their first step toward tuition-free college through the Tennessee Promise program through Nov. 3.
National Education
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Attempts to Weaken the Impact of the Nation’s Largest Teachers Union
Blackburn announced she’s sponsoring two bills to revoke the NEA’s charter and prevent it from lobbying the federal government.
National Education
Trump’s Plan to Eliminate U.S. Education Department Could Reshape Tennessee Schools, Lawmakers Say
Tennessee lawmakers convened the Joint Federal Education Deregulation Cooperation Task Force Tuesday morning assess the impact of President Donald Trump’s propo...
State Education
Study Finds Charter School Students Outperformed Their Peers Following the Pandemic
The research of Tennessee’s more than 100 public charter schools found these students consistently outperformed traditional school peers in math and English lan...
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.
State Education
As Lawmakers Convene Hearings on Potentially Reducing Testing and Teacher Evaluations, a New Poll Shows Republican Voters Overwhelmingly Support Preserving Both
TSS’ poll of 1,000 Republican voters found 86 percent consider it important for public school students to receive annual statewide assessments and 91 percent su...
State Education
Tennessee Becomes First State to Combine Direct College Admissions with Financial Aid Offers for High School Seniors
Supporters say Tennessee is leading the nation with TN Direct Admissions, a new pilot program that automatically accepts eligible high school seniors into in-st...
State Education
Eight Tennessee Lawmakers Named to a New Committee That’s Studying Testing and Teacher Evaluation Reductions
The Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education will additionally discuss potential changes to the academic requirements for career and technical educat...
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
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-...
National Education
Former Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn’s U.S. Department of Education Nomination Advances to the Full Senate
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced Schwinn’s nomination to the full U.S. Senate on a party-line 12 to 11 vote.
State Education
New Poll: Tennessee Republican Voters Strongly Back School Choice, Academic Accountability
A new poll of 500 likely Republican primary voters in Tennessee reveals overwhelming support for school choice, parental control, and academically based reforms...
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...
State Education
From Mall Manager to Math Mentor: Dr. Brandi De La Cruz Named Tennessee Teacher of the Year Finalist
Dr. Brandi De La Cruz never set out to become a teacher. In fact, she once dreamed of becoming the next Martha Stewart. But what began as a spur-of-the-moment d...
State Education
Nine Educators Named Finalists for 2025–26 Tennessee Teacher of the Year
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has announced the nine finalists for the 2025–26 Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. The annual recognition highli...
State Education
Tennessee Weighs Loosening Rules to Remove'Disruptive' Students with Disabilities from Classrooms
A proposed change now under consideration by the Tennessee State Board of Education would alter existing guidance to allow schools to move students who are a “d...
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.
State Education
From Python to Patient Care: How New Tennessee Grants Are Redefining High School Career Pathways
In an effort to close the gap between classrooms and careers, SCORE has awarded Future Forward grants to seven programs across Tennessee.
State Education
AI Is Already Changing Tennessee Classrooms. Here’s What Educators Are Saying
From AI-powered tutoring programs in Hamilton County to administrative tools streamlining workflows in Sevier County, districts across the state are actively in...
National Education
Trump Administration’s Stance in Support of Testing may be in Direct Conflict with Recent Proposals from Tennessee Lawmakers
The president’s request to Congress includes specific support for states to continue administering testing as part of their ongoing implementation of the Every ...
State Education
New report highlights Tennessee’s top 5 ranking in student recovery after COVID learning loss
A recent memo from Tennessee SCORE reports that Tennessee remains among the top five states in the nation for student learning recovery following the COVID-19 p...
State Government
Do you know how your elected officials voted on education issues this year? A new tool will help.
A total of 94 legislators received an "A" score of 90 to 100 and 27 lawmakers received a failing score of a "D" (60 - 69) or "F" (below 60).
National Education
Report finds Tennessee’s policies for math instruction are better than most states, but still in need of improvement
The report found Tennessee has strong math instruction policies in three key areas but weak in a fourth, and “unacceptable” in a fifth.
National Education
Four teachers named finalists for award recognizing excellence in math and science
The PAEMST award is considered the nation’s highest honor for U.S. K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers.
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...
State Education
Summer reading contest encourages children to stop the “summer slide”
Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success created Tristar Reads to encourage children to read during their summer break.
State Education
Governor signs legislation supporters say will improve the application process for public charter schools
Under the new law, charter operators that want to replicate an existing academic model, or public colleges and universities that want to establish charters, now...
State Education
State officials explain how they addressed challenges during the launch of the new Education Freedom Scholarship plan
Lawmakers on the Joint Government Operations Committee met Monday to review administration rules for the newly launched Education Freedom Scholarship program an...
State Education
More than 33,000 apply for the Education Freedom Scholarship
Governor Bill Lee signed the legislation creating the program in February, allowing up to 20 thousand families to use $7,295 in taxpayer dollars to pay for priv...
Data and Polling
Two polls find Tennessee voters are less enthusiastic about high-profile public education changes than the lawmakers approving them
Both polls asked voters for their support of key education policies that have been backed this year by Republican leaders, including President Trump and Governo...
National Education
National Education Association report finds Tennessee has improved its ranking in K-12 spending but still lags most states
A new report from the National Education Association finds Tennessee’s education investments appear to be making an impact, but not one that’s large enough to v...
State Education
State to begin accepting applications for the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship on May 15
The Tennessee Department of Education plans to launch the application portal at 10 P.M. CT according to a news release sent to the Tennessee Firefly.
State Education
TSSAA creates student advisory committee as lawmakers question the association’s future
This week, State Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, and State Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, said they plan to explore whether the TSSAA should continue t...
State Education
This year’s legislative session attracted headlines for what didn’t pass but important changes did make it through to benefit students
Among the bills that did pass were multiple changes to help Tennessee’s public charter schools.
State Education
Lawmakers pass conflicting bills to enable state intervention into Memphis-Shelby County Schools, tabling it for the year
The future of legislation to enable state-intervention into Memphis-Shelby County Schools could be decided in a conference committee.
State Education
Lawmakers opt to study Tennessee’s testing and accountability system instead of weakening it
If approved by the Tennessee House, the bill will create a ten-member advisory committee that also studies the academic requirements for career and technical ed...
State Government
Representative Scott Cepicky moves bill to legalize one-time transfers for school athletes to next year’s calendar
The measure would allow a student to transfer to another school without losing athletic eligibility provided the sending school does not attest the transfer was...
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.
State Education
Metro Nashville Public Schools has two students on its school board. Soon every district in the state could have one.
Lawmakers are currently considering legislation that would require each school district to create a policy for a non-voting student school board member.
State Education
State Senate passes bill allowing one-time transfer rule for high school athletes
The measure from State Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, would allow a student to transfer to another school due to a significant academic, social-emotional, enviro...
State Education
Hamilton County Senator Bo Watson faces pushback from Chattanooga educators and business leaders for bill impacting undocumented students
On Wednesday, the Hamilton County Principals Association issued a statement opposing the bill, calling it a threat and a contradiction to professional ethics an...
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
State representative pushes for task force to examine the impact of President Trump’s education cuts
The legislation would create what a federal education deregulation cooperation task force charged with investigating the Tennessee impact of recent presidential...
State Education
House Education Committee advances state intervention bill for Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Speaking to House Education Committee members Wednesday evening, Representative Mark White said only 17 percent of the district’s students demonstrate proficien...
State Government
House committee breaks with the Senate on bill to reduce Tennessee’s testing system
Representative Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, announced Wednesday morning that he plans to amend his legislation without including the key compromise announced in t...
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
Potential compromise reached to study Tennessee’s testing and accountability system, instead of weakening it
Senator Lowe’s legislation would create a ten-member advisory committee appointed by state leaders to study the state’s testing and accountability systems.
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
Bi-partisan opposition fails to stop legislation that would let school districts charge undocumented students tuition
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 Plyler vs. Doe decision prohibits public schools from refusing to admit undocumented students and the legislation is envisioned by ...
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
House subcommittee narrowly advances legislation to reduce testing for high school students
State Education
Experts say nondegree credentials could help address Tennessee’s workforce shortage
Nondegree credentials focus on specific competencies and include diplomas, certificates, and industry credentials other than a traditional postsecondary degree.
National Education
Prominent Tennessee Republicans support federal Department of Education dismantling, but local impacts remain unclear
The department’s workforce has already been slashed by nearly half, but President Trump says this move will return power over education decisions to the states.
Elections
Congressman John Rose launches gubernatorial campaign with a promise to appoint an education commissioner with Tennessee teaching experience
The 6th district congressman made a commitment to appoint a commissioner for the Department of Education that has experience in a Tennessee classrom
State Education
Senate Committee advances expansion of original Education Savings Account program, despite passage of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act
Senator Todd Gardenhire’s, R-Chattanooga, legislation would expand the Education Savings Account (ESA) pilot program implemented in 2022 to include students in ...
State Education
House subcommittee advances legislation that would reduce high school testing
Representative Cochran’s legislation removes every end of course assessment high school students take but science and instead requires students to take a postse...
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...
State Education
State Representative Mark White narrows state intervention bill to only impact Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Representative White’s amended legislation would empower the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the governor, speaker of the house, and li...
State Education
House subcommittee advances plan to eliminate the Achievement School District and create a new model for struggling schools
Legislation presented by Representative Debra Moody, R-Covington, Tuesday would sunset the state ASD, replacing it with a progressive, three-tiered intervention...
State Education
Proposed legislation could relegate the Memphis-Shelby County School Board and others to an “advisory capacity”
The legislation, referred to as the Tennessee Public School Accountability Act, would allow the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the gov...
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...
National Education
The U.S. Department of Education just cut nearly 50 percent of its employees. Secretary Linda McMahon says Tennessee will receive more money because of it.
Tuesday night, newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon went on the Fox News program the Ingraham Angle to reframe a major reduction in her departme...
College and Higher Edu...
Committee advances Representative Bulso’s proposal to prohibit transgender students from using multi-occupant bathrooms of their identified sex
Bulso’s bill would require restrooms, changing areas, and showers that are multi-occupant to be segregated by sex in residential education programs involving mi...
State Education
162 private schools signal interest in participating in the Education Freedom Scholarship Program
That list includes more than three dozen schools in Shelby County and more than two dozen in Davidson.
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 Education
Lawmakers to consider reducing student testing and teacher evaluation requirements
Representative Cochran’s amendment would reduce elementary and middle school testing by continuing to require annual state ELA and math assessments but only req...
State Education
House Speaker says Tennessee may audit Memphis-Shelby County Schools for fraud in addition other state intervention
Speaker Cameron Sexton said leaders in the House and Senate are still working out the details of legislation to create state intervention into Memphis-Shelby Co...
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...
State Education
House Education Administration Subcommittee advances bill to mandate more recess time in elementary schools
The bill, sponsored by Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, would require local school districts to integrate 40 minutes of recess time per day for element...
National Education
From steel chairs to school chairs, why Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs says Linda McMahon is ready for the Education Secretary title
Mayor Jacobs has known McMahon for decades through his hall of fame career as the wrestler Kane in the World Wrestling Federation. McMahon and her husband Vince...
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...
State Education
Bill to limit cell phones in classrooms statewide passes House vote
The bill requires local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using any wireless communication devices duri...
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...
State Education
Senate Education Committee advances bill to prohibit cell phone use in classrooms
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, requires local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students f...
State Education
House committee considering legislation to make schools more available to military recruiters
Multiple lawmakers on the House Education Administration Subcommittee expressed an interest Tuesday in requiring school districts to be more open to military re...
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...
State Education
State Board of Education debates accountability process for schools receiving a failing School Letter Grade
Beginning in the 2025/2026 school year, the State Board can call for an accountability hearing for any district operating a school that receives an “F” letter g...
State Education
Lawmakers advance legislation aimed at reducing Tennessee’s teacher shortage
If passed by lawmakers, Senator Dawn White’s bill would make the $5,000 scholarship available to undergraduates and those with an existing degree that are seeki...
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...
State Education
Comptroller says Madison and Hamilton Counties are the biggest beneficiaries of Tennessee’s new school funding formula
A new Comptroller Report released this week found all of Tennessee’s locally administered school districts received more money during fiscal year 2023/2024 when...
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...
State Education
Business and education leaders discuss classroom to workforce pathway opportunities and challenges
Leaders in business and education came together to discuss new pathways for Tennessee students to find success in their journey from the classroom to the workfo...
College and Higher Edu...
SCORE launches new grant to support innovative education to career programs
The Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced the launch of a new grant program called the Future Forward Innovation Grant that’s d...
State Government
State officials warn of potential $20 million lottery scholarship funding shortfall
Explosive program growth and a drop in lottery revenues prompted Tennessee Higher Education Commission officials to warn state lawmakers of a projected shortfal...
State Education
Governor Lee signs Education Freedom Scholarship Act
The more than $400 million dollar piece of legislation, frequently referred to by opponents as “school vouchers,” will allow up to 20 thousand children across t...
State Education
SCORE unveils new objectives aimed at ensuring Tennessee students succeed in the classroom and beyond
In a presentation before lawmakers of the House Education Committee, State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) representatives outlined several five ye...
State Education
Governor Lee unveils new plans for technical education and K-12 spending in State of State address
Fresh off the passage of his plan to let parents use tax dollars to send children to private school during last month’s special session, Lee used the annual add...
State Education
New poll finds most parents believe public charter schools produce better results
That poll of 400 parents across the state last month by Public Opinion Strategies found 58 percent of respondents believe charter schools produce better results...
State Education
Democrats blast proposal to let school districts refuse to enroll undocumented students
Senate Democratic Party leaders released a statement Tuesday night attacking newly filed legislation that would authorize school districts to refuse to admit un...
State Education
TSSAA denies one-time transfer rule for high school athletes
Members of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Legislative Council voted down multiple proposed rule changes largely designed to make it...
State Education
Governor Lee recognizes career readiness programs during CTE Month
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued a proclamation recognizing February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month to highlight the opportunities CTE programs...
State Education
State lawmakers pass Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act
The Tennessee State House voted 53 to 45 Thursday afternoon to approve Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let families use taxpayer dollars to send their children to p...
State Government
Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship plan poised for floor votes
The legislation comfortably advanced out of the House and Senate Education Committees Tuesday with just two Republicans, joining all Democrats voting against it...
State Education
Analysis: NAEP results prove Tennessee's strategic investments in literacy, funding, instruction, and standards made a real impact
State Education
Tennessee students still aren’t completely back to pre-pandemic levels on the Nation’s Report Card but they’re beating the national average
Tennessee students outperformed the NAEP national average for proficiency in both subjects for both grades. Tennessee students have largely been below the natio...
State Government
Special Session convenes with major shakeup to the House Education Committee
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, opened the first day of the special session on Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 20...
State Education
Repayment of lost revenue for school districts could play an important role in next week’s special session on “school vouchers”
One major difference between Governor Bill Lee’s proposal this year to let families use public dollars to send their children to private school, sometimes refer...
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...
State Education
Senator Dawn White named new Senate Education Committee Chair
Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, named former teacher, Senator Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, as chair the Senate Education Committee that...
State Education
Governor Lee announces special session on vouchers for January 27
After weeks of speculation, Governor Bill Lee officially announced his decision Wednesday morning to call for a special session on January 27 to address his Edu...
State Education
Leaders of the Tennessee House and Senate keep their posts for the 114th General Assembly
State Senators re-elected Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R- Oak Ridge, as Speaker with a 26 to 0 vote and Representative Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, to se...
News
Report says students in Tennessee’s Navigate Reconnect program are more likely to gain post-secondary credentials
A new report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) says students in Tennessee’s primary college coaching and advising program are more likely th...
News
SCORE report finds AI is having a growing influence in Tennessee classrooms
While schools and universities were initially reluctant to embrace artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT due to concerns about AI plagiarism and AI halluci...
News
Tennessee Charter School Center says charter schools are outperforming non-charter schools on ACT exams
A new memo from the Tennessee Charter School Center suggests that many charter school students are outperforming their non-charter school peers in ACT exams.
State Education
Lawmakers expected to vote on vouchers in a special session following President-elect Trump’s inauguration
It’s believed Governor Lee will call for a special session on his Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2025 in late January, following the inauguration of Presi...
News
Tennessee Department of Education reports improvement among all student groups on the ACT
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education indicates that the state average composite ACT score increased from 19 in 2023 to 19.3 in 2024, among other ...
News
Poll shows widespread support for expanding charter schools, private school vouchers
A new statewide poll from the Beacon Center of Tennessee indicates that 61 percent of Tennesseans support expanding charter schools statewide, with only 14 perc...
News
Proposed legislation would allow immediate sports eligibility for high school transfers
State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, has proposed legislation for the upcoming session that could move the state’s high school athletics governing body to allo...
News
Tennessee School Boards Association opens applications for Prospective Superintendent Academy
The Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) is looking to prepare more educators to lead school districts across the state as Tennessee faces a shortage of s...
News
2024 Year in Review: School threats, voucher debate, book bans and more
From school threats to book bans and higher-ed funding debacles, 2024 marked a year of controversy and contention among education policymakers.
News
Tennessee Department of Education names 2024-25 Tennessee Principal, Supervisor of the Year
The Tennessee Department of Education has named the 2024-25 Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year, along with the two 2024-25 Recognizing Inspiring S...
News
Board of Regents notes 19 percent increase in TCAT enrollment
New data from the state indicates that total enrollment in Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) increased to 44,723 during the 2023-24 academic year...
News
Tennessee bill would allow schools to display Ten Commandments
A Tennessee legislator recently introduced a new bill that would allow public schools to display the Ten Commandments on school property.
News
Tennessee Department of Education data notes ‘significant gains’ in Education Savings Account program's second year amid push to expand school choice
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education notes growing participation in the state’s Education Savings Account program as more and more parents expres...
News
Tennessee lawmakers introduce legislation to make pre-kindergarten free for all four-year-olds
Tennessee Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, and State Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, recently introduced legislation to make pre-kindergarten free and accessibl...
News
Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Tennessee’s public charter schools celebrate improved School Letter Grades
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education’s 2023-24 State Report Card shows that 290 schools have received an A for overall performance, on the second...
State Education
State Board of Education defines expectations for new opportunity public charter schools
The 9 members of the Tennessee State Board of Education unanimously approved new rules that govern expectations for future opportunity charter schools.
News
End-of-course exams will now have less impact on high school students’ final grades
End-of-course exams for public high school students in Tennessee will now have less of an impact on students’ final grades, according to state education leaders...
News
New report finds Tennessee is bucking the national trend for who’s going into teaching
New data from the National Council on Teacher Quality says there are nearly four percentage points fewer teachers from historically disadvantaged groups than ex...
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...
State Education
Tennessee could see as many as 17 new public charter schools next year
Five Tennessee school districts across the state received letters of intent for 17 proposed new public charter schools by last week’s deadline. Letters of inten...
News
SCORE report stresses the need to connect students with credentials that ‘lead to economic independence’
A new report from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says that only 44 percent of students pursuing postsecondary education in Tennessee act...
News
Tennessee Department of Education says work-based learning enrollment is increasing statewide
A new report from the Tennessee Department of Education says Tennessee’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) and work-based learning (WBL) initiatives will pla...
News
Legislation to expand school choice, free meal programs, and pedestrian-friendly schools are among the first filed
Tennessee legislators have filed several bills this year that aim to tackle longstanding challenges in education, such as expanding school choice, enhancing stu...
State Education
New analysis finds Tennessee’s largest school districts underperforming math expectations
National education news organization the 74 found Tennessee’s largest school districts are achieving math proficiency at lower rates than expected based on pove...
News
Federal Trade Commission claims company that provided weapons detection technology to schools made false claims about its effectiveness
The Federal Trade Commission has charged a company that produces AI-based weapons detection systems used by schools and other businesses with making misleading ...
Local News
Department of Education says few students have been held back under retention law
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education indicates that about 40 percent of third graders in Tennessee achieved proficiency in English language arts ...
State Education
Tennessee recognizes 377 Reward Schools. Schools of choice led the way in the state’s two largest school districts
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the 377 schools across the state that have received the designation as Reward Schools for the 2023/2024 school y...
News
Education leaders say teacher vacancy data shows a need for mentorship and professional development
While statewide teaching vacancy rates haven’t seemed to change much in recent years, Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) data indicates that the number of...
News
New Comptroller’s report says nearly 60 percent of Tennessee counties have ‘monetarily significant’ school upgrade needs
While the majority of K-12 facilities in Tennessee are in “good” or “excellent” condition, a new report from the Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education ...
Elections
Governor Lee applauds Trump pick to lead Department of Education. Opponents criticize her experience and ties to a sex abuse lawsuit
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee wasted no time applauding President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of a former professional wrestling mogul to serve as the United States...
News
SCORE report says more data needed to evaluate and strengthen teacher pipeline programs
Despite several state initiatives in recent years to strengthen the teacher pipeline and fill K-12 classrooms with trained educators, many Tennessee districts a...
News
Parents and educators urge state commission to renew charter for LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School
Since opening its doors for the 2015-16 school year, LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School has garnered support from many parents in the Madison area who say the char...
State Education
Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds requests nearly $58 million for summer learning camps
One of the key investments in Tennessee’s 2021 special legislative session was the creation of summer learning camps designed to help children overcome pandemic...
National Education
Governor Lee backs proposal to dump the Department of Education, despite questions what it might mean for students with special needs and rural Tennessee
You can add Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to the growing list of Tennessee lawmakers who support President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to eliminat...
News
Higher Education Commission requests $150 million to cover growing costs at universities across Tennessee
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is requesting new funding in the state’s higher-ed budget to capitalize on the progress made through other state inves...
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
Trump’s calls to eliminate U.S. Department of Education renews debate about the role of federal government in Tennessee schools
Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Education funnels more than $800 million into Tennessee alone, some leading Republican legislators have signaled su...
News
Lawmakers and former Teacher of the Year give mixed reactions to new voucher legislation
There have been some mixed reactions to Tennessee lawmakers’ efforts to reintroduce school choice legislation for vouchers that allow public tax dollars to be u...
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
Tennessee Higher Education Commission says overall enrollment has increased across public colleges and universities
Despite witnessing a decline in first-time freshmen enrollment, overall enrollment has increased across Tennessee’s public colleges and universities, according ...
News
Voters reject voucher programs in Nebraska, Kentucky, and Colorado. Is that a bad omen for supporters in Tennessee?
Voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska have decisively rejected efforts to implement school voucher programs that would allow families to use tax dollars fo...
State Education
Initial version of Governor Lee’s new voucher bill would require participants to be tested
Testing didn’t receive a lot of headlines during the debate earlier this year over Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let families use taxpayer dollars to send their c...
News
Tennessee Higher Ed Commission notes ‘record-breaking’ year for Tennessee Promise Class of 2025
A record-breaking number of students applied for the Tennessee Promise program, with over 67,000 applicants from the Class of 2025, an announcement from the Ten...
News
State Board of Education selects Educator Advisory Team to review ELA standards
The State Board of Education has selected 21 educators from across the state to join its Educator Advisory Team (EAT) to review Tennessee’s current English Lang...
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
Representative Cepicky promises “clean version” of voucher bill next year
Despite criticizing Gov. Bill Lee’s plan previously as “terrible,” Representative Scott Cepicky’s, R-Culleoka, expects lawmakers to iron out their differences a...
News
Students for Education expands national footprint to encourage youth civic engagement
Students for Education (SFE), a Tennessee-based nonprofit dedicated to encouraging youth civic engagement, is expanding its national footprint as part of a broa...
News
Statewide graduation rate reaches 92.1 percent, breaking previous record
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education shows that the statewide graduation rate from the 2023-24 school year was 92.1 percent, breaking the previou...
News
Young adults aren’t seeing the value of postsecondary education. A new SCORE report highlights one way to help
A new report from SCORE notes that “too many Tennesseans are still not realizing the full economic benefits of their education,” despite the state’s efforts in ...
News
East Tennessee State University poll finds economic concerns and divided opinions on book bans
A new survey study from the Applied Social Research Lab at East Tennessee State University indicates that 56 percent of Tennesseans believe the state is “headed...
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.
News
Leaders of two public charter schools say professional development is the key to success with special populations
Schools like Leadership Preparatory Charter School in Memphis and KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary (KACPE) in South Nashville have invested heavily in profe...
News
Tennessee breaks ground on new technical education facilities
The Tennessee Board of Regents has recently celebrated several groundbreakings for new career and technical education facilities at Tennessee Colleges of Applie...
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
Tennessee STEM Innovation Network launches 2024-25 TN Rural STEM Collaborative
According to an announcement, the 2024-25 TN Rural STEM Collaborative will bring together teachers from rural schools across the state for professional developm...
State Education
Tennessee ninth-graders nearly back to pre-pandemic levels in math
An analysis of math testing scores by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) found Tennessee’s ninth-graders are nearly back to pre-pandemic lev...
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...
Elections
Three Democrat House challengers outraise Republican opponents in this week’s campaign filings
Tennessee Democrats’ hopes of cutting into at least some of the Republican House supermajority in next Month’s general election received a boost with this week’...
State Education
Hurricane Helene recovery will be costly, but Governor Lee isn’t interested in using voucher money to fund it
When Tennessee Governor Bill Lee unveiled the details of the $100 million Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program in a press conference Thursday aftern...
State Education
Seniors encouraged to take advantage of the ACT Senior Retake Opportunity
The Tennessee Department of Education is encouraging high school seniors to take advantage of the state’s free ACT retake opportunities this fall.Tennessee was ...
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...
News
New study of education funding determines an unprecedented amount of public money is now available for private school tuition
A new report from the Georgetown University education think tank FutureEd notes that 569,000 K-12 students received public subsidies for private schooling in 20...
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
New data shows TISA education funding is improving student proficiency in charter schools
Recent data from the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) suggests that more work needs to be done to increase English language arts and math prof...
News
SCORE report highlights the role of partnerships between districts and educator preparation programs to improve literacy
A new report from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says partnerships between school districts and education preparation programs are playi...
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
SCORE report highlights the promise of AI in education
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says that more than half of U.S. teachers have never used artificial intelligence tools, ...
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
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
SCORE report finds Tennessee’s new school funding formula has had a ‘positive impact’ on schools
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) school funding formula has ha...
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...
State Education
A little known state program made private school affordable for Jovie Talbott. This year more students than ever are utilizing it.
When Jovie Talbott moved into her Western Kentucky University dorm this year, it was a milestone her mother Alecia says came with the help of private school des...
State Education
Four reading champs win $1,000 scholarship in Tristar Reads contest
Harpeth Middle School seventh-grader Elijah Riggs won the Tristar Reads contest by logging an average of eight hours each day reading.
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...
National Education
New report awards Tennessee an A for keeping parents informed about COVID learning loss
Tennessee earned an A for transparency in reporting COVID-19 learning loss data, according to a new CRPE report. The report highlighted Tennessee's commitment t...
State Education
Tennessee Charter School Center appoints Elizabeth Fiveash Rush as new Chief Executive Officer
Elizabeth Fiveash Rush was recently appointed CEO of the Tennessee Charter School Center.
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...
State Education
Kingsport City Schools math teacher Bryan Kerns is this year’s Tennessee Teacher of the Year
Bryan Kerns, a math and fire management instructor from Kingsport City Schools, has been named the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Kerns will represent T...
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...
College and Higher Edu...
THEC approves plans for Austin Peay master campus plan, nuclear program at Roane State
Commissioners said Roane’s new Associate of Applied Science in Nuclear Technology program will help build students' technical knowledge and engineering skills f...
Data and Polling
Tennessee Department of Education announces improvements in K-12 literacy and efforts to maintain progress
While recent state assessment data trends show that students throughout the state are making gains in literacy, officials from the Tennessee Department of Educa...
Data and Polling
SCORE memo notes need to update state higher-ed funding formula
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) highlights the need to revise Tennessee’s outcomes-based postsecondary funding formula to...
State Education
State Textbook Commission rejects every proposed textbook for two high school science courses
Publishers that produce science textbooks appear to be having trouble meeting Tennessee’s new K-12 science standards.
News
Tennessee Connections Academy aims to meet growing demand for online learning options
A recent report from Market Data Forecast found the global K-12 online education market is expected to grow more than $500 billion to reach about $716 billion i...
Data and Polling
State Board of Education seeks feedback on state ELA standards
The Tennessee State Board of Education has launched a new survey to gather public comments and feedback about Tennessee’s K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) stand...
Local Education
Rutherford County Schools approves book ban policy revisions
The Rutherford County school board unanimously voted to approve revisions to district policy regarding the removal of books with sexual or inappropriate themes ...
Data and Polling
SCORE memo notes important role of data in building student literacy
The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released a new memo highlighting how policymakers have helped advance early literacy in the state wit...
State Education
State announces finalists for principal, and supervisor of the year
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the finalists for this year’s Tennessee Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards. In a news relea...
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...
College and Higher Edu...
Tennessee concludes 'FAFSA Frenzy Month'
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has spent the last 10 days partnering with dozens of community partners across Tennessee to assist students from the C...
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 ...
Data and Polling
SCORE TCAP analysis indicates need to address performance gaps
While recent results from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) exam indicate that students across the state achieved “record-high” proficiency ...
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...
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.
College and Higher Edu...
Education Lottery sets new record for education funding
The Tennessee Education Lottery has set yet another new fiscal year record for funds generated for education, transferring a total of $519,322,000 to initiative...
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.
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...
Elections
Democrats attack Governor Lee’s claim that school choice is the “civil rights issue of our time” as offensive
Tuesday Governor Bill Lee took his ongoing push for universal school choice to the biggest stage yet.
College and Higher Edu...
THEC launches 'FAFSA Frenzy' resources to help students apply for financial aid
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) is partnering with several education and community organizations across the state to launch its “FAFSA Frenzy” ...
News
State Board of Education changes rules for students in out-of-state mental health facilities
The Tennessee State Board of Education unanimously voted Monday to pass emergency revisions to rules outlining admission requirements for Tennessee public schoo...
Data and Polling
Beacon Poll notes voters' concerns about public education along with support for former President Trump and Sen. Blackburn
A new statewide survey from the Beacon Center of Tennessee found 50 percent of registered voters in Tennessee are dissatisfied with the way things are going in ...
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...
News
SCORE report finds student assessments and teacher evaluations combine to improve performance
The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released a pair of memos highlighting how annual teacher evaluations and assessments have worked toge...
Elections
Representative Scott Cepicky misleads the public in radio interview on his school vouchers plan
Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, went on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show recently to discuss the failed effort he led last session to reduce the amount ...
State Education
Governor Lee makes case for universal school choice to sometimes skeptical Nashville business leaders
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee made the case Monday for his plan to let parents use taxpayer dollars to send their kids to private school to a group of business le...
Elections
House District 34 candidates disagree little on LGBTQ-related issues, charter school controversies
House District 34 GOP candidates Tim Rudd and Tucker Marcum shared similar views on LGBTQ-related education issues and discussed the state’s charter school fund...
College and Higher Edu...
Tennessee Higher Ed Commission notes increase in 'college-going rate'
New data from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission shows a significant increase in the state's college-going rate for the class of 2023, with a 2.4 percent...
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...
News
Tennessee's Education Department is getting a new Chief Program Officer
The Tennessee Department of Education has appointed Jonathan Criswell as Chief Program Officer, where he will lead school improvement efforts and key programmin...
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
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...
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...
Data and Polling
Tennessee Disability Coalition report suggests more work needed to support students with disabilities
A new white paper from the Tennessee Disability Coalition suggests that K-12 schools throughout the state have a lot of work to do when it comes to supporting s...
State Education
Public charter schools in Shelby, Davidson, and Hamilton County recognized for being changemakers
The Tennessee Charter School Center recognized 5 middle schools and 8 high schools for having the greatest positive impact on student academic growth and achiev...
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...
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...
Data and Polling
School voucher voter polls vary wildly in Tennessee as many legislative candidates skirt the issue
While Gov. Bill Lee’s universal school voucher proposal is clearly a key issue this election year, there is less agreement on where Tennessee voters stand on th...
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...
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...
Elections
Governor Lee endorses conservate school board member Aron Maberry in a State House race in Montgomery County
Governor Bill Lee is stepping into a House primary race to help ensure the seat remains supportive of his school choice proposals.On Thursday Lee announced the ...
Elections
Governor Lee endorses conservative Jason Emert in open East Tennessee House race
In April Tennessee Governor Bill Lee promised to bring his plan to let parents use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school back next year, and...
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
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...
Elections
House candidate Brian Beathard campaigns on myth that Williamson County is receiving less money for schools from the state
Last Thursday Republican State House District 65 candidate Brian Beathard took to his Facebook page to attack what may be Governor Bill Lee’s biggest education ...
Local Education
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
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
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...
News
Tennessee lawmakers support proposed change that prioritizes funding CTE programs that lead to high paying jobs
The TDOE is looking to update how it reviews and classifies CTE programs in the state to determine that they align with the needs of employers across industries...
Data and Polling
Governor Lee plans to bring his "voucher" plan back next year. Two polls show Tennessee remains divided.
Two polls released this month have found Tennesseans remain sharply divided on Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let parents use taxpayer dollars to send their childr...
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...
State Education
Governor signs law designed to reduce the number of children retained in the fourth-grade under new reading requirements
Governor Bill Lee signed legislation Tuesday that should ease some concerns parents have that their fourth-graders could be held back this year.That possibility...
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.
State Education
Children to learn this week if they're at risk for retention under reading requirements
Parents across the state should learn this week whether their third and fourth-graders are at risk for retention because of new state reading requirements.Under...
State Education
Tristar Reads contest encourages students to spend their summer break with a book
Last summer Rutherford County teen Taylor Aslup took advantage of every opportunity to read.Aslup balanced work and cheerleading while still finding time to spe...
State Education
New report details how segregation continues in school assignments 70 years after Brown v. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court’s historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas decision outlawed segregation in public schools, making it illegal f...
State Education
Tennessee announces schools receiving the STEM and STEAM designation
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) announced 13 new schools have received the Tennessee STEM/STEAM Sc...
National Education
Tennessee districts are facing 1,000 teaching vacancies. A new report says strategic school staffing might help.
School districts across the state began the 2022/23 school year with one thousand teaching vacancies according to data from the Tennessee Department of Educatio...
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.
State Education
Report finds rural school districts lack resources to attract teachers
State Education
School “vouchers” attracted headlines this legislative session, but charter support could have the lasting impact
Members of the Tennessee General Assembly adjourned the legislative session Thursday following more than three months of sometimes contentious and challenging e...
State Education
Senate fails to pass bill to ban pride flags in the classroom
A controversial bill that would ban pride flags in Tennessee classrooms failed to receive the necessary 17 votes needed to reach a constitutional majority for p...
State Education
Tennessee General Assembly passes legislation to allow teachers to carry guns in school
The Tennessee House chamber once again turned into chaos Tuesday following debate on legislation involving guns.House members voted 68-28 vote to pass a bill al...
State Education
Governor pulls plug on Education Freedom Scholarships and vows to revisit the plan next year
Governor Bill Lee conceded that there’s no pathway for his signature education bill to pass this session and vowed to bring back the Education Freedom Scholarsh...
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...
State Education
Bipartisan vote leads to passage of legislation to reduce the number of fourth-graders held back under new reading requirements
In an rare move of bipartisanship, the State Senate sent legislation to Governor Lee’s desk Wednesday that should ease some of the concerns parents have about t...
State Education
Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds’ qualifications come under fire again during debate on the House floor
House Democrats continued their push for the removal of Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds Tuesday during a discussion about a tem...
State Education
Governor’s Education Freedom Scholarship Plan faces uphill battle for passage
Governor Lee’s signature education proposal this year appears to be on life support.Tuesday afternoon both the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and the...
National Education
Five Things to Know About Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year
Missy Testerman has enjoyed a teaching career that is decades longer than most, spending more than 30 years in first- and second-grade classrooms.But when she s...
State Education
House education leaders decline to vote on bill outlawing marriage between first cousins
Two State Representatives who’ve played a big role in education legislation this session were among the nine Republicans who declined to vote on a bill Thursday...
State Education
Senate passes legislation to arm teachers following heated debate and clearing of spectators
The Tennessee State Senate passed a bill allowing teachers to be armed in the classroom following a chaotic discussion that included state troopers clearing spe...
State Education
“Data bill” continues to advance in the House. Supporters say it will help better prepare students for Tennessee’s changing economy.
Members of the House Government Operations Committee unanimously advanced legislation Monday that’s designed to help the state do a better job connecting studen...
State Education
Legislation requiring children to watch a video produced by group that opposes abortion heads to the governor’s desk
A bill that would require schoolchildren to watch a fetal development animation video made by abortion opposition group Live Action is on its way to Governor Bi...
State Education
Senate passes plan to enable the University of Memphis to form its own public school district
When Lawrence Blackwell moved his family to Tennessee in 2010 to work for the University of Memphis, he chose to send his son to a unique Pre-K program operated...
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...
National Education
Rogersville City teacher named 2024 National Teacher of the Year
For the first time in 35 years, a Tennessee teacher is the National Teacher of the Year.The Council of Chief State School Officers awarded Rogersville City Scho...
State Education
House committee advances legislation to create a new program to improve childhood literacy and workforce shortages
A key House committee advanced legislation this week that’s designed to address workforce shortages and early childhood literacy in one swoop.Representative Mar...
State Education
Tennessee educators encouraged to share their experiences with the recently launched 2024 Tennessee Educator Survey
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...
State Education
State lawmakers continue to advance conflicting plans to reduce the number of fourth-graders held back under new reading requirements
Tennessee lawmakers have expressed a desire to reduce the number of fourth-graders held back this summer under new state reading requirements, but with the legi...
State Education
Tennessee Senate passes bill to do away with the Achievement School District
A proposal to shift low-performing schools from Tennessee’s sputtering takeover and turnaround district to other state-approved but locally managed intervention...
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...
State Education
School districts could receive $215 more per student under new TISA funding plan
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) is proposing sending school districts across the state an extra $215 per student next school year.If approved by th...
Local Government
School districts received nine applications for new public charter schools. A new tool puts each under the microscope.
This year nine potential charter operators met the February 1 deadline to file an application to open a new public charter school.School board members in Memphi...
State Education
Senate committee advances legislation requiring students to watch a video made by an abortion rights opposition group
Members of the Senate Education Committee voted to advance legislation Wednesday that would require Tennessee students to watch a fetal development video create...
State Education
House subcommittee advances legislation to reduce the number of children at risk for repeating the fourth-grade
Members of the House K-12 Subcommittee voted Tuesday to advance a bill designed to reduce the number of fourth-grade students held back under the state’s new Th...
State Education
Dr. Maya Bugg to step down from the Tennessee Charter School Center
Tennessee Charter School Center (TCSC) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Maya Bugg announced she will be stepping down in early summer after leading the organization ...
News
House Committee debates accountability and cost of Education Freedom Scholarships
The House Government Operations Committee advanced Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act Monday with a positive recommendation following a somet...
State Education
"Data bill" advancing in the House aims to better prepare students for Tennessee's evolving economy
Members of the House Education Administration Committee advanced legislation Wednesday that supporters say will help the state do a better job connecting studen...
State Education
House subcommittee debates proposals to improve school safety
Members of the House K-12 Subcommittee turned their focus to school safety Wednesday by voting on a series of bills designed to prevent future school shootings,...
State Education
House advances legislation requiring students to watch a video created by an abortion rights opposition group
The House Education Instruction Committee advanced legislation Tuesday that would require Tennessee students to watch a fetal development video created by a gro...
College and Higher Edu...
House subcommittee votes down proposal to limit discrimination protection policies at universities
The House Higher Education Subcommittee killed another attempt to change discrimination protection policies at Tennessee universities and higher education insti...
State Education
Questions remain after Education Freedom Scholarship Act passes two key committees
Walter Blanks Jr. says his experience with public schools growing up in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio was hard.Blanks says he str...
State Education
Senate committee advances bill to help students who suffer a cardiac arrest
Two years ago, Linton Beck unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest in his chemistry class.The Station Camp High School senior is alive today and able to talk abo...
State Education
House subcommittee advances legislation to provide public charter school students with better facilities
Eight State Representatives who currently don’t have public charter schools in their home counties played a crucial role in advancing a bill to support the more...
State Education
Vote on legislation to expand middle school career technical education classes delayed to address a concern raised by a teacher
Dyersburg Middle School agriculture teacher Melissa Lowry told members of the House K-12 Subcommittee Tuesday that it’s important for her to be able to watch th...
State Education
State Board of Education unanimously approves resolution asking lawmakers to change Third-Grade Retention Law
The Tennessee State Board of Education is joining the list of government entities that have expressed an interest in changing the state’s new Third-Grade Retent...
State Education
State Textbook Commission may prioritize experienced teachers to help review textbooks under consideration
The State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission is weighing whether classroom experience should matter more when it comes to reviewing textboo...
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...
State Education
Three competing plans to allow students to attend private school with public dollars come with vastly different testing requirements
When Governor Bill Lee announced his Education Freedom Scholarship Act last year, he made it a point to say the Tennessee General Assembly would work some out c...
State Education
House committee advances bill to offer teacher assistance with childcare
Tennessee teachers could receive help with childcare under legislation that advanced from a key House committee Wednesday.Representative Scott Cepicky’s, R-Cull...
State Education
House Democrats oppose legislation to support economically disadvantaged students in their districts
State Representative Justin Jones, D-Nashville, represents a district that touches four school clusters with some of the highest performing public charter schoo...
State Education
Democrats announce a bill to impeach Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds
Tennessee Democrats continued their push for the resignation of Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds Monday, announcing a bill that ...
State Education
Massive House proposal is third universal school voucher bill before Tennessee lawmakers
Three school voucher proposals now before Tennessee lawmakers would create a new statewide program that eventually could open eligibility to all K-12 students, ...
State Education
Senate committee narrowly advances bill banning pride flags
A bill that would ban pride flags in Tennessee classrooms narrowly managed to advance on a 5-4 vote in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday afternoon follow...
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...
State Education
Proposed legislation to change the kindergarten age cutoff date fails in House subcommittee
A bill that would change the age cutoff date for children enrolling in enrolling in kindergarten failed to advance out of the House K-12 Subcommittee Tuesday.Re...
State Education
Students would learn firearm safety at school under a bill that’s advancing in the House
Proposed legislation that requires firearm safety to be taught in schools advanced from the House Education Instruction Committee Tuesday morning.Representative...
Local Government
Tennessee lawmakers mislead public while attacking plan to provide students of color with better school facilities
Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, logged on to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, at 10 PM Friday night to produce a ...
Communities
Tennessee released the list of 2022/23 Reward schools. See if your child’s school is on it.
State Education
Parents may not know until July if their child needs to repeat the fourth-grade
Tennessee Department of Education Assistant Commissioner David Laird told the State Board of Education Friday that school districts may not know until July 1 wh...
State Education
Senate committee advances change to school fire alarm policies after hearing from mother of Covenant shooting victim
Abby McLean’s children are among those who survived last March’s Covenant school shooting that claimed the lives of three children and three staff members.McLea...
State Education
Tennessee’s reading law gets pushback again as thousands of students could repeat fourth grade
Tennessee’s comprehensive pandemic-era literacy law, which last year provided several interventions to help struggling third grade readers advance to the fourth...
State Education
School nurses could help lower chronic absenteeism
School nurses may be one solution to the growing problem of chronic absenteeism in Tennessee.Chronic absenteeism has been an ongoing issue nationwide that only ...
State Education
High School Student urges lawmakers to support conflict resolution in schools
Paige Hodge admitted to being a little nervous before speaking to the Tennessee Senate Education Committee Wednesday, but the topic was one the Nashville School...
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 ...
State Education
Controversial pride flag ban bill advances in the House
Representative Gino Bulso’s, R-Brentwood, bill that would prohibit pride flags in classrooms advanced from a House Subcommittee Tuesday, but not without vocal o...
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...
State Education
Tennessee House advances proposal to help keep dual enrolled high school students on track
Representative Ed Butler, R-Rickman, is proposing a change to help keep high schoolers enrolled in technical college courses on track after they graduate.Butler...
State Education
Governor faces vocal disruptions from the crowd during State of State address
State Education
Heated debate over pride flags in the classroom will continue into next week
Tennessee House members are holding off making the first vote on a controversial bill that would only allow classrooms to display the Tennessee state flag and U...
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...
State Education
House Democrats propose “family-first” agenda for the new session
Members of the House Democratic Caucus held a press conference Tuesday to release what they’re calling a “family-first” agenda for the new legislative session.M...
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....
State Education
House members choose not to recommend rejecting federal education funding
Five Tennessee House members who served on last year’s panel that looked into the possibility of rejecting federal education funding are not recommending doing ...
State Education
Survey finds high school girls suffering from mental health decline in Tennessee
Mental health has been declining for Tennessee high schoolers since 2011 and the concern is especially high for girls.Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth...
State Education
Representative Lamberth brings back a bill he says could save children’s lives
Representative William Lamberth’s, R-Portland, is hoping the second time is the charm for legislation designed to help improve school safety during an active sh...
State Education
Tennessee could see more applications for new public charter schools than last year
School boards in as many as six counties could vote on applications this year for new public charter schools.A diverse group of potential charter operators sent...
State Education
State lawmaker pulls a bill to help dependent children of Tennessee veterans attend college because of belt tightening
Tennessee’s tighter budget has claimed its first education related legislative victim of the session.Monday night Representative Jay Reedy, R-Erin, pulled HB160...
State Education
House Democrats call for the resignation of Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds
The House Democratic Caucus called for Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynold to resign Monday morning, saying she doesn’t have the necessary qualifi...
State Education
A convenient webpage is helping move employers to Memphis. Tennessee may try something similar this year.
In 2021 the Greater Memphis Chamber launched a new tool to help better inform businesses that are considering locating to the Memphis region.The Memphis Moves d...
State Education
Tennessee ESA pilot students received $9,800 this school year
Tennessee students in a pilot educational savings account program in three counties are receiving $9,800 – the average statewide funding per public school stude...
State Education
Teachers can make an impact on education legislation. Teachers for Student Success is working to help them be more successful.
With a busy classroom schedule and school operations consuming each day, it’s rarely easy for public school teachers to stay on top of every education bill that...
State Education
Fourth-grade retention debate a possibility when lawmakers return to Nashville
When Tennessee lawmakers return to Nashville from this week’s snow delay, fourth-grade retention may very well succeed last year’s heated debate over third-grad...
State Education
Representative Justin Jones removed from key education committee
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, announced Thursday that he’s moving Representative Justin Jones, D-Nashville, off a key education committe...
State Education
State Senators break with House counterparts on the possibility of rejecting federal education funding
Five Tennessee State Senators who served on last year’s panel that looked into the possibility of rejecting federal education funding are breaking with their Ho...
State Education
State Senators break with House counterparts on the possibility of rejecting federal education funding
Five Tennessee State Senators who served on last year’s panel that looked into the possibility of rejecting federal education funding are breaking with their Ho...
State Education
The legislative season begins tomorrow. Here’s what to expect.
Tennessee lawmakers are returning to Nashville Tuesday to reconvene a 113th General Assembly that adjourned in April with more attention for its controversies t...
State Education
Learning loss in math could reduce Tennessee students’ lifetime earnings by nearly 6 percent
Tennessee’s learning loss in math could have a permanent impact on the lifetime earning potential of its students.That’s according to Dr. Eric Hanushek of Stanf...
State Education
Representative Scott Cepicky proposes guardrails for artificial intelligence in the classroom
When members of the Tennessee General Assembly convened the 113th General Session last January, ChatGPT was less than two months old.Today 100 million people us...
State Education
Beacon Center poll finds support for Governor Lee’s plan to use taxpayer money to support private school tuition
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to allow families to use taxpayer dollars to attend private school is broadly popular according to a new poll by conserva...
State Education
Tennessee Department of Education releases School Letter Grades dashboard
The Tennessee Department of Education rolled out its much-anticipated School Letter Grades platform Thursday. The system is designed to provide the public with ...
State Education
Historically underserved students see improvement on the ACT
State Education
New report finds English language learners have the highest dropout rate in Tennessee
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) released a new report that found students who face language, disability, and ...
State Education
Williamson County Representative takes district debate on banning pride flags to the state
A heated debate at recent Williamson County School Board meetings will be moving to the Tennessee General Assembly next year.Representative Gino Bulso, R-Brentw...
State Education
Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association approves change to allows church-related schools to join
The association that oversees middle and high school sports in Tennessee will now allow church-related schools to become members.The Tennessee Secondary School ...
State Education
Report finds Tennessee’s two largest school districts facing more competition for students
A new report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found both Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools are facing more competition for stud...
State Education
Tennessee needs more students to finish higher education to meet job needs, report says
Tennessee’s education system must do more to help minority and economically disadvantaged students earn postsecondary degrees in order to meet the state’s workf...
State Education
Tennessee needs more students to finish higher education to meet job needs, report says
Tennessee’s education system must do more to help minority and economically disadvantaged students earn postsecondary degrees in order to meet the state’s workf...
State Education
Tennessee SCORE releases recommendations to support public charter schools and improve student pathways to employment
When the founders of Nashville Classical proposed the new public charter school in 2013, acquiring facilities was a huge challenge.School leaders had to meet wi...
National Education
Study Shows Benefits of Holding 3rd Graders Back, but Few Are Being Retained
Underperforming Indiana third graders who are held back show significant progress for the next five years, a research study has found.The study examined data fr...
State Education
House Education Chair supports accountability, opposes “pop-up schools” benefiting from private school scholarship plan
When Governor Bill Lee unveiled his proposed program to offer taxpayer funded private-school scholarships Tuesday, Tennessee House Education Administration Chai...
State Education
House Education Chair supports accountability, opposes “pop-up schools” benefiting from private school scholarship plan
When Governor Bill Lee unveiled his proposed program to offer taxpayer funded private-school scholarships Tuesday, Tennessee House Education Administration Chai...
News
Some social studies teachers wary as national conference meets in increasingly censored Tennessee
About 3,500 social studies teachers converge on Nashville this weekend for their annual national conference, but not without some pushback for meeting in a stat...
State Education
Governor Lee unveils statewide program to allow families to use taxpayer dollars to attend private school
Arieale Munson says the private school her 12-year-old son Steven attends in Memphis is putting him on the path to his dream of becoming a paleontologist.St. Ge...
State Education
Governor Lee unveils statewide program to allow families to use taxpayer dollars to attend private school
Arieale Munson says the private school her 12-year-old son Steven attends in Memphis is putting him on the path to his dream of becoming a paleontologist.St. Ge...
State Education
Governor Lee to propose statewide expansion to program allowing families to use taxpayer money to attend private schools
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee plans to unveil the details of a proposed statewide expansion to the Education Savings Account (ESA) program Tuesday.The current ESA...
State Education
Seven school districts to participate in new teaching pre-apprenticeship program
More than 5,200 students are currently enrolled in the state’s Teaching as a Profession (TAP) apprenticeship program and the Tennessee Department of Education (...
State Education
State taskforce wraps up hearings with the first speakers to encourage Tennessee to reject federal education dollars
Over the course of 6 meetings, state lawmakers on the Joint Working Group on Federal Education Funding have heard testimony from education experts who’ve either...
State Education
Senate leader doesn’t expect Tennessee to reject federal money for students
A leader of the panel exploring whether Tennessee can reject federal education funding says he doesn’t expect the state to do so, even if it can find a way.Sen....
State Education
Tenn. hearings on federal school funding leave out parents and local advocacy groups
A legislative panel exploring whether Tennessee should reject federal funding for its K-12 students isn’t allowing public testimony from Tennesseans about how f...
State Education
National Apprenticeship Week recognizes the impact apprenticeship programs are making
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) is recognizing the impact apprenticeship programs are making in the lives of students this week by celebrating Nati...
State Education
Education Commissioner says rejecting federal dollars would not be simple
Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds told state lawmakers there’s no easy way for the state to avoid federal education requirements ...
State Education
National Conference of State Legislatures provides lawmakers with recommendations to get around regulations that come with accepting federal education funding
Leaders of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) told Tennessee lawmakers there may be options to get around the requirements that come with fede...
State Education
School leaders ask lawmakers to continue accepting federal education funding
State Education
Think tank says other states would likely benefit financially if Tennessee rejected federal education dollars
Non-partisan think tank the Sycamore Institute told Tennessee lawmakers other states would likely receive most federal education dollars Tennessee chooses to re...
State Education
Tennessee’s School Letter Grades is receiving positive reactions and requests for additional tweaks
The Tennessee Department of Education is likely still more than a month away from releasing an A through F letter grade for every public school and the departme...
State Education
Leader of taskforce to study rejecting federal education dollars casts doubt the group will recommend spending less on education
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, attracted national attention this fall when they creat...
State Education
Next month your school will receive a grade. To get an A they’ll need to show success with student achievement and growth.
When Lizzette Reynolds took over as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education in late July, she immediately inherited the huge job of deciding how t...
State Education
Survey finds teachers feel positive about current literacy educator experience in Tennessee
A new survey of Tennessee teachers shows a strong majority are supportive of the state’s efforts to improve literacy.The 2023 Tennessee Educator Survey found pe...
Data and Polling
Comptroller report finds Tennessee reading proficiency is on the rise
Tennessee’s efforts to increase early literacy appear to be paying off according to the latest review by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.The Comptroller rele...
State Education
The deadline to apply for the Tennessee Promise is today. Here’s what you need to know.
Today is the deadline for high school seniors to apply for the Tennessee Promise, which offers two years of tuition-free college. Here’s what you need to know t...
State Education
Tennessee leaders want the Science of Reading in classrooms. A national study shows work still needs to be done.
In 2021 the Tennessee Department of Education announced a major undertaking to reform early childhood literacy.The department’s Reading 360 initiative aimed to ...
State Education
Tennessee leaders want the Science of Reading in classrooms. A national study shows work still needs to be done.
In 2021 the Tennessee Department of Education announced a major undertaking to reform early childhood literacy.The department’s Reading 360 initiative aimed to ...
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...
State Education
Tennessee FFA membership at an all-time high
The number of farms in the United States may be declining but the same isn’t true of the youth organization that’s spent decades preparing students for a career...
News
Education leaders working on the School Letter Grades want student achievement and growth to account equally
When Tennessee launches the School Letter Grades next month parents will be able to see how well their child’s school is serving students by reviewing whether i...
State Education
Nashville lawmakers express opposition to rule change to prevent conflicts of interest in review of public charter school authorizers
A seemingly routine rule change involving the process of reviewing local school districts that authorize public charter schools faced opposition from Nashville ...
News
tnAchieves extends deadline for Tennesseans to sign up to be a mentor
Tennesseans who’ve been thinking about becoming a mentor have a little more time to apply.tnAchieves announced today it’s extending the registration deadline to...
State Education
School Letter Grades Working Group favors grading schools based on a variety of factors
Members of the School Letter Grades Working Group have spent more than 13 hours this month discussing the right way to provide each public school in Tennessee w...
State Education
Tennessee asked for public comments to improve its soon to be released School Letter Grades. Those submitted comments include important cautions.
State Education
What’s changing this year with school safety? The Tennessee Comptroller releases a rundown.
State Education
Memphis advocate Sarah Carpenter and three teachers of the year among those named to School Letter Grades Working Group
Memphis parent advocate Sarah Carpenter is joining a diverse mix of parents, legislators, state education leaders, and Tennessee Teachers of the Year Kim Inglis...
State Education
Stanford researcher says Tennessee public charter schools are outperforming traditional schools
A Stanford University researcher says public charter schools in Tennessee aren’t just outperforming their traditional school counterparts, they’re doing so with...
State Education
Charter Commission director sends mixed recommendations for public charter schools requesting a transfer into the Memphis-Shelby County School district
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall is providing mixed recommendations for two public charter schools seeking to transfer...
College and Higher Edu...
Dates announced for free ACT Senior Retake
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced the dates for this year’s free fall ACT Senior Retake opportunities.Traditionally, Tennessee high-school ...
State Education
Two Tennessee school districts may be paving the way for improved literacy
The Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) released a report this month that found two school districts may offer important lessons for ho...
State Education
Charter Commission director backs proposed public charter schools in Nashville, Memphis and Jackson
Four proposed public charter schools in Memphis, Nashville, and Jackson are all receiving new support from a key state board leader.Tennessee Public Charter Sch...
National Education
Education choice analysis pegs Tennessee No. 6
Tennessee ranked No. 6 nationally with a grade of B in the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom.Grades were scored overall from tabulating funding and financin...
State Education
More high school students signing up to take free college level classes
More than 2,200 Tennessee students signed up to take college level Advanced Placement (AP) courses online this fall through the AP Access for ALL (APAA) program...
State Education
Task force to study rejecting federal education funds returns. New study finds rural counties could be the most impacted.
The possibility of Tennessee rejecting federal education funding is back on the General Assembly’s agenda.Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, ...
State Education
Six Tennessee schools receive national recognition
Six Tennessee schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic performance or their work to close achievement gaps between studen...
State Education
The deadline to submit public comments for the School Letter Grades is today. A few themes have already emerged.
Today officially closes a monthlong process to encourage the public to submit input on the new School Letter Grades system.September 15 is the last day the Tenn...
State Education
Misconceptions abound about who public charter schools serve. A new Comptroller tool will help.
A new dashboard launched by the Tennessee Comptroller this week will help parents navigate through misinformation about public charter schools. The dashboard al...
State Education
Shelbyville education leaders want student growth to play a large role in new School Letter Grades
Shelbyville parents and educators gave the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) a lot to consider as it fine tunes the new system to provide an A through F ...
State Education
Nashville parents and education leaders want the new School Letter Grades to consider student circumstances
Nashville parents and education leaders provided a wide variety of concerns for the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) to consider as it creates a new sys...
State Education
Cookeville parent and educators want the new School Letter Grades to be accountable
Accountability was the main focus for Cookeville parents, educators, and administrators during a Tuesday night discussion about how schools should be graded for...
State Education
Textbook Commission removes race and gender from science advisory panel applications
Members of the Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission unanimously voted Wednesday morning to remove race/ethnicity and gender from th...
State Education
Tennessee Department of Education announces Bren Elliott new State Turnaround Superintendent
Tennessee’s much criticized Achievement School District has a new leader.Dr. Bren Elliot is joining the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) today as the ne...
State Education
Rutherford County produces two of the top readers in the state
Rutherford County is home to two of the top readers in the state.Smyrna’s Stewart’s Creek High School Senior Taylor Aslup and Murfreesboro’s Oakland Middle Scho...
State Education
Few Tennessee students passed the summer school option to advance under new Third-Grade Retention Law
New data released by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) shows not many third-graders passed the summer school option to advance to the fourth-grade un...
State Education
Special session on public safety ends in with more chaos in the State House
The special session on public safety ended much as it has proceeded over the last week, with chaos.After the session wrapped up in the House, Speaker Cameron Se...
State Education
House Republicans continue passing legislation despite Democrats leaving chamber in protest
The special session on public safety produced another chaotic meeting in the State House Monday.House members voted 70 to 20 to silence newly re-elected Represe...
News
Rogersville Elementary School Teacher is Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced Rogersville City School’s Melissa “Missy” Testerman as Tennessee’s 2023-24 teacher of the year Friday eve...
State Education
Tennessee’s House and Senate end the week at odds on the special session. Will the weekend bring change?
The first week of the special session on public safety may have seen more criticism for what lawmakers didn’t do than what they did.Only a bill to fund the spec...
State Education
Memphis educators and parents want new School Letter Grades to be easy to understand
A crowd of roughly two dozen Shelby County parents and educators gathered Wednesday night to explain why they believe ease of understanding and transparency wil...
State Education
Schools in Davidson, Shelby, and Hamilton Counties celebrate academic growth and achievement
Three of Tennessee’s largest school districts are touting their academic growth on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS).Metro Nashville Public Sc...
State Education
Representative Chris Todd’s school gun bill fails to advance from chaotic committee meeting
A bipartisan group of lawmakers voted down a controversial bill to increase the number of people allowed to carry a gun on school property in Tennessee.By a tie...
State Education
Senators appear to be only interested in passing three bills during the special session
For the second straight day, members of the Tennessee State Senate continued to table the vast majority of bills they’ve filed in the special session on public ...
Communities
Could a “holistic approach” be the key to accelerating the success of black students in Tennessee?
Tennessee’s black male students statistically lag other demographics in enrolling, persisting, and completing post-secondary education. The State Collaborative ...
State Education
Dickson educators say student growth should be a key part of a new system to grade public schools
Parents and educators in Dickson kicked off a series of town hall events across the state Tuesday night designed to help the state grade its public schools.The ...
State Education
Dickson educators say student growth should be a key part of a new system to grade public schools
Parents and educators in Dickson kicked off a series of town hall events across the state Tuesday night designed to help the state grade its public schools.The ...
State Education
Department of Education seeks parental input in long awaited school grading system
Parents can now take part in creating a long awaited system that grades how well their child’s school is serving students.The Tennessee Department of Education ...
State Education
Tennessee teachers looking for a fresh start in the new school year
The new school year is underway across Tennessee and teachers, administrators, parents, and students are looking forward to new opportunities and clean slates.
State Education
Tennessee teachers looking for a fresh start in the new school year
The new school year is underway across Tennessee and teachers, administrators, parents, and students are looking forward to new opportunities and clean slates.
State Education
Tennessee picks vendor with no voucher experience to manage its education savings accounts
After failing to reach contract terms with its first choice to run its growing private school voucher program, Tennessee has turned to a young Indiana company w...
State Education
How successful is career and technical education? Graduation rates provide a valuable clue.
Students who take part in career and technical education (CTE) programs are seeing more success graduating high school.That’s among the finding in a new report ...
News
Parents encouraged to check their children’s TCAP scores online
The Tennessee Department of Education is encouraging families to keep track of their children’s testing results through an online portal.The department launched...
State Education
Judge panel clears new law to go into effect banning unions from deducting dues from teacher paychecks
Tennessee’s new law banning unions from deducting dues from teacher paychecks is clear to go into effect.A panel of three Davidson County Chancery Court judges ...
News
Tennessee teachers sue over “prohibited concepts” Tennessee law
Five public school teachers joined the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) to file a lawsuit challenging the state’s so-called “prohibited concepts” law, rest...
News
School starts next month. Here’s where families can find assistance.
As August gets closer, Tennessee school districts are preparing for the new school year by providing families with the information and assistance they need to s...
State Education
Tennessee’s new education chief says implementing policy is her strength and the governor’s priority
Three weeks into her job as Tennessee’s education chief, Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds says her charge from Gov. Bill Lee is to implement existing major policy cha...
State Education
Percentage of successful appeals grows for Third-Grade Retention Law
The number of third-grade students approved to advance to the fourth-grade by appeal grew by 5 percent over the last three weeks of June.The Tennessee Departmen...
State Education
Most Tennessee school districts are seeing improvement on state TCAP testing
The vast majority of Tennessee school districts are seeing improvement on state testing for the 2022/2023 school year.According to district level data released ...
State Education
State argues unions representing teachers need to pay their own way
The future of a state law that bans unions from deducting dues from teacher paychecks is now in the hands of three Davidson County chancellors.That panel of Cha...
State Education
New rule fines schools for misbehaving fans
The governing body of middle and high school athletics is cracking down on unruly fans by punishing their schools.Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Associatio...
College and Higher Edu...
Tennessee students taking career and technical education show more interest in health science careers according to new Comptroller report
A new report by the Tennessee Comptroller found Tennessee students are showing a strong interest in Health Science careers.The Health Science cluster is the mos...
State Education
Principal of the year finalists announced
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the nine finalists for the Tennessee Principal of the Year of the Year award for 2023-24.Those finalists include...
State Education
Tennessee Attorney General says lawsuit that could delay teacher raises lacks merit
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office fired back at a recently filed lawsuit by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA), saying the suit “lack...
State Education
Interest in Career and Technical Education is growing. The Tennessee Comptroller wants to help you learn more about it.
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office announced a major undertaking this month to help inform Tennesseans about career and technical education (CTE) .CTE used to b...
Data and Polling
Poll finds more than 60 percent of Tennesseans support public charter schools
A new poll finds Tennesseans want more out of their state’s education system.The poll on a variety of topics by conservative organization the Beacon Center, fou...
State Education
Lizzette Reynolds sworn in as new Commissioner of Education
Tennessee’s new Education Commissioner is officially on the job.Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds was sworn in on July 1. She replaces former Commissioner Penny Schwin...
State Education
Better pay and better support, Tennessee teachers share what they need the most
Retaining teachers has been among the most important priorities for school districts throughout the state.To get a better understanding of what can be done to k...
State Education
TCAP scores show “encouraging gains” for the state
Tennessee students showed improvement in all subject areas on this year’s 2022/2023 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), with more than a 3 percen...
News
Want to help Tennessee students succeed? tnAchieves is looking for 9 thousand mentors
Mentoring program tnAchieves opened its 2024 mentor application with a goal to recruit a total of 9,000 mentors.“In 2024, we're ready to confront challenges cre...
State Education
Chronic absenteeism rises in Tennessee
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) says the impact COVID-19 has had on children in Tennessee doesn’t end with de...
State Education
Jackson County Superintendent appointed to key leadership role with the Tennessee Department of Education
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced current Jackson County Schools Superintendent Kristy Brown will take over as the department’s new Chief A...
State Education
Tennessee launches $194M in K-12 school safety grants
Tennessee has begun its process of accepting applications for $194 million in school safety grants after Gov. Bill Lee signed a $230 million school security bil...
State Education
Lessons learned from the pandemic continue to guide Tennessee school strategy this summer
This month school districts across the state are continuing a learning strategy that saw success during the pandemic.Summer learning camps played a valuable rol...
State Education
The ‘Tennessee 3’ created a historic teachable moment. Will schools be allowed to teach it?
When Wyatt Bassow and Ava Buxton missed classes one morning this spring to see democracy in action in Tennessee, they witnessed history that they acknowledged p...
State Education
81 percent of Third-Grade Retention appeals approved
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) says it has approved the appeals of more than 81 percent of students who filed one hoping to avoid retention under ...
State Education
Tennessee Department of Education encourages teachers to sign up for literacy training
The Tennessee Department of Education is encouraging teachers to sign up for literacy training this summer.The department is offering the training through the e...
State Education
Tennessee Education Association files lawsuit that could delay teacher raises
The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) filed a legal challenge this week that could delay recently passed teacher raises.The TEA’s lawsuit challenges a provi...
National Education
Stanford study finds Tennessee public charter school students outperforming traditional students more than any southern state
A new study by Stanford's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) found public charter school students in Tennessee are not only making more average p...
State Education
Hamilton County students improve on TCAP retake but few test proficient
The vast majority of Hamilton County third-graders who took the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) retake are still not clear to advance to the f...
State Education
Nine teachers named finalists for teacher of the year
The Tennessee Department of Education announced the nine finalists for the 2023-24 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Award. The department plans to name the four wi...
State Education
Key Tennessee education official Eve Carney resigns amid leadership transition
The leadership transition at the Tennessee Department of Education accelerated this week with the resignations of two high-level officials, including a veteran ...
State Education
For Memphis 3rd graders, threat of retention has hovered since kindergarten
With only a few days left in third grade, LaQuencher Sanders’ 8-year-old daughter, Kamryn, just wanted to be done with school.She had been in the class of kinde...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Senator Bill Powers strives to bring common sense principles to education
State Senator Bill Powers (R-Clarksville) took an unconventional path to politics and the Tennessee General Assembly where he's the Vice-Chairperson of the Sena...
News
Parents can appeal Third-Grade Retention starting today
State Education
Over 25,000 Tennessee 3rd graders retook reading test this week to try to meet new promotion policy
More than half of Tennessee third graders at risk of being held back because of their reading test scores took another test this week to try to advance to fourt...
State Education
Over 25,000 Tennessee 3rd graders retook reading test this week to try to meet new promotion policy
More than half of Tennessee third graders at risk of being held back because of their reading test scores took another test this week to try to advance to fourt...
State Education
District level data shows challenges for third-grade students in rural counties and West Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Education says four of five third-grade students in the Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) failed to meet the testing thre...
News
Republicans and Democrats have vastly different reactions to newly released third-grade test scores
State Education
More than half of Tennessee third-graders failed to meet testing standard to advance
The Tennessee Department of Education says 60% of third graders scored “below” or “approaching” proficiency on the English language arts (ELA) portion of the Te...
State Education
26 schools honored for preparing students for the workforce
State Education
Tennessee’s 3rd-grade retention law requires ‘adequate growth’ to advance. Here’s what that means.
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...
State Education
Tennessee students encouraged to sign up to compete for $1,000 in summer reading contest
Students across Tennessee are encouraged to sign up to compete for a $1,000 scholarship in this year’s Tristar Reads contest.Tennesseans for Student Success (TS...
State Education
Governor Lee signs school safety legislation into law
State Education
Governor Lee signs bill allowing Hamilton County families to use taxpayer money to attend private schools
Governor Bill Lee announced Friday that he’s signed legislation to expand the Education Savings Account to Hamilton County.
State Education
Wit and Wisdom textbooks the most frequently requested by districts despite calls to remove the curriculum in some communities
State Education
Memphis advocate Sara Carpenter and teacher of the year among those named to TISA Steering Committee
Memphis parent advocate Sara Carpenter, Senate Education Chairman Jon Lundberg, House Education Administration Chairman Mark White, and Memphis-Shelby County Te...
News
Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn announces departure
Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced she’s planning to step down in June, following four and a half years of service to the st...
State Education
Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds named new Education Commissioner
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee named Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds as the new Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Education on Monday.Reynolds will succeed C...
State Education
Tennessee Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month
Governor Bill Lee and education leaders are encouraging Tennesseans to recognize the state’s teachers throughout the month of May for Teacher Appreciation Month...
News
Tumultuous legislative session brings passage of teacher pay raises, tweaks to Third-Grade Retention, and a possible special session
The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned Friday following a tumultuous legislative session that included the expulsion and return of two members, a resignation,...
State Education
Tennessee legislature sends governor pared-down school voucher expansion bill, omitting Knox County
Tennessee lawmakers approved expanding the private school voucher program to Hamilton County, but not Knox County. The final bill now awaits Gov. Bill Lee’s sig...
State Education
House passes changes to Tennessee’s Third-Grade Retention Law. Compromise legislation now heads to the Governor
Debate over one of the biggest issues for education in Tennessee is over for the year.Thursday morning House members voted 82-15 to pass legislation that’s expe...
State Education
TSSAA approves new rules for students who violate rules for name, image, and likeness
A high school athlete who violates the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) amateur rules for receiving money through sponsorships, will no...
News
House approves legislation to let families in Knox and Hamilton County use taxpayer money to attend private schools
House members voted 57 to 35 Wednesday to expand Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Program (ESA) following a strong pushback by Democratic members.The Tenne...
State Education
House includes paycheck protection in legislation to raise teacher salaries after initially voting against it
In a surprising move, members of the Tennessee House re-included the paycheck protection provision of legislation to raise teacher salaries minutes after voting...
State Education
Senate passes changes to Third-Grade Retention Law despite Democratic opposition
Tennessee Senators passed legislation on a partisan 26 to 4 vote Tuesday to reduce the number of children held back by the state’s Third-Grade Retention Law.No ...
State Education
Changes in Tennessee retention law will come too late for third graders this year
Tennessee lawmakers are moving toward a consensus on how to improve the state’s controversial new third-grade retention policy for struggling readers, but whate...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Representative Tim Hicks brings a different perspective to champion struggling students
Representative Tim Hicks took a different path than most to the state capitol in Nashville.The Washington County Republican lawmaker didn’t attend college and i...
State Education
Senate passes Governor Lee's updated school security plan
Members of the Tennessee State Senate unanimously passed the first of Governor Bill Lee’s proposals to improve school security Wednesday morning.
State Education
Education Savings Account expansion could incur additional costs
News
Senator says 2 in 3 TN students not reading at grade level is “inexcusable” as Senate advances bill to alter retention policy
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.
State Education
House subcommittee advances Governor Lee’s legislation to raise teacher salaries
The House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee advanced Governor Bill Lee’s legislation to raise teacher salaries without debate or even discussion Wednesday a...
News
Governor Lee proposes investment in school security and leaves the door open to red flag legislation
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...
State Education
Senate passes Governor Lee’s legislation to raise teacher salaries
Tennessee Senators passed Governor Bill Lee’s legislation to raise teacher salaries on a partisan 25 to 6 vote Thursday.The plan would raise teacher salaries to...
State Education
Senate Committee advances bills dealing with gender identity in sports and "divisive concepts"
The Senate Education Committee advanced two controversial bills Wednesday that have faced criticism from LGBTQ and civil rights activists.
News
House committee grills Department of Education on its work to improve math
State Education
House subcommittee kills Representative Whitson's legislation to limit public charter school appeals
Legislation designed to limit the appeal options for public charter schools who’ve had their applications wrongfully denied by school districts, saw a quick exi...
State Education
Governor Lee touts investments in education to business leaders
Governor Bill Lee told Middle Tennessee’s business leaders his proposed investments in education are needed to keep Tennessee moving forward.Those comments came...
State Education
Tennessee’s latest private school voucher expansion proposal would add Knox County, too
Tennessee’s private school voucher program, currently limited to eligible students attending public schools in Memphis and Nashville, would expand to all four o...
State Education
House Committee Keeps 'Paycheck Protection' in Legislation to raise teacher salaries
Members of the House Education Administration Committee advanced Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to raise teacher salaries to at least $50 thousand by the 2026/202...
State Education
Senate committee surprisingly takes House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s education bills off notice for the year
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s proposals to create home school charter schools and to study the potential impact of opting to decline federal educatio...
News
Compromise Third-Grade Retention bill advances on unanimous House vote
News
Fears of a strain on teachers kills legislation to allow increased classroom size
National Education
‘Are We Really Going to Fail Those Students?’ With State Tests Next Month, Tennessee Reconsiders Holding Back Third Graders
In 2020, Faith Miles saw her kindergarten year broken up by the pandemic. Already slower to pick up language skills than her older siblings, Faith was further s...
State Education
Representative Bo Mitchell uses misleading attack on public charter schools to oppose legislation that benefits economically disadvantaged students
Monday’s vote in favor of legislation to support economically disadvantaged students came with a misleading attack by a State Representative whose city would be...
College and Higher Edu...
House subcommittee ends its year by advancing three bills to make higher education more attainable to Tennessee students
College and Higher Edu...
Supporters say proposed legislation would reimagine how Tennessee uses data to connect workers with jobs
State Education
House Democrats attack public charter schools despite academic success in their own counties
Thursday morning two House Democrats used what would otherwise be a routine vote to reauthorize the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission to take swipes at...
News
Independent review finds the Tennessee Career Academy’s application to open a new public charter school needs work
College and Higher Edu...
Persistent opposition from House Democrats fails to stop Republican homeschool and TikTok legislation from advancing
State Education
House committee advances bill to let public charter schools prioritize serving at-risk students
Members of the House Administration Committee advanced legislation Wednesday designed to help provide at-risk students with more accessibility to public charter...
News
Compromise to reduce the number of children held back from Tennessee’s Third-Grade Retention Law passes key committees
News
Good addition to the team? Why an independent review is recommending approval for a sister school affiliated with the Memphis Grizzlies
News
Proposed “career focused” public charter school in Memphis receives high marks from independent reviewers
State Education
Tennessee House speaker proposes task force to look into rejecting federal education funds
House Speaker Cameron Sexton wants to create a task force to study the feasibility of Tennessee rejecting U.S. education dollars to free its schools from federa...
State Education
Tennessee teachers spend more on candidate contributions than Amazon. New legislation could change that.
The union that represents Tennessee teachers made it crystal clear this week that it's not happy with Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to stop school districts from...
State Education
Tennessee Teachers Spend More on Candidate Contributions Than Amazon
New legislation advancing in the Tennessee General Assembly could change that.
News
House Committee decides to extend debate on home school charter schools
State Education
Legislator Profile: Senator Raumesh Akbari finds common ground to improve education
Senator Raumesh Akbari admits it’s not easy getting legislation passed as a Democrat in the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly, but she’...
News
House subcommittee approves investments benefitting private school families and teachers
State Education
Tennessee governor’s safety bill threatens penalties for schools if they don’t lock entrances
Gov. Bill Lee is proposing sweeping changes to enhance school safety across Tennessee, requiring all K-12 public schools to keep their exterior doors locked, or...
State Education
Senate approves Governor Lee’s plan to make highly effective summer learning camps permanent
Tennessee Senators approve Governor Lee's plan to make summer learning camps available year-round for “at-risk” students in grades K-3 and create learning loss ...
News
Governor Lee wants to raise all teacher salaries to $50K in the 2026/2027 school year
News
Bill seeks to shield classroom libraries from Tennessee library law
State Education
Senate committee kills legislation to inject more partisanship into schools
Tennessee’s Senate Education Committee voted down legislation 6 to 3 Wednesday that would add more partisanship to public schools by allowing elections for scho...
News
Legislation allowing school districts to request a larger class size advances
State Education
Legislation to expand the Education Savings Account Program to Hamilton County advances
Tennessee lawmakers advanced a bill to expand the state’s ESA program to Hamilton County, allowing more students to use funds for private education.
State Education
Speaker Sexton’s home school charter school proposal sails through subcommittee
Legislators on the Tennessee House K-12 Subcommittee surprisingly approved a major proposal impacting both home school students and public charter schools with ...
College and Higher Edu...
Two bills address the declining college attendance rates by offering more opportunities to students
State Education
Senate passes legislation allowing public charter schools the ability to prioritize serving at-risk students
Tennessee State Senators gave their support Monday evening to legislation designed to help provide at-risk students with more accessibility to public charter sc...
News
State asks teachers for their opinion on what needs to be done to improve schools
Tennessee’s teachers now have the opportunity to tell education leaders what's needed to improve their schools.The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) laun...
State Education
Legislation to enable public charter schools to serve more economically disadvantaged and at-risk students faces key votes
House Bill 1086/Senate Bill 0980 faces key votes in the full Senate today and in the House Education Administration Committee on Wednesday.
State Education
Tennessee legislators look to Mississippi for guidance on changing the Third-Grade Retention Law
Wednesday members of the House Education Administration Committee received help making that decision from an unlikely neighboring state to the south. Former Mis...
Local Government
Tennessee 3rd-grade retention law will intensify Memphis students’ pandemic woes, local critics say
Many Memphis youths are already struggling to overcome emotional and psychological trauma inflicted or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.But the specter of b...
State Education
Representative Tim Hicks says he's received commitment to expand career and technical education
Legislation to expand access to career and technical education may have accomplished its sponsor’s goals without a single vote for passage.State Representative ...
State Education
Tennessee expands teacher apprenticeship program with $5 million subgrant
State Education
Proposed legislation would fill the "middle skills gap" Tennessee employers need
State Education
Education Commissioner says new school funding formula will give teachers an average $1,250 raise
One of major selling points in last year’s passage of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act was that it would provide money for teacher pay raises...
State Education
Representative Scott Cepicky cuts back the amount he wants to provide teachers for classroom supplies
Culleoka Representative Scott Cepicky drew cheers from public school teachers when he proposed legislation this year to provide them with $500 for classroom sup...
State Education
Tennessee Senate approves adding Hamilton County to ESA/voucher program
The Tennessee Senate approved a bill to include Hamilton County in the state’s ESA voucher program. The bill now moves to the House for discussion.
State Education
Tennessee provides free help to aspiring teachers studying to take licensure tests
The Tennessee Department of Education is now offering Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship candidates free access to “Keys to the Classroom.” The suite of prep mate...
State Education
Tennessee teachers tell lawmakers literacy struggles are a big concern with young children
State Education
Tennessee receives $100K grant to strengthen career pathways work
College and Higher Edu...
Gov. Lee announces raise in teacher pay and expansion of career and technical education in 2023 State of the State Address
Lee stated he will propose an additional investment of $350 million into TISA which would include $125 million for teacher pay raises.
College and Higher Edu...
Gov. Lee announces raise in teacher pay and expansion of career and technical education in 2023 State of the State Address
Lee stated he will propose an additional investment of $350 million into TISA which would include $125 million for teacher pay raises.
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...
State Education
Survey shows teachers support steps Tennessee has taken to fight learning loss
A new survey finds Tennessee teachers support the key academic initiatives the state has launched to recover learning and accelerate student achievement.That wa...
State Education
Tennessee celebrates the growth of its Career and Technical Education program
State Education
Legislator Profile: Representative Mark White says education in Tennessee is like a grandfather clock
State Education
Education Trust's Reginald Nash suggests three changes to improve Tennessee’s Third-Grade Retention Law
Few educational issues have generated more disagreement this year than Tennessee’s Third-Grade Retention Law.The legislation was designed in 2021 to ensure that...
College and Higher Edu...
Expansion of Tennessee’s HOPE Scholarship finding support in state committee
Legislation to make the HOPE Scholarship accessible to graduate students received support from two key education leaders in the State House on Monday.
State Education
TISA rules pass joint state committee
The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) cleared an important hurdle Monday morning that ensures its eventual implementation for school districts ...
State Education
Academic gains propel LEAD Neely’s Bend out of the state’s Achievement School District
LEAD Public Schools announced LEAD Neely’s Bend will be the first public charter school in Nashville to exit the state-run Achievement School District (ASD) and...
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...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Senator Jon Lundberg making an impact leading the Senate Education Committee
There may not have been a single piece of legislation that was more impactful in 2022 than the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act.TISA as it was ca...
State Education
Tennessee’s Grow Your Own teaching program grows larger
The Tennessee Department of Education announced two additional educator preparation providers (EPP) are now available to provide teacher apprenticeships through...
State Education
Bill would open the HOPE scholarship to students seeking a master’s degree
Tennessee students may soon be able to use their HOPE Scholarship to obtain a master’s or other advanced degree.Legislation filed earlier this month by State Re...
State Education
Newly elected Representatives named Vice-Chairs of key education committees
Newly elected Republican Representatives William Slater and Kevin Raper don’t even have their pictures posted yet on the Tennessee General Assembly website, but...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Senator Dawn White is bringing lessons from the classroom to Nashville
State Senator Dawn White was always going to make an impact on education. The Murfreesboro legislator says even as a young child growing up in Eagleville Tennes...
State Education
Education to play a big role in new legislative session
Perhaps no issue was more impactful in last year’s legislative session than education. The 112th General Assembly ended with the historic passage of the Tenness...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Representative William Slater brings an extensive background in education to Nashville
When the Tennessee General Assembly returns to Nashville next Tuesday, Representative William Slater will be among 19 new members in the State House.Slater won ...
State Education
Bill would give Tennessee teachers $500 annually for classroom supplies
A Tennessee bill would allow every public school teacher in the state to have $500 to spend on classroom supplies.The bill would be an adjustment on the $200 in...
State Education
Tennessee announces $800 thousand in grant funding
Wednesday the Tennessee Department of Education announced over $800,000 in grant funding to 34 school districts throughout the state. These dollars will be used...
State Education
ACT participation returns to pre-pandemic levels
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced another sign of education recovery from the pandemic this week.The department says ACT participation amon...
State Education
Fewer Tennessee students taking Drivers Ed
A new report by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) found fewer Tennessee teenagers are taking drivers education ...
State Education
Afraid of the competition? Why did traditional public schools try to get out of playing public charter schools
By any measure, Chattanooga Preparatory School’s first high school basketball season was a slam dunk success.The newly established public charter school entered...
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...
State Education
Computer Science Education Week to highlight the important role of technological literacy
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...
National Education
All Teacher Shortages Are Local, New Research Finds
K-12 teacher shortages — one of the most disputed questions in education policy today — are an undeniable reality in some communities, a newly released study in...
State Education
Tennessee to provide free reading resources to families this winter
The Tennessee Department of Education, in partnership with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, announced a free reading opportunity for students and famil...
State Education
Tennessee private schools could get $60 million in leftover pandemic relief funds
Tennessee is taking steps to ensure that private schools get the opportunity to receive nearly $60 million in unused federal COVID relief funds set aside for th...
State Education
Tennessee launches new tool for parents to review their school's report card
State Education
Tennessee’s Education Savings Account program wins again in court
A judicial panel sided with the state on Wednesday and dismissed remaining legal claims raised in two lawsuits challenging Tennessee’s private school voucher la...
State Education
State Textbook Commission Member Laurie Cardoza-Moore argues for expanding the board’s role
A new state law requires Tennessee’s Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission to “issue guidance” for local school districts to use when reviewin...
State Education
New report showcases how Tennessee has improved public education
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) released the 2020-2022 Accelerating Tennessee Report this week to showcase the steps that have been taken to improv...
State Education
Tennessee recognizes teacher program for National Apprenticeship Week
The Tennessee Department of Education is recognizing the work its Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship program is doing during this week’s 8th Annual National Appre...
Elections
Governor Lee touts education accomplishments in second term win
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee promised to continue his educational priorities after comfortably winning a second term.Governor Lee won nearly 65 percent of the vo...
State Education
Tennessee program to encourage students to become teachers continues to grow
College and Higher Edu...
New grants helping make college more affordable for Tennessee students
Tennessee students are receiving additional help this year with the extra expenses that come with attending college.tnAchieves says it has distributed more than...
State Education
Tennessee’s Literacy Success Act receives mostly positive initial review
Elections
Education could be the key issue for voters in the upcoming Governor’s race
29.5 percent of respondents in a new poll of East Tennessee residents cited education and children as the topic they want elected leaders to focus on. That’s 6 ...
State Education
To address teacher shortages, Tennessee may drop major test for many teacher candidates
State Education
Governor Lee launches School Safety Toolkit for parents
Elections
Knoxville House candidate proposes removing public funding from public charter schools in debate
In a televised debate on a wide range of topics, Democratic Tennessee House District 18 Candidate Gregory Kaplan proposed a drastic change that would put the fu...
State Education
Tennessee recognized for leading the nation in ACT access
Tennessee received national recognition Tuesday for its work to help all students fulfill their requirements for college admission.ACT, Inc. awarded the Tenness...
National Education
ACT Scores Fall to Lowest Level In 30 Years
In yet another data point on missed learning during the pandemic, ACT scores from this year’s high school graduates dropped to their lowest level in three decad...
Local Government
Nation’s Report Card finds Tennessee students mirroring nationwide decline
Despite promising scores in this year’s Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), Tennessee students continue to show the same signs of learning loss a...
National Education
Nation’s Report Card Shows Largest Drops Ever Recorded in 4th and 8th Grade Math
National testing data released this morning reveals severe damage inflicted on student math and reading performance, reaffirming COVID-19’s ongoing educational ...
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 ...
State Education
$700B: That’s How Much It Will Cost to Fix Pandemic Learning Loss, Study Says
Elections
Here is what Tennessee governor, Democratic challenger say on education
Gov. Bill Lee and his Democratic challenger, Dr. Jason Martin, agree that Tennessee students need timely and relevant vocational training opportunities, but 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 Government
Tennessee graduation rates exceed pre-pandemic levels
State Education
Tennessee students to see expanded computer science instruction
Tennessee is launching a new resource to expand computer science instruction to all public-school students. The Tennessee Department of Education launched the “...
State Education
COVID & School Recovery: Washington Hopes New Science Curriculum Will Boost Student Engagement
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) ...
National Education
Back to the future: GOP pledge to abolish Education Department returns
When former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in July that her former Cabinet department “should not exist,” it made some waves.The school choice advocate an...
State Education
More students accessing college-level classes through Tennessee program
State Education
‘Wake-up Calls’: New Parent Survey Shows 9% Enrollment Drop in District Schools
With state data projecting at least 10% drops in student enrollment over the next decade in some California counties, superintendents are worried.
State Education
Tennessee provides new resource to help with COVID learning loss
The department says the TN ALL Corps District Support Network will provide districts with new opportunities to engage in collaborative learning experiences, sha...
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
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...
State Education
Can apprenticeships help alleviate teacher shortages? Tennessee embraces a new way of helping aspiring teachers get paid while earning a degree
In January, Tennessee announced that it was expanding its “grow your own programs” to recruit and train teachers by developing the new apprenticeship model, whi...
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...
State Education
Memphis educator named Tennessee’s 2022-23 Teacher of the Year
Fresh from being named Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year for 2022-23, Memphis second-grade educator Melissa Collins credits her family and 21 years in the classro...
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...
State Education
Report: Tennessee's inflation-adjusted K-12 school spending increases lower than most states
Tennessee’s per-pupil spending on K-12 public school students, amongst the lowest in the country, increased an inflation-adjusted 18% from 2002 to 2020 while it...
State Education
Tennessee delays issuing schools A-F grades — again
For a fifth straight year, Tennessee has delayed its plan to start giving A-F grades to its 1,800-plus public schools.Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn notif...
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...
State Education
Reading all star back to compete in Tristar Reads Scholarship Program
There’s not a Hall of Fame for reading competitions in Tennessee but if there were, Pegram’s Sarah Collier would be in it.
Local Education
Rutherford County approves Tennessee’s first suburban charter school
Tennessee currently has no charter schools operating outside the big four cities of Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Rutherford County’s School B...
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...