Early voting begins on April 15, and all three candidates will be on the ballot as Democrats for the May 5 primary.

Opponents brought up union concerns this week, but didn’t mention students.

The district voted down applications for Blueprint College and Career Prep, Empowerment Academy, Memphis Elites STEAM Academy, Opportunity Youth Academy, and Urban Dove Team Charter Schools Memphis I and II, on the consent calendar.

The MNPS Board of Education denied every proposed charter school for the fifth straight year

The approvals came at the behest of Superintendent Dr. Marlon King, who in the past has made efforts to keep charter schools out of the district.

The commission voted 7-5 to act against the state’s takeover, but a two-thirds majority is needed to add the measure to the agenda for later voting.

School board members appear set to deny every proposed public charter school for a fifth straight year.

Those cuts include 57 teachers.

The K-12 grade school is set to open for the 2027-2028 school year in the northwest region of Rutherford County.

Gaston is the School Leader for the Urban Dove Team Charter School Memphis I, a planned charter school in the Hickory Hill area of Memphis that emphasizes learning as a team.

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 his signature.

The Senate voted to approve an oversight board with far-reaching powers for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) beginning next school year.

The public charter school is the first approved under a new state law that makes it easier to replicate existing school models.

The new plan would create an oversight board with the authority to deny school board actions.

A conference committee has been named to iron out the differences between two plans.

The Empowerment Academy is one of three public charter schools proposed this year by an organization of the same name, with two others planned for Memphis and Nashville.

Trimble Academy supporters are expected to submit an amended application for a second review later this summer.

Chattanooga leaders and educators are giving the public a first look at the city’s new facility for career and technical education (CTE).

Supporters say a surprise decision last year spurred interest in establishing the school in the small town.

The public charter school kicks off its first football season next fall.