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 language arts following the pandemic.
Tennessee Workers Left Behind: New Study Finds Only 12% of Non-Degree Credentials Significantly Boost Wages Amid Rising Housing Costs
A national study finds just 12% of certificates and industry credentials significantly raise wages—leaving many Tennessee workers struggling as rent and home prices outpace income.
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-over-year improvements in student proficiency across every tested subject and grade level.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Face Possible Loss of $17 Million in Federal Funding
Memphis-Shelby Public Schools says district staff are monitoring pending federal decisions that could affect approximately $17 million in funding for district programs.
Memphis Holds an Event to Support Families of the Now-Closed Promise Academy Hollywood
Memphis-Shelby County School Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman announced Promise Academy Hollywood’s voluntary closure at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Sale of Wooddale Middle School Building Aided by New Charter Law
The school board is expected to vote next week on the proposed $2.5 million sale of the Wooddale building.
How Two Memphis Schools Slashed Chronic Absenteeism and What Others Can Learn.
Just two years ago, chronic absenteeism was a crisis at Compass Berclair school in Memphis. During the 2021-22 school year, more than half of its students — 55.5 percent —missed at least 10 percent of school days, threatening their academic progress and overall well-being.
House speaker alleges Memphis-County Schools’ staff destroyed documents in advance of a state audit
The audit was among multiple options lawmakers considered for the district, following the controversial firing of former Superintendent Marie Feagins after less than a year on the job.
Interim Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent discusses plan to improve communication and rebuild trust
Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond continues to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools, unveiling a 100-Day Plan and proposing a $1.85B budget focused on literacy, safety, and communication. Richmond has also reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and academic progress across the district.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board issues statement of support for undocumented students
The resolution states that the district’s legal department has provided guidance to principals about how to respond to requests or visits from ICE so that “no immigration enforcement agency is permitted access” to students or confidential student records without a legal right to do so.
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 have the option of applying directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission for approval.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board members propose resolution in support of undocumented students
The board is scheduled to vote on a resolution at its May 27 meeting to protect immigrant students who attend district schools.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools files lawsuit in federal court over student data leak
The lawsuit claims the software provider failed to implement basic cybersecurity measures that could have prevented the data breach that included information on names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and phone numbers.
Five Memphis-Shelby County School Board seats could be up for re-election two years early
County commissioners could use new legislation to align school board races with other county elections, even if that meant shortening some board members’ terms.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board denies three proposed public charter schools
The board rejected applications from Still I Rise Academy, KIPP Memphis Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School, and Dream Catchers Charter School.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board member apologizes for comments threatening to deport former student
The apology from board member Towanna Murphy comes after messages she sent to a 2023 MSCS graduate threatening to have her deported were made public.
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.
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 committee.
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.
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 outperforming traditional public schools nearby. Still both lawmakers openly questioned the performance of those schools during debate over new charter legislation Monday morning in the House Government Operations Committee.