Tennessee to Develop Stackable Credential Strategies Through Lumina Partnership
Tennessee has been selected to join Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States initiative, a national effort to align short-term credentials with quality jobs and expand access for adult learners. The state will focus on defining and tracking stackable credentials to build clearer, more flexible education pathways.
Jackson-Madison County School Board Rejects County’s First Public Charter School
The Jackson Museum School would utilize a “museum model” similar to schools in Atlanta and Chattanooga, which infuses subjects like science and math into weekly expeditions to local cultural centers.
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.
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 decision to leave retail eventually blossomed into a celebrated career in education—and now, she’s one of Tennessee’s nine 2025–26 Teacher of the Year Finalists.
Public Charter School with Ties to Hillsdale College Pulls Out of Madison County a Year Before Opening
Attorneys for American Classical Education notified the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission last month that the charter operator had made the “difficult decision” to terminate its agreement signed in March.
Jackson Educator Proposes “Museum Model” Charter School for Students Who Need Something Different
The proposed kindergarten through sixth-grade school would operate under a “museum model” that integrates immersive learning experiences into the curriculum.
Jackson-Madison County School Board denies former district educator’s application to open a public charter school
Board members voted 8 to 1 to reject the Jackson Museum School but left signs they might be willing to approve the school this summer.
Applications filed in 5 counties to open 11 new public charter schools
Novus SMART Academy is among the 11 new start charter applications that met this month’s filing deadline in five school districts across the state.
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 the state’s new TISA school funding formula went into effect than the prior year.
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 intent are the first official step in next year’s new start charter application process.
Jackson-Madison County School System achieves state’s highest score for academic progress
Tennessee has awarded the Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) with the highest score for academic growth (Level 5) on the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVAAS), a recent announcement said.
Jackson-Madison County School System drops lawsuit to block the county’s first public charter school
Members of the Jackson-Madison County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to withdraw a lawsuit they approved less than a year ago, in hopes of stopping the county’s first public charter school.
That lawsuit would have challenged a decision last year by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission to approve American Classical Academy Jackson-Madison.
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 development opportunities to enhance their STEM teaching practices.
Jackson Madison County School System gives special recognition to Superintendent King, declares September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in JMCSS
Jackson Madison County School System Superintendent Dr. Marlon King was named the 2025 Southwest Tennessee Regional Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) at Thursday’s regular school board meeting. The board also issued a proclamation making September 2024 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the district.
Whitehaven STEM lab project remains behind schedule due to funding woes
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. called on local officials to work together and figure out how to cover the remaining costs needed to construct a new STEM education lab at Whitehaven High School at Wednesday’s Shelby County Education Committee meeting.
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 with hands-on learning and a focus on literacy and math. Now leaders want to extend those opportunities to girls.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools recommends approval for an all-girls public charter school
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools charter review team recommended school board members approve an application for the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls at Tuesday’s work session meeting. The proposed school would be one of three all-girls public charter schools in the state.
Memphis-Shelby County school board member drops out of race for re-election
Memphis-Shelby County School Board member Frank Johnson announced on Facebook that he’s officially dropping out of the District 7 school board race, citing health issues and the recent death of a family member.
University of Memphis childhood programs receive state grants for early intervention services
Two early intervention resource agencies for young children with developmental delays and disabilities at University of Memphis received three new grants from the state to support their work in the coming years, a recent announcement said.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools appoints new assistant superintendent
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins has appointed Janice Tankson as the district’s new superintendent to oversee key educational programs and drive student success.