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 threshold to advance to the fourth-grade. That’s the eighth lowest in the state and behind other large school districts including Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

The Tennessee Department of Education says 60% of third graders scored “below” or “approaching” proficiency on the English language arts (ELA) portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP).

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 Department of Education expects to be able to send that information to districts by May 19. Districts will then check to see if any of those students meet exemptions to the new law and then inform parents.

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 (TSS) created the annual summer reading contest in 2016 to help school age children avoid the summer reading slide by spending 20 minutes a day with a book.

Governor Bill Lee announced Friday that he’s signed legislation to expand the Education Savings Account to Hamilton County.

Memphis parent advocate Sara Carpenter, Senate Education Chairman Jon Lundberg, House Education Administration Chairman Mark White, and Memphis-Shelby County Teacher of the year Melissa Collins are among the 21 Tennesseans named to the new Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Steering Committee.

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 state.Schwinn says she made the decision to leave office now because she’s accomplished her primary goals for the department and the time is right for her family. She also said leaving now ensures that districts, teachers, students, and families feel supported.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee named Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds as the new Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Education on Monday.Reynolds will succeed Commissioner Penny Schwinn who announced she’s transitioning out of the department on June 1, 2023.

Governor Bill Lee and education leaders are encouraging Tennesseans to recognize the state’s teachers throughout the month of May for Teacher Appreciation Month.Tennessee will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week from May 8-12 and Teacher Appreciation Day on May 2.

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned Friday following a tumultuous legislative session that included the expulsion and return of two members, a resignation, the most significant teacher pay raise in state history, and major changes to the Third-Grade Retention Law.

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 signature.

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 expected to reduce the number of children held back by the state’s Third-Grade Retention Law.  That vote follows Tuesday’s passage in the Senate.

A high school athlete who violates the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) amateur rules for receiving money through sponsorships, will now receive a warning instead of a year suspension for the initial violation.

House members voted 57 to 35 Wednesday to expand Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Program (ESA) following a strong pushback by Democratic members.The Tennessee General Assembly passed the Education Saving Account program in 2019 to allow lower income families in Davidson and Shelby County to use state and local dollars to help cover private school expenses. Legal challenges delayed the ESA from launching until last year.

In a surprising move, members of the Tennessee House re-included the paycheck protection provision of legislation to raise teacher salaries minutes after voting it down.That provision would prevent unions and professional organizations from deducting dues from teacher paychecks.  The section has faced opposition from the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and a House committee added an amendment to the legislation in the committee process to remove the provision.