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 open a school in a district that has had three charter denials overturned in three years.

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National Education, State Education Sky Arnold National Education, State Education Sky Arnold

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 department’s workforce as the tool to provide states with more education funding.

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State Education, State Government Sky Arnold State Education, State Government Sky Arnold

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 requiring students to take science tests once in grades 3-5 and once in grades 6-8.  Additionally, middle school students would only have to take state social studies assessments once, instead of each year.

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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 County Schools, but one thing that will be proposed is a forensic audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools to look for fraud abuse and waste.

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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 citizenship, or hold a legal immigration or visa status. If students cannot provide that documentation, the district could charge them tuition.

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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 McMahon bought the WWF in the 80s and Jacobs told the Tennessee Firefly that Linda’s business sense will serve the country well leading the Department of Education.

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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 school in a district that has three charter denials overturned in three years.

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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 denying charter schools that were later overturned.

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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 University of Tennessee. Local districts would be able to opt in and apply for grants to create so-called full-service community schools within existing public schools.

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State Education, State Government Alison Nickas State Education, State Government Alison Nickas

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 grade for the two previous years, or a school whose grade slips from a “D” to “F” in the previous two years.

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