STATE GOVERMENT NEWS

The proposed policy priority is in response to legislation state lawmakers considered earlier this year that would allow school districts the option of refusing to enroll undocumented children or charging them tuition.

Under the proposal House Speaker Cameron Sexton plans to unveil next year, K-6 grade teachers would only need two years of higher education and an internship.

Representative White said that too many parents across the state lack access to childcare, either because of a shortage of available slots or because of cost.

Parents named in the suit argue the program violates the Education Clause of the Tennessee Constitution by diverting funds from public schools and preventing students the adequate education guaranteed by the state constitution.

Montgomery County Commissioners voted 11 to 8 to appoint a Republican nominee to the board in a move that at least one commissioner felt was influenced by political parties.

A new report from the Millennial Debt Foundation’s In the Black initiative argues that federal education funding “rests on shaky long-term economic foundations” due to rising spending on Medicare and Social Security and the growth of federal interest expenses.

TSU President Dwayne Tucker told Governor Bill Lee on Thursday that his university’s finances are improving, but it still needs help with deferred maintenance.

Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds reported that roughly 90,000 students have been participating in the camps each summer, and 73 percent of those students attended at least 90 percent of the programming.

In an interview with the Tennessee Firefly, Sexton said he’ll propose creating an associate’s degree program for future kindergarten through sixth grade teachers.

At Thursday’s Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education meeting, lawmakers agreed to recommend that the Department of Education conduct a full review of locally mandated tests and the reasons for them.

The recommendations come in advance of the final meeting of the Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education on Thursday.

Tennessee has achieved a record-high graduation rate of 92.3 percent for the 2024–25 school year, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Education.

Representative Scott Cepicky tells the Tennessee Firefly he plans to introduce legislation next year to regulate local benchmarks and improve career pathways for students in high school and higher education.

Rutherford County homeowners may soon receive tax refunds after a Tennessee Comptroller investigation found that thousands have been overpaying for years due to widespread property assessment errors.

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted Friday to deny four Memphis charter school proposals, including two new schools and two currently operating under the state-run Achievement School District.

The Tennessee Department of Education has announced the finalists for the 2025–26 Principal and Supervisor of the Year awards, recognizing outstanding school and district leaders across the state. The honorees exemplify transformational leadership, innovation, and commitment to student achievement in Tennessee’s public schools.

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate and state lawmaker Monty Fritts was the only legislator to oppose continuing the Tennessee Department of Education during this week’s sunset hearings at the State Capitol.

Knox County and state leaders are urging voters to reject Knoxville’s proposed $47 million sales tax increase, arguing the measure would add to residents’ financial strain as early voting begins for the November 4 election.

Tennessee Charter Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall has recommended denying four Memphis charter school proposals, citing concerns over financial readiness, governance, and academic planning.

Tennessee SCORE is urging the state to update its higher education funding formula to better reward colleges for helping students earn degrees that lead to strong, high-paying jobs and strengthen the state’s workforce.

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission advanced a proposed framework Tuesday outlining how it will evaluate Opportunity Public Charter Schools serving at-risk middle and high school students across the state.

Nashville has been selected as one of six U.S. cities to join Amazon Web Services’ Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, a national initiative bridging education and workforce needs in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission announced that the 2026–27 FAFSA is now open, the earliest launch in history, giving students and families more time to secure vital college financial aid.

Last week, Nashville-based education organization TN SCORE outlined which types of Tennessee postsecondary programs lead to employment where earnings are enough to be economically independent.

Tennessee lawmakers and education leaders clashed this week over whether students with a career and technical education (CTE) focus might be able to substitute CTE courses for core subjects that are currently required for graduation.

The Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education will make recommendations for the General Assembly to consider next year on testing and other education issues.

Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) recognized four state lawmakers for their leadership in education policy during the 2025 legislative session.

The U.S. Senator utilized her appearance at Nashville Collegiate Prep’s high school grand opening to promote her support for removing barriers that organizations face when starting new public charter schools.

Memphis-based community members, including parents and retired educators, spoke out in support of a proposed public charter school they hope will help bandage a school district they say has “failed thousands.”