Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown

Bureau Chief, Chalkbeat Tennessee

Melissa Brown is the Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. She joined Chalkbeat from The Tennessean, where she covered state politics and government policy. Before moving to Tennessee, she reported on a number of issues around Alabama, including award-winning criminal justice work at The Montgomery Advertiser and higher education at al.com. Melissa is an Alabama native who grew up on military bases in Japan and England before graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in journalism.

A federal judge ruled that Knox County Schools cannot reject a Christian charter school application on religious grounds amid a growing national push to allow taxpayer-funded religious schools.

A mini blue wave in the Tennessee House of Representatives could make future private school voucher expansion more difficult.

The Republican campaigned on expanding school choice and is expected to push for further expansion of Tennessee’s voucher program.

About 1 in 3 of this year’s voucher recipients live in just 20 ZIP codes — largely wealthier neighborhoods on the outskirts of Tennessee’s largest cities.

A top committee of education officials is urging lawmakers to include Medicaid eligibility data in the state’s funding formula.

Judge Waverly Crenshaw closely questioned attorneys for the Memphis-Shelby County school board, who argue the state takeover harms local students.

Internally promoted superintendents are less likely to leave the district for another superintendent position, research shows.

Tamarques Porter was elected to replace Natalie McKinney as Memphis-Shelby County school board chair. Sable Otey was tapped as vice-chair, replacing Joyce Dorse Coleman.

Tennessee is receiving a landmark legal settlement over alleged social media addiction harming kids. Who gets to decide where the money goes, and how quickly will it get to Tennessee kids?

Using unscored test sections to trial run new assessment questions is not unusual, but there is concern about putting students through lengthier tests.