Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Achievement School District

Penny Schwinn

Tennessee
February 8, 2019

What we heard from Tennessee’s education commissioner during her first week

Penny Schwinn's whirlwind week started with school visits and ended with a state policy meeting. In between, she met with lawmakers, superintendents, and staff.

reflections

Tennessee
February 4, 2019

Nashville school board member and political operative apologizes for his part in Tennessee’s Race to the Top

Will Pinkston presents his perspective in a 16,000-word, self-published essay.

New direction

Tennessee
January 10, 2019

Aspire Memphis plans to spin off into its own charter organization, separate from the California group that founded it

The Memphis schools – and their 1,6000 students – would officially transition to a new organization at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year if the plan comes to fruition.

chronically absent

Tennessee
January 9, 2019

One in four students are chronically absent in Tennessee’s state-run district. Here’s what educators are doing about it.

The stakes are high for improving student attendance numbers.

moving around

Tennessee
January 3, 2019

District rehired former Memphis principal accused of planning to rig tests — then fired her six months later

Teacher advocates say Greer’s rehiring shows how the district finds ways to hold onto employees who have bad records.

Year-end review

Tennessee
December 21, 2018

From testing to leadership transitions, here are the stories that you read most in 2018

Before the year came to an end, we took a look back into our archives to find the top education stories from 2018.

Coming together

Tennessee
December 20, 2018

Mayor Harris hires former superintendent to encourage Shelby County school systems to work together

Cedrick Gray is the former superintendent of Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi and of Fayette County in Tennessee. He started his career in Memphis as a teacher.

school turnaround

Tennessee
December 19, 2018

Memphis and Nashville put on notice about which schools could face state takeover in 2020

In one of her final acts as Tennessee education commissioner, Candice McQueen has identified nearly 20 schools that could require the most drastic state interventions…

Chalkbeat explains

Tennessee
December 10, 2018

Hopson will leave a blueprint to consolidate more schools. Here’s what you need to know.

If trends hold true for Hopson’s final recommendations, four schools would be at the top of the list for consolidation.

Achievement School District

Tennessee
December 5, 2018

McQueen: More school takeovers ‘most likely’ coming to Memphis and Nashville

Tennessee's outgoing education chief says she'll recommend more takeovers to the next governor, unless there's significant improvement.

shift

Tennessee
December 4, 2018

With new school turnaround model, Tennessee takes lessons learned in Memphis to Chattanooga

Guiding principles have emerged from almost a decade of state turnaround work.

back in action

Tennessee
December 3, 2018

It’s a ‘breath of fresh air’ to be back in school, Georgian Hills educators say after three weeks off following heating issues

On Monday morning, the elementary school in Frayser held classes for the first time since Nov. 13, when cold temperatures put the building’s boiler out of commission.

major grants

Tennessee
December 3, 2018

Tennessee’s turnaround district wins big chunk of $8.25 million grant for school improvement

Ten Tennessee schools will each receive $275,000 per year over three years.

By the numbers

Tennessee
November 14, 2018

Enrollment is up in Tennessee’s largest school district for second straight year

About 111,600 students are enrolled in Shelby County Schools, up about 2 percent from last year and higher than projected enrollment, according to district numbers.

school facilities

Tennessee
November 13, 2018

Cold temps close Memphis state-run schools, highlighting bigger issue of repairing costly, aging buildings

Temperatures dipped below 35 degrees, and four schools in the Achievement School District opted to cancel classes because of boiler issues.
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