Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Achievement School District

what's next?

Tennessee
September 26, 2018

These Memphis schools now risk a state takeover

A look at the state’s new criteria for when to step in to improve schools provides some clues about which ones are under consideration.

turnaround challenge

Tennessee
September 26, 2018

17 schools in Tennessee’s turnaround district remain priority schools 6 years after first takeovers

Four of the six original Memphis schools that were taken over by the state in 2012 are on the newest priority list released last week. And dozens of schools that were added to the district later also remain on the list.

Momentum

Tennessee
September 21, 2018

Memphis moves from problem child to poster child on Tennessee’s new school improvement list

The city got encouraging news on Friday as fewer of its schools landed on Tennessee's newest list of troubled "priority schools."

Priority schools

Tennessee
September 19, 2018

Struggling Tennessee schools find out Friday if they could face state intervention

The "priority school" list will be the first since 2014 and will chart state improvement strategies, investments, and interventions.

Rats!

Tennessee
September 10, 2018

Rat invasion sends 800 Memphis students to three nearby schools

Ninth and 10th grade students will be split from juniors and seniors. Some special education students will go to another high school.

counting students

Tennessee
September 7, 2018

As Griffin battles low enrollment in Tennessee’s state district, she looks to a school with a waitlist

The Achievement School District is looking to Westwood Elementary to help her find answers to one of the state district’s longtime issues: lack of students.

Testing ESSA

Tennessee
September 5, 2018

One state, three lists of troubled schools — another consequence of Tennessee’s testing mess

After months of talks, federal and state officials come to terms on how to address Tennessee's lowest-performing schools in light of TNReady problems.

DIGGING INTO SCORES

Tennessee
August 22, 2018

It’s been six years since Tennessee took over its first low-performing schools. How are they doing?

Of the six schools in the original state-run Achievement School District, four had fewer than 10 percent of students tested at grade level in math or English during the 2017-2018 academic year.
Tennessee
August 20, 2018

Memphis schools in most need of growth see gains, but vast majority of students still not on grade level

Only three schools in the iZone have more than 20 percent of students reading on grade level.

test scores

Tennessee
August 16, 2018

How did your school perform on TNReady tests? Search here for results

Nearly 700 schools – more than 40 percent of schools in Tennessee – improved in student performance across most grades and subjects, according…

TN scores dump

Tennessee
August 16, 2018

School-level test scores are in for the Achievement School District. And they’re bleak.

In English and math exams, not a single Achievement School District elementary, middle or high school had more than 18 percent of students scoring on grade level.

New Leadership

Tennessee
August 13, 2018

Coaching will be key as Griffin adds two from Memphis iZone to state district team

Here are the members of Sharon Griffin's new leadership team for the Achievement School District.

new era

Tennessee
July 31, 2018

Leaders of Tennessee’s state-run district call test scores ‘sobering,’ ask educators for new energy

“High school principals, you have the hardest job," Sharon Griffin said. "This doesn’t mean it’s impossible to tackle the issues. But a double-digit gain this year is what we need to be on track again.”

Silver Lining Playbook

Tennessee
July 19, 2018

Memphis’ youngest students show reading gains on 2018 state tests — and that’s a big deal

Those working to improve early literacy rates in Shelby County Schools got a small morale boost from newly released TNReady scores.

heads up

Tennessee
July 18, 2018

Tennessee will release TNReady test scores on Thursday. Here are five things to know.

This will be the biggest single-day release of state scores since the TNReady era began three years ago.

How I Teach

Tennessee
July 16, 2018

Belittled as a child, this Memphis teacher sets a high bar for her students

Some 20 years ago, Ginny Terrell’s third grade math teacher called her “stupid.” Now, Terrell laughs as she names her current position: a…

new year

Tennessee
July 11, 2018

Here are the Memphis schools opening and closing this school year

All of the schools opening are charter schools, as are most of the closures.

Departure

Tennessee
July 10, 2018

Tennessee loses a behind-the-scenes education operative

After 25 years in Tennessee education, Kathleen Airhart steps down as the state’s deputy education commissioner and chief operating officer.

Tennessee Votes 2018

Tennessee
July 9, 2018

Here’s where Tennessee’s Democratic candidates for governor stand on education

Chalkbeat asked the candidates about their own educational experiences, how they'd address TNReady testing challenges, pre-K expansion, and more.

round one

Tennessee
June 14, 2018

All Memphis charter school applicants sent back to drawing board if they want to open in 2019

If the school board agrees, applicants have 30 days to revise and resubmit. The board will vote on the amended applications August 21.

First Person

Tennessee
June 8, 2018

If teachers aren’t equipped to help trauma victims, students suffer. Learn from my story.

I thought that if I could find a different way to ask him to get back on task, maybe he would not become so aggressive.

New direction

Tennessee
June 1, 2018

Here’s what Sharon Griffin wants to do in her first month as Tennessee’s new turnaround leader

Sharon Griffin, a longtime Memphian, said she wants to quickly launch an advisory team of local parents, students, and faith leaders for the Achievement School District.

‘It feels like losing a family’

Tennessee
May 24, 2018

This Memphis poetry team is the best in the state. But they will scatter as their school closes.

A student poetry team at GRAD Academy Memphis was named the best high school poetry team in Tennessee this month. But they will scatter to different schools after GRAD closes.

How I Lead

Tennessee
May 18, 2018

This Memphis principal says supporting teachers and parents helped pull her school out of the bottom 10 percent

This year, Georgian Hills Achievement Elementary left not only left the bottom 5 percent of Tennessee schools but moved out of the bottom 10 percent

meet the fellows

Tennessee
May 17, 2018

Meet the 38 teachers chosen by SCORE to champion education around Tennessee

Six teachers from Memphis have been awarded fellowships that will allow them to spend the next year supporting better education in Tennessee. The year-long fellowships,…

Movers and shakers

Tennessee
May 10, 2018

Academic leader of Tennessee’s achievement schools finalist for Massachusetts district’s top job

Verna Ruffin was named one of two finalists to lead Lawrence, Ma. schools.

passing the mantle

Tennessee
April 25, 2018

With Sharon Griffin’s departure, Shelby County Schools has big (stiletto) shoes to fill

She just unveiled an academic plan for the district, but education onlookers say she has built a team that can see it through.

NEW MOMENT

Tennessee
April 25, 2018

Tennessee’s struggling state-run district just hired the ‘LeBron James’ of school turnaround work

Sharon Griffin’s new job is to better the state’s Achievement School District and use her experience to strengthen the relationships with local districts across the state.

Superintendent search

Tennessee
April 24, 2018

‘I can’t wait to get started,’ says Sharon Griffin on leading Tennessee’s Achievement School District

Sharon Griffin, a longtime leader at Shelby County Schools, will be the next leader of the state’s turnaround district.

By the numbers

Tennessee
March 29, 2018

Memphis school segregation worse than 50 years ago

And without a re-entry of white families into the city’s school system and massive policy changes, the segregation will only worsen, say academics.

school cloning

National
March 28, 2018

Can top charters truly ‘replicate’? In Boston, yes — elsewhere, it’s not so clear

A new study finds that Boston charters maintained their high performance as they rapidly grew — perhaps because they closely emulated their original schools’ practices.

In talks

Tennessee
March 23, 2018

Hopson asks state to let struggling Memphis school remain with local district

The superintendent submits a list of reasons why the state should hold off on its intervention plan at American Way Middle School.

breaking

Tennessee
March 22, 2018

Memphis candidate no longer in running to lead Achievement School District

Keith Sanders said the state's education chief called him with the news that he would not advance in the superintendent search.

meet and greet

Tennessee
March 21, 2018

Tennessee seeks reset in Memphis with next leader of its school turnaround district

Community trust in the Achievement School District is low — an issue that the state wants to address in vetting superintendent candidates.

Superintendent search

Tennessee
March 21, 2018

Rhode Island school improvement leader among finalists to head Tennessee’s turnaround district

A Rhode Island school innovator meets with Memphis education stakeholders as a finalist to lead the Achievement School District.

back in town

Tennessee
March 8, 2018

Back in Memphis, founding superintendent of Tennessee’s turnaround district says the effort needs more time

In town this week for a philanthropic event, Chris Barbic told Chalkbeat that he expects low-performing schools absorbed by the state-run district to see more progress.

NEXT LEADER

Tennessee
March 8, 2018

Here are the four candidates to be the next superintendent of the Achievement School District

All four candidates to lead the Achievement School District are men with backgrounds in charters, turnaround work, or state departments — and one is based in Memphis.

standing firm

Tennessee
March 1, 2018

McQueen: If Memphis school leaders won’t convert American Way to a charter, the state will

The commissioner's comments come two days after Memphis leaders voted to move American Way Middle School into its highly regarded Innovation Zone.

Achievement School District

Tennessee
February 27, 2018

Tennessee seeks to combine two state-run elementary schools in Memphis

Tennessee’s school turnaround district wants to combine two of its elementary schools due to enrollment woes and poor building conditions.

taking a stance

Tennessee
February 27, 2018

Memphis leaders urge state to stay out of their school improvement work

Shelby County Schools plans to move one school to its Innovation Zone and declines the state’s recommendation to close another.

PRIMARY READY

Tennessee
February 26, 2018

Leadership that controls school funding will change in Memphis this year. Here’s who is running

Shelby County voters will elect a new mayor and a mostly new county commission this year.

Dueling pathways

Tennessee
February 26, 2018

McQueen’s plan would interrupt Hopson’s for improving one Memphis school

The state's recommendation to close Hawkins Mill Elementary comes in the school's first year of a three-year improvement plan under Shelby County Schools.

Play nice

Tennessee
February 22, 2018

Gov. Bill Haslam convened a ‘power meeting’ between Tennessee’s charter school and district leaders. Here’s why.

At issue is a new charter school law, which directs local districts to share student directory information requested by charter operators.

Movers & shakers

Tennessee
February 22, 2018

Former education leaders spearhead new Memphis group to zero in on poverty

Whole Child Strategies organized last fall to help neighborhood and community leaders chart their own poverty-fighting strategies.

pushing back

Tennessee
February 20, 2018

State’s most drastic school intervention plans won’t work, say Memphis board members

School board members suggest Hawkins Mill Elementary and American Way Middle instead move into the district's turnaround model, the Innovation Zone.

Turnaround 2.0

Tennessee
February 16, 2018

McQueen outlines state intervention plans for 21 Memphis schools

McQueen's letter offers the first look at how the state is pursuing school turnaround plans under its new tiered model of school improvement.

Warning List

Tennessee
February 8, 2018

Is your school in Tennessee’s bottom 10 percent? Here’s a list of 166 schools the state says need to improve

Here are three things to know about the warning list, which lists schools in the bottom 10 percent, followed by a searchable list.

Shake up

Tennessee
February 1, 2018

Rocketship becomes latest charter network to pull the plug on Tennessee’s Achievement School District

The California-based organization announces plans to close Partners Community Prep in Nashville, just months after the school opened.

moving forward

Tennessee
February 1, 2018

State turnaround district ready to hand off Memphis middle school to charter

Students at Westside Achievement Middle School likely will start next school year under a new operator.

Handoff proposed

Tennessee
January 24, 2018

State-run district proposes shifting Memphis middle school to homegrown charter group

The proposed change would keep Westside Achievement Middle School in the state-run Achievement School District but take it out of the district’s direct management.
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