Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Achievement School District

Unconventional learning

Tennessee
June 21, 2019

Hands-on learning drives teachers and students at the only Montessori school in Tennessee’s turnaround district

At a time when many educators are focused on facts, metrics and standards, Montessori schools are focused on hands-on practice.

District management

Tennessee
June 18, 2019

‘We have to get this right’: With Sharon Griffin out, achievement district seeks consistency, communication

Sharon Griffin will be replaced on an interim basis by two current Achievement School DIstrict leaders.

quick tenure

Tennessee
June 17, 2019

Under growing tension, heralded turnaround leader Sharon Griffin resigns as head of achievement district

A year after Sharon Griffin’s ascension into leadership of Tennessee’s embattled turnaround district drew widespread praise – and after months of tension.

whole child

Tennessee
June 7, 2019

Here’s the No. 1 concern that Tennessee’s new education chief heard during her statewide listening tour

Four months into her job, Penny Schwinn says one theme keeps emerging in her visits to classrooms and discussions with educators and stakeholders.

turnover

Tennessee
June 5, 2019

High-profile principal is among reshuffling at the Achievement School District

The leader of Tennessee’s turnaround district’s highest-performing school is heading to a new position this summer, a year after the fourth superintendent change.

Diverging visions

Tennessee
June 4, 2019

After a year with a new leader, high hopes are giving way to tension within Tennessee’s turnaround district

The initial excitement over the Achievement School District's new leader has given way to an impasse between the superintendent and the district's charter leaders.

path forward

Tennessee
May 16, 2019

Aspire wants to leave Memphis but keep its four schools open. What will that look like?

Four months after a California charter operator decided to hand off its Memphis schools, a transition plan sheds light on what exactly the spin-off could look like.

fresh look

Tennessee
May 9, 2019

Tennessee’s state-run district has a new look. Here’s why the Achievement School District invested in rebranding.

The Achievement School District underwent an$11,600 makeover this year – including a new logo and website – as part of changes under leader Sharon Griffin.

budget season

Tennessee
May 2, 2019

Tennessee charter leaders say special education funding could get shortchanged in governor’s new budget

Every charter leader in the Achievement School District signed a letter requesting that Gov. Bill Lee reconsider cuts to the allocation for priority school state grants for next year.

Stuck

Tennessee
April 30, 2019

With no consensus on Tennessee vouchers, here are the issues for legislative negotiators

A conference committee will sort through big disagreements between House and Senate bills to start an education savings account program.

Volley

Tennessee
Updated April 29, 2019

Tennessee’s two largest school districts slam governor’s voucher proposal as unconstitutional

School districts in Memphis and Nashville likely will sue the state if voucher legislation championed by Gov. Bill Lee becomes law, say their two top leaders.

Chess Move

Tennessee
April 22, 2019

With education vouchers teetering in Tennessee, latest proposal targets Memphis and Nashville

A Senate amendment seeks to garner more legislative votes by limiting Gov. Bill Lee's education savings account plan to the state's two largest cities.

Movers & shakers

Tennessee
April 18, 2019

Inner circle: Here’s who education chief Penny Schwinn will lean on in Tennessee

Less than three months into the job, Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn has filled six of her nine cabinet positions with a mix…

district shakeup

Tennessee
April 18, 2019

Longtime Memphian Bobby White out as official at state-run turnaround district

Bobby White joined the achievement district in 2016 as the chief of external affairs.

parent voice

Tennessee
March 29, 2019

One parent’s voice is the start of renewed focus on parent engagement for Tennessee’s turnaround district

“We have to create a committee that as we make decisions we hear from you,” Achievement School District leader Sharon Griffin told the one parent in attendance.
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