Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Vanderbilt University

Early education

Tennessee
February 22, 2019

Is Tennessee moving its weakest teachers to early, non-tested grades? New research says yes.

Low-performing teachers in grades 3 through 5 are more likely to be reassigned to non-tested early grades than their more effective peers.

Principal Problem

Tennessee
January 31, 2019

Study: Tennessee schools with the biggest needs tend to have lower-quality principals

Researchers offer the first statewide look at the quality of school leaders — and where they work.

Early education

Tennessee
January 25, 2019

Pre-K money could be diverted to other needs under Tennessee lawmaker’s bill

Rep. Bill Dunn of Knoxville wants local flexibility to shift pre-K dollars to other early childhood education needs.

teacher diversity

Tennessee
November 29, 2018

In Tennessee, black educators stick with teaching, but change schools more often, says new study

The state’s black teachers, especially males, are transferring to other schools at a higher rate than white teachers.

Rethinking Leadership

Tennessee
August 10, 2018

How do you improve schools? Start by coaching principals, says new study

To develop teachers, principals needing coaching too, says a new study by Vanderbilt University and Mathematica Policy Research.

measuring up

Tennessee
June 19, 2018

After five years, the Tennessee-run district isn’t performing any better than low-performing schools receiving no intervention, research says

The study compares Tennessee's state-run district with other and found that average test scores “before and after the reform is no different from the difference during the same period for comparison schools.”

early childhood

Tennessee
May 3, 2018

Tennessee continues funding for 900 free pre-K classrooms. How many will be in your district?

Tennessee will dole out $86 million in state funding next school year to maintain more than 900 free preschool classrooms. The awards, announced Thursday by…

At what cost

Tennessee
February 1, 2018

Do schools lose ground when losing top teachers to turnaround schools? A little, but it’s worth it, says Tennessee research

New research addresses a nagging concern about the quest to lure top teachers to struggling schools.

Election 2018

Tennessee
January 24, 2018

Six things we heard during Tennessee’s first gubernatorial forum on education

Tennessee voters got their first good look at most candidates for governor during an education forum televised statewide.

small step

Tennessee
December 5, 2017

Memphis mayor endorses pre-K investments as City Council plans vote

The council will vote soon on whether to commit the city to coming up with at least $8 million to fill an impending gap in pre-K funding.

Testing conundrum

Tennessee
April 18, 2017

McQueen wants to prevent non-tested early grades from becoming a dumping ground for weaker teachers

Tennessee's education commissioner says a new teacher evaluation system for lower grades should help strengthen the quality of the state's early instruction.

performance pay

Tennessee
April 12, 2017

Teacher merit pay has merit when it comes to student scores, analysis shows

After years of conflicting studies about whether teacher incentive pay improves student performance, a Vanderbilt University analysis offers a conclusion — and suggestions.

Early education

Tennessee
March 24, 2017

Tennessee lawmakers vote to leave pre-K alone this year

State lawmakers turn back a bill that would have allowed some districts to spend their state pre-K money elsewhere.

License to lead

Tennessee
March 21, 2017

Why Tennessee’s exam for principals might be a waste of time — and blocking candidates of color, too

A new Vanderbilt study suggests that the test is a poor predictor of how effective candidates are as school leaders.

Regrouping

Tennessee
February 27, 2017

Tennessee’s pre-K wasn’t working, a 2015 study found. Now the state is putting new focus on teaching.

Catalyzed by a landmark study showing its public prekindergarten programs are ineffective, the Tennessee Department of Education is overhauling its program.
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