Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Four Democrats elected to Memphis-Shelby County school board in first partisan election
MSCS leaders toured schools rejoining the district and those absorbing students displaced by recent closures on the first day of classes. Here’s what they shared.
With district leadership still up in the air, MSCS is diving into chronic absenteeism solutions and math curriculum changes. And more school closures are likely this year.
The district is relaunching its summer door-knocking campaign and changing in-school strategies to boost attendance after high absenteeism became an impetus for the MSCS state takeover.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Memphis schools takeover after officials argued it could delay important decisions on purchases like HVAC repairs.
After seeing steady gains in reading scores, Memphis leaders say they’re turning attention more to middle school math.
At a community advocacy event Saturday, dozens of Memphis parents told Chalkbeat they want new district leadership to better address reading gaps and district distrust.
The lawsuit challenges a new Tennessee law that establishes an oversight board to take control away from the locally elected school board.
The Memphis oversight board will take over district controls from the elected school board beginning July 1.
The nine-person board will now seize significant authority from the locally elected school board.
In the past four years, MSCS charter students increased math proficiency rates by 22 percentage points. That far outpaces the gains from traditional school students.
SCORE CEO David Mansouri will be the only takeover board member who isn’t a Shelby County resident.
The nine appointees will have control over key MSCS decisions, including the budget and school leadership, for four years.
The governor announced his five appointees for the Memphis schools oversight board hours after signing the measure into law.
Tennessee’s top three Republican leaders can now appoint a new oversight board with sweeping authority over the state’s largest school district.
The South Memphis alternative school will relocate to Norris Achievement Academy for at least one year. District leaders faced community backlash over the school’s impending closure.
Parents and staff at Ida B. Wells Academy say MSCS made a last-minute choice to transfer classes to another building next year. But the details remain unclear as the school year comes to a close.
The new state oversight board could curb a proposal to offer bonuses for teachers who stay in high-need schools or take on positions with the most vacancies.
Tennessee’s supermajority wants to seize the city’s congressional seat amid a looming schools takeover.
The county government approved a $200,000 legal investment Monday. MSCS is blocked from using public funds to sue the state over accountability measures under a new law passed in late April.