Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Bill Lee

not so fast

Tennessee
12 hours ago

Historic voucher vote in Tennessee House could be open to legal challenge, says legislative leader

Rep. Mike Stewart says the legitimacy of the 50-48 vote is in question due to the parliamentary actions of Speaker Glen Casada.

Unprecedented

Tennessee
Updated 2 days ago

Tennessee House passes education voucher bill for the first time, Senate vote to come

Tennessee House Representatives voted 50-48 on Tuesday for Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account proposal.

Chess Move

Tennessee
2 days ago

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…

Charter authority

Tennessee
Updated April 18, 2019

Tennessee legislature approves governor’s call for a statewide charter school commission

Representatives vote 61-37 for Gov. Bill Lee’s proposal to shift oversight of the state’s growing charter sector to a new nine-member body.

DIALOGUE

Tennessee
April 16, 2019

Tennessee governor huddles with school leaders in cities affected by his voucher proposal

In a closed-door meeting at the Capitol, Gov. Bill Lee hears from leaders in the five cities that would be affected by his voucher proposal.

Opposition

Tennessee
April 15, 2019

Tennessee governor’s voucher proposal is ‘step backwards,’ says civil rights, education coalition

A statewide coalition of more than 50 civil rights and education advocacy groups come out against Gov. Bill Lee’s signature education proposal.

Double standard?

Tennessee
April 12, 2019

After a decade of prioritizing testing accountability, Tennessee appears ready to ease up with vouchers

Under Gov. Bill Lee's proposal, students receiving education savings accounts would take half as many assessments as those in public schools.

school security

Tennessee
April 11, 2019

Tennessee lawmaker pulls his bill to arm teachers — for now

Rep. Ryan Williams says he may resurrect the controversial idea next year.

Constitutional muster

Tennessee
Updated April 10, 2019

Tennessee’s voucher proposal excludes undocumented students, making it vulnerable to legal challenge

Gov. Bill Lee and the GOP-controlled legislature stick with language that would require checking families’ immigration status to receive education savings accounts.

Capitol Hill

Tennessee
Updated April 10, 2019

Tennessee voucher program would double in size, but still bar undocumented students in latest proposal

Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account proposal is slated to debut in Tennessee’s Senate with some significant changes from the House version.

Round Two

Tennessee
April 5, 2019

Is Tennessee governor’s voucher plan in trouble? Senate leader says it needs work.

Sen. Dolores Gresham is working on another version of the bill that has early momentum in the House but raises significant concerns for her chamber.

TNReady timeline

Tennessee
April 4, 2019

Tennessee governor calls for pause on computer-based testing for one year

Gov. Bill Lee announces that he wants all public school students to take their state tests on paper next school year as Tennessee transitions to a new testing company.

School safety

Tennessee
Updated April 4, 2019

Bill to arm Tennessee teachers advances over objections of law enforcement, educators

A proposal that would let teachers carry concealed guns in Tennessee schools advances in the legislature.

$$$

Tennessee
April 3, 2019

Lawmakers lower income limit for Tennessee vouchers eligibility

The bill now limits eligible households to those with an annual income that isn’t more than double the threshold for free lunch under federal guidelines.
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