Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Sharon Griffin

Coming together

Tennessee
December 20, 2018

Mayor Harris hires former superintendent to encourage Shelby County school systems to work together

Cedrick Gray is the former superintendent of Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi and of Fayette County in Tennessee. He started his career in Memphis as a teacher.

school turnaround

Tennessee
December 19, 2018

Memphis and Nashville put on notice about which schools could face state takeover in 2020

In one of her final acts as Tennessee education commissioner, Candice McQueen has identified nearly 20 schools that could require the most drastic state interventions…

Achievement School District

Tennessee
December 5, 2018

McQueen: More school takeovers ‘most likely’ coming to Memphis and Nashville

Tennessee's outgoing education chief says she'll recommend more takeovers to the next governor, unless there's significant improvement.

shift

Tennessee
December 4, 2018

With new school turnaround model, Tennessee takes lessons learned in Memphis to Chattanooga

Guiding principles have emerged from almost a decade of state turnaround work.

back in action

Tennessee
December 3, 2018

It’s a ‘breath of fresh air’ to be back in school, Georgian Hills educators say after three weeks off following heating issues

On Monday morning, the elementary school in Frayser held classes for the first time since Nov. 13, when cold temperatures put the building’s boiler out of commission.

major grants

Tennessee
December 3, 2018

Tennessee’s turnaround district wins big chunk of $8.25 million grant for school improvement

Ten Tennessee schools will each receive $275,000 per year over three years.

reaction

Tennessee
November 15, 2018

Tennesseans reflect on Candice McQueen’s legacy leading the state’s schools

As Candice McQueen prepares to leave her role as chief of Tennessee schools in January, education leaders, advocates, and parents are weighing in on her legacy.

By the numbers

Tennessee
November 14, 2018

Enrollment is up in Tennessee’s largest school district for second straight year

About 111,600 students are enrolled in Shelby County Schools, up about 2 percent from last year and higher than projected enrollment, according to district numbers.

school facilities

Tennessee
November 13, 2018

Cold temps close Memphis state-run schools, highlighting bigger issue of repairing costly, aging buildings

Temperatures dipped below 35 degrees, and four schools in the Achievement School District opted to cancel classes because of boiler issues.

checking in

Tennessee
November 9, 2018

How do you turn around a district? Six months into her tenure, Sharon Griffin works to line up the basics.

Sharon Griffin said she’s been doubling down on improving the way the district functions – such as making sure the district is in compliance with federal and state grants, and that teachers have the certifications they need to teach certain courses. And that’s taken more time than expected.

BUILDING COSTS

Tennessee
October 25, 2018

Griffin: ‘Students who live in poverty should learn in luxury,’ but state-run schools are far from luxurious

Many Memphis schools are in need of better environments, but schools in Tennessee's lowest performing district are too low in priority for building repairs, said Sharon Griffin.

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.

school support

Tennessee
September 20, 2018

When students miss school, they fall behind. Here’s how one group is curbing absenteeism.

Agape, a Memphis nonprofit, works with students at Whitney Achievement Elementary and 15 other schools to help students with attendance and behavior.

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.

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.
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