Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Tennessee

Vouchers

Delay

Tennessee
July 30, 2019

Tennessee will wait another year to grade its schools A-F

The delay gives another reprieve for low-performing schools in the state’s bottom 5 percent, most of which are in Memphis and Nashville.

Q&A

Tennessee
July 19, 2019

Memphis schools chief looking for new ideas because ‘what we’ve been doing hasn’t been working’

Chalkbeat sat down with Superintendent Joris Ray this week to discuss an initiative on black boys and how he hopes to get more students reading on grade level.

money matters

Tennessee
July 11, 2019

Tennessee governor promises ‘funding will be there’ for early voucher start

The legislature approved $770,000 for startup expenses this year while setting a two-year deadline to enroll students in the program. 

Project Manager

Tennessee
July 11, 2019

Schwinn taps deputy with voucher experience to build Tennessee’s program

Amity Schuyler, who became deputy commissioner of Tennessee’s education department in May, is named project manager.

Accelerated

Tennessee
July 10, 2019

Tennessee’s governor wants education voucher program to launch a year ahead of deadline

The controversial new program could begin in the fall of 2020 instead of 2021.

Shutting down

Tennessee
July 10, 2019

Memphis advocacy organization Campaign for School Equity closing after three years

Campaign for School Equity spun off from the Black Alliance for Educational Options, a now-defunct national nonprofit, in 2016.

Read my lips

Tennessee
June 11, 2019

As funding shrinks reading program, Tennessee governor says literacy remains a priority

Gov. Bill Lee says he’s reevaluating literacy strategies as funding dries up for the state’s popular initiative known as Read to be Ready.

Spending priorities

Tennessee
June 10, 2019

Tennessee’s sweeping literacy initiative in jeopardy as funding dries up

Tennessee’s statewide network of literacy coaches is being dismantled this month and its popular summer reading program is in jeopardy.

Official

Tennessee
Updated May 24, 2019

Tennessee governor signs controversial education voucher bill into law

Gov. Bill Lee quietly signed his education savings account plan into law on Friday despite calls from Democrats to hold off.

timing

Tennessee
Updated May 22, 2019

Tennessee texting scandal broke too late to derail education voucher legislation

The scandal involving House Speaker Glen Casada emerged after the Republican leader already had helped to pass the controversial voucher bill.

twist

Tennessee
May 10, 2019

Not-yet-signed Tennessee voucher bill faces new scrutiny amid report of FBI probe

Education voucher legislation on the verge of becoming law is facing renewed opposition amid reports of an FBI investigation.

The Fine Print

Tennessee
May 8, 2019

Five important things to know about Tennessee’s final voucher legislation

The final legislation will create a major new education program that will mean big changes for students, parents, and public and private schools.

High drama

Tennessee
Updated May 1, 2019

Tennessee legislature approves compromise voucher proposal aimed at Memphis, Nashville

Gov. Bill Lee plans to sign compromise legislation affecting students and districts in Tennessee’s two largest cities.

Stacked

Tennessee
May 1, 2019

Lawmakers negotiating Tennessee vouchers include strong ties to private, home school

Here are the education backgrounds of conference committee members seeking to reconcile two voucher bills.

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.
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