Marta W. Aldrich, Chalkbeat Tennessee

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More Tennessee 3rd graders tested proficient in reading; 60 percent face risk of retention

Tennessee’s third-grade reading proficiency rate jumped by more than 4 percentage points to 40 percent on this year’s state tests. But that means up to 60 percent of its third graders could be at risk of being held back under the state’s tough new retention...

To address teacher shortages, Tennessee may drop major test for many teacher candidates

Amid worries about teacher shortages, Tennessee is considering reducing requirements for some nontraditional candidates to earn their teacher licenses, despite concerns that the change could hurt teacher quality. In the first of two votes on a controversial proposal, the State Board of Education approved Friday...

Here is what Tennessee governor, Democratic challenger say on education

Gov. Bill Lee and his Democratic challenger, Dr. Jason Martin, agree that Tennessee students need timely and relevant vocational training opportunities, but the two candidates for governor don’t concur on much else when it comes to K-12 education. In fact, the two men hold widely...

After Texas school massacre, familiar ‘prayers vs. policy’ gun control debate follows in Tennessee

The latest U.S. school massacre has advocates of stronger gun restrictions criticizing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee anew for signing a bill last year that allows most adults to carry a handgun without a permit. Hours after a gunman wearing body armor and carrying an assault...

How Biden grants, parents’ ‘indoctrination’ concerns spurred Tenn. Republicans to limit how race, racism are taught

For months, Tennessee Republican lawmakers were hearing from dozens of parents concerned about how educators were trying to make their lessons more inclusive in response to the nation’s racial reckoning. One mom even reported that her 7-year-old daughter, who is white, was having suicidal thoughts...

Tennessee unveils $100 million plan to help its youngest students read better

Tennessee plans to invest $100 million of one-time federal funds in phonics-based reading programs in a sweeping attack on low student literacy rates that have bedeviled the state for decades. Calling it an “exciting moment,” Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn on Monday unveiled Reading 360, an array of...

Tennessee needs people to get the COVID vaccine, but proposals to weaken child immunization law could discourage that

As the first coronavirus vaccines were given this week in Tennessee, a legislative push is under way to weaken a state law requiring them for school, even though convincing skeptics to get the shots might be the quickest way to return education to some...

Tennessee’s new report card on schools omits more than it tells

Tennessee’s new online report card on schools and districts contains more blank spaces than information, sparking criticism that the pages deliver little useful information for parents and policymakers alike. Since its Sept. 21 release, the redesigned report card has been devoid of data related to...

Sweeping Tennessee legislation filed to drop TNReady tests…

Tennessee legislative leaders filed a proposal Tuesday to drop state testing and waive the required 180 days of classroom instruction this year as schools shutter statewide without certainty of when they’ll reopen amid a public health emergency. The proposal aims to lift the burden of testing and...

How well are students reading in your Tennessee school district? Check this list.

Tennessee officials are far from reaching a consensus about the best way to improve students’ reading scores, but they agree on one point. “We do not have an option to do nothing,” said Rep. Mark White, a Memphis lawmaker who chairs a key legislative committee...