The Tennessee Firefly

09/25/2025

Tennessee lawmakers discuss tweaks to a testing system experts with SCORE and the Tennessee Department of Education say is already driving student improvement.

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09/25/2025

This week at the Tennessee State Capitol, Tennesseans for Student Success recognized four state lawmakers with their 2025 Team Kid Hero Awards for their leadership in education policy:

🏛️ Sen. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro)
🏛️ Rep. Charlie Baum (R-Murfreesboro)
🏛️ Rep. Robert Stevens (R-Smyrna)
🏛️ Rep. Lee Reeves for Congress (R-Franklin)

Read more about the work they did this past legislative session below:

Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) recognized four state lawmakers for their leadership in education policy during the 2025 legislative session.

09/24/2025

Commentary from Tennesseans for Student Success: Lawmakers should aspire to something better by building upon the assessment policies that kick-started our state’s gains.

Tennessee lawmakers can go back to the education standards that routinely placed our state at the bottom or they can aspire to something better by building upon the successful policies that kick-started our state’s gains.

09/24/2025

Sen. Marsha Blackburn calls for removing barriers to open new public charter schools. Blackburn made those comments while speaking at the opening of Nashville Collegiate Prep's new high school.

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09/24/2025

📣 Every Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seat will be back on the ballot in 2026.

On Monday, Shelby County Commissioners voted 7-5 to move elections up by four years, cutting short terms for five members elected in 2024.

The decision follows months of debate over district leadership and comes as lawmakers continue to scrutinize the board.

Read more here ⬇️

All nine Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seats will now be on the 2026 ballot after a Shelby County Commission vote, cutting short terms for five members elected in 2024.

09/24/2025

Recently released TVAAS data shows Tennessee’s public charter school students, including those in Nashville and Memphis, are making more academic progress than their peers in traditional public schools. Statewide, 54% of charters earned top growth ratings (levels 4 or 5) compared to 39% of district schools—with 70% of Nashville charters and 54% of Memphis charters reaching that mark. are helping students overcome obstacles, close achievement gaps, and build on growth to excel. Congratulations to students, teachers, staff, and families! Thank you Tennessee Firefly: https://www.tnfirefly.com/todays-top-story/new-analysis-finds-public-charter-school-students-are-playing-an-oversized-role-in-the-historic-growth-in-nashville-and-memphis

09/23/2025

Rutherford County parents make the case to launch a new public charter school. Rocketship Public Schools is appealing to expand its individualized learning model currently in use at three Nashville schools including this one.

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09/22/2025

Memphis community members say a new public charter school could give at-risk students a better chance at success.

Still I Rise Academy, proposed for the Orange Hill/Hickory Mound neighborhoods, is appealing after the district denied its application.

Commissioners will decide Oct. 17.

Read the full story:

Community members in Memphis are backing Still I Rise Academy, a proposed charter school for at-risk youth, as it appeals a district denial before the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

09/19/2025

County Mayor Weston Wamp, Hamilton County Schools, & Volkswagen announce new career and technical education academy that will provide students with access to early engineering education and create a pathway for students to explore engineering concepts and technical skills.

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09/19/2025

Wilson County Schools is weighing a change to school start times as part of an effort to address ongoing bus driver shortages that have caused delays and uncovered routes.

The school board has approved a transportation survey to collect feedback from families and staff. 🚌

Read the full story here:

Wilson County Schools is considering a three-tier start time system to address an ongoing bus driver shortage that has caused late arrivals and uncovered routes. Families and staff are invited to provide feedback through a transportation survey.

09/19/2025

Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program has reached full capacity in its first year.

The Tennessee Department of Education says all 20,000 available scholarships were claimed, with more than 42,000 applications submitted by families across the state.

Students from 86 counties are enrolled at 220 eligible schools.

Read the full story here:

The Tennessee Department of Education announced that the Education Freedom Scholarship Program filled all 20,000 seats in its inaugural year, with over 42,000 applications submitted by families statewide.

09/19/2025

Community members and leaders are divided over Dream Catcher’s Academy, a proposed Memphis charter school designed to serve students experiencing homelessness.

Supporters highlight the need for stability, while district officials point to academic and financial concerns.

Read more below.

A proposed Memphis charter school for homeless youth faces both passionate support and sharp criticism. Dream Catcher’s Academy could open in 2026 if Tennessee commissioners overturn a local denial.