Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Testino

Two Memphis charter schools take different paths toward closure for academics

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:10 -0500

South Memphis charter schools Believe Memphis Academy and Memphis Delta Preparatory Charter School each received a Tennessee “priority” designation for low performance earlier this school year.

MSCS extends attorney's contract as it prepares for legal challenge of takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:21:55 -0500

The contract extension for attorney Justin Bailey would keep him employed with the district for at least three more years.

New congressional map could thwart Memphis representation on state boards

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 8 May 2026 04:00:01 -0500

The Tennessee State Board of Education is among at least five state boards that appoint members in alignment with the congressional map.

All Memphis third graders to retake TCAP reading exam on last days of school

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 7 May 2026 14:44:15 -0500

For some students, improved scores could excuse them from summer school and tutoring interventions required by a state reading retention law.

State GOP proposes splitting Memphis into three Congressional districts

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 6 May 2026 13:48:06 -0500

The map would make all nine of Tennessee’s seats Republican-leaning districts.

Two incumbents among winners in school board primaries

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 5 May 2026 23:36:53 -0500

As a state takeover looms, voters retained two Memphis-Shelby County Schools incumbents seeking re-election, according to unofficial election results from the board’s first-ever partisan primaries held Tuesday, May 5.

County Commission approves $200K in funding for MSCS takeover lawsuit

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 5 May 2026 16:50:09 -0500

Shelby County commissioners voted to take money from county reserve funds to pay the possible cost of suing the state over a pending state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

MSCS board meets under shadow of state takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:11:08 -0500

The board talked about charter schools, contracts and a response to the state audit at what may have been the final meeting before a state oversight board is appointed.

MSCS board approves teacher raises for 2026-27 school year

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:28:24 -0500

On average, Memphis-Shelby County Schools teachers will see a 3.9% increase in their pay next year, not including bonuses, according to the district’s top business and finance official.

Tennessee lawmakers pass MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:30:10 -0500

The Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives both voted down party lines Wednesday, April 22, to pass a takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

MSCS board votes to sue over state takeover proposal

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:10:39 -0500

The MSCS board’s resolution claims that Tennessee lawmakers’ takeover proposal “directly conflicts with established constitutional provisions and statutory requirements.”

Closures, spending, superintendent hires: What could state appointees decide about Memphis schools?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:38:58 -0500

A proposal to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools would allow a board of appointees the power to reshape how the district educates its 100,000 students, who is in charge of those schools and more.

Takeover plan would give state appointees sweeping power over Memphis schools

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:20:02 -0500

Expanded board powers are among several new details of a proposed state takeover legislation targeting Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Partisan MSCS board races begin as state considers takeover. Here's who is running for office.

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:15:42 -0500

As voters cast early ballots in the primary, Tennessee lawmakers are expected to take final votes on takeover legislation that would strip elected school board members of their powers by granting major decision-making authority to nine Shelby County state appointees.

TN lawmakers vote to stifle education lawsuits as MSCS takeover legislation advances

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:33:08 -0500

“We don’t want anyone using those public dollars that we send down to educate the children to enter into litigation because they might not agree with the high accountability standards that we’re putting in place,” bill sponsor state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, said.

TN Senate inches closer to details of an MSCS takeover, which could get $1M in startup money

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:18:09 -0500

A small group of state lawmakers is expected to meet Monday, in the waning days of the legislative session, to determine the details of a proposal to take over the Memphis school system.

Only four MSCS board seats will appear on 2026 ballot, judge rules

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:37:29 -0500

A local judge ruled that Shelby County commissioners “exceeded their authority” in passing a resolution that placed all nine school board seats on the ballot last fall.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools sets 2026-27 academic calendar

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 21:29:40 -0500

Beginning next year, the district’s administration has said it hopes to move more quickly on producing a school calendar and potentially consider multiple calendar years at once.

MSCS advances improvement plan, acknowledges ‘critical blind spots’ uncovered by state’s audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 15:07:01 -0500

MSCS head Roderick Richmond is advancing plans to improve internal controls and district processes in response to forensic audit findings released last week. Now, the district has launched two websites to track progress.

COVID funding, contracts, controls: What's in the MSCS audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 14:59:51 -0500

Here’s what auditors CliftonLarsonAllen LLP found in district finances at a time of high leadership turmoil and financial change, with federal pandemic relief funding and a new state education funding formula.