Parents have made decisions about their children’s education for the new year, but a lot of the logistics are still up in the air. Related article: Tennessee school districts share staffing concerns

Granville T. Woods Academy was awarded a $320,000 grant from University of Tennessee’s Extension program. The STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) school was one of two grant recipients in the entire state.

Officials say SCS won’t resume in-person learning until February as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Rep. Scott Cepicky’s bill would stabilize state funding in the 2021-22 school year at this year’s levels, even though a statewide decline in student enrollment this fall would normally decrease the allocation by at least $320 million.

Joretha Lockhart is the West Tennessee Grand Division Principal of the Year.

The options could include entering new charter school agreements, closing schools, or moving some of its 9,000 students to higher-performing schools.

Shelby County has about one primary care physician for every 1,200 people, according to Clint Cummins, executive director of the Memphis Medical Society.

Thirty-two percent of SCS students are expected to be in the classrooms when school starts in January, compared with only 17% of SCS teachers, who will mostly be working from home. Some say schools shouldn’t open at all.

School and child care staff are slated to be part of the second — and largest — phase for immunizing Tennesseans in the state’s four-phase distribution plan.

The contract amendment increases Joris Ray’s annual salary to $293,550, up 3% from $285,000.

Plans are underway to build low-density graduate student housing on Deloach and 500 apartment-style dorms on the Park Avenue Campus.

Some parents are frustrated that their students are learning remotely this week. Superintendent Gary Lilly said staff will “monitor the situation” before deciding to reopen three of its schools to students.

Teachers in exceptional education – formerly known as special education — want to make sure the individualized needs of students are met as the pandemic forces them to continue to pivot.

Tennessee’s online database to inform students and parents about the prevalence of COVID-19 cases on school campuses gives an incomplete picture because of privacy concerns and limited reporting by districts.

Metro Nashville and Shelby County challenged the law because it applies only to their communities without giving their local governments or voters a say.

Faculty raises, promotions and tenure are tied to productivity. For parents of young children early in the pandemic, it was off.

The event is co-sponsored by the Tarik Black Foundation, which works to provide youths access and exposure to world concepts and international points of view.

The dips, while small, keep Tennessee on a downward trajectory after six years of slow but steady growth on the college entrance exam.

The legislature gave the state education department until Jan. 1 to come up with its blueprint for 27 schools and about 8,000 students to leave the Achievement School District and return to their local systems in Memphis and Nashville. 

In its Building Blocks program, JA partners with Shelby County Schools to offer a 40-part video series and curriculum guides to introduce students to local entrepreneurs.

Houston High earned Germantown the top ACT scores in the state. At 25.6, the composite average is slightly below what the district saw in the 2018-19 school year.

A Shelby County Schools presentation to school board members this week provided the first systemwide look at student learning loss in the months since school buildings closed due to the coronavirus crisis. 

Students attending on the hybrid platform will learn remotely. Friday was already scheduled as a remote learning day. 

Stella Student Spaces has filed for a time extension for the approval it received two years ago to build 472 beds of student housing in an already congested neighborhood just west of the University of Memphis. But the filing does not mean what it appears, a U of M official says.

Tennessee Education Association President Beth Brown urged the governor this week to set firm guidance on when school buildings should close due to infection rates and ensure that all students and staff wear face coverings for those that remain open.