The policy aims to address the growing mismatch between Tennessee’s increasingly diverse student population and the educators who teach them.

When Shelandra Ford took her visually impaired grandson to Tara Oaks Elementary School, she found not only needed educational supports but a loving community as well. Now a group of fifth-graders are learning Braille alongside their friend.

Superintendent Joris Ray presented updates for reopening during a board committee meeting Thursday, including creating a district contact-tracing team and using district buildings to administer vaccines to teachers. But he has delayed reopening classes indefinitely, citing high community spread of COVID-19. 

The order keeps alive Tennessee’s quest to create an education savings account program that would provide taxpayer money to eligible families in Memphis and Nashville to pay toward private school tuition.

Gov. Bill Lee talked with SCS Superintendent Joris Ray about potentially returning children to classes by Feb. 15. Dozens of Tennessee counties have progressed to Phase 1b, which includes teachers in the vaccination priority list.

The conversation on “Behind the Headlines” with three experts in education reveals the complexities in reopening schools and helping students catch up.

The state’s largest school system – Shelby County Schools – becomes the only school system in the state to have no in-person classes as Metro Nashville Schools resumes some in-person classes Thursday, Feb. 4.

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray has stood firm with all-remote learning, and accuses state leaders of being out of touch with the needs of Memphis students, who are mostly Black and disproportionately affected by the deadly virus. 

Some parents say the content filters on their SCS devices aren’t working and children can “Google anything under the sun.”

Memphis students are struggling with material taught during virtual learning, a top Shelby County Schools official said, pointing to test results.

Greater Memphis Chamber CEO Beverly Robertson sent a letter to Shelby County Schools superintendent Joris Ray and the board to urge them to reopen Memphis area schools.

Education commissioner Penny Schwinn says the Tennessee Department of Health is recruiting schools as vaccination sites and school nurses to give the shots “wherever feasible.” 

SCS students won’t go back to school on Feb. 8.

With help and creativity, children as young as 7 can think about adult careers and becoming an entrepreneur.

Just down the road from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a community flush with resident health professionals, the Decatur, Georgia, school system had no shortage of expert input on whether to resume in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Debate continues on when Collierville High students should return to more time in the classroom as the district weighs safety with best learning experience.

Southwest Tennessee Community College is one of three recipients of the 2021 Bellwether Award. It represents five years of work to improve the student experience, from registration to graduation.

Legislation potentially could force parents to send their children into situations they believe to be unsafe.

The district was one of 20 awarded the State Personnel Development Grant in 2018 through a competitive grant process.

Three of the university’s online programs have increased their ranking significantly in the listing.

The Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education is organized by The Education Trust, which last year opened a state office in Tennessee.

The move wrapped up the legislature’s four-day special session on education, called by Gov. Bill Lee to address learning disruptions for students during the coronavirus pandemic, plus perennial challenges with teacher pay and literacy.

Collierville Schools released learning plans for students on Friday.

The governor and education commissioner have touted districts won’t be penalized based on test results. However, that’s only if 80% of students take the exam. Superintendents are concerned as so much uncertainty surrounds the requirements.

Superintendent Joris Ray posted a video Friday, Jan. 22 urging state legislators to vote against a bill that could “defund public education” if Shelby County Schools remain closed.