Tennessee reading law’s retention policies should start as early as kindergarten, state board says
In a rare action, the state Board of Education passed a resolution questioning whether the 2021 law targets the right age group.
Marta W. Aldrich
Chalkbeat Tennessee
Marta W. Aldrich is the senior statehouse correspondent at Chalkbeat Tennessee. A newswoman for The Associated Press for most of her career, Marta has covered state government, politics, business, education and other Tennessee news. She has served as news editor of United Methodist News Service and features editor of American Profile magazine. Marta is a graduate of Memphis City Schools and the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
There are 185 articles by Marta W. Aldrich :
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March 2024
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Education Memphis school board appointment bill on hold amid talks with state lawmakers
“Our city is begging for change when it comes to education, and I want to know that this school board has a plan,” said Rep. Mark White, who chairs a House education committee.
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February 2024
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Education Tennessee’s reading law gets pushback again as thousands of students could repeat fourth grade
The 2021 law that vexed third-grade families last year offers fewer promotion pathways this year.
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Education Rep. White to file legislation to let governor add members to Memphis school board
Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) cited prolonged frustration with the board’s locally elected leadership when explaining his plans to Chalkbeat on Tuesday.
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January 2024
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Education Future of Tennessee school turnaround work uncertain with departure of first statewide leader
Six months after Tennessee hired its first leader to manage school improvement work statewide, the position is now vacant.
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Education Democrats seek to oust Tennessee’s education commissioner
Lizzette Reynolds has no teacher’s license or experience leading a classroom, in apparent violation of a century-old state law outlining the job’s requirements, Democrats say.
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Education Tennessee private school voucher law hits new obstacle in court
A legal challenge to Tennessee’s private school voucher law is back on track after a state appeals court ruled that a lower court erred in dismissing the case.
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December 2023
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Education A-F grades come out this week for Tennessee schools. Here’s what to know.
This week, for the first time under a 2016 law, Tennessee will give each of its public schools an A-F letter grade.
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November 2023
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Education Nashville, Shelby County withdraw challenge to Tennessee private school voucher law after long fight
Nashville and Shelby County governments have pulled out of their more than 3-year-old legal dispute with the state over a 2019 private school voucher law.
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Education Tennessee’s first A-F letter grades for schools will stress proficiency
After months of asking Tennesseans how the state should judge its public schools when giving them their first A-F letter grades, Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds mostly ignored the feedback.
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October 2023
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Education Tennessee rushes to revamp its A-F letter grades for schools. Educators cry foul.
As the state prepares to finally issue its first grades in November, the education department and its new leader are revamping the grading formula.
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Education Tennessee charter panel leader backs 5 school appeals, including two in Memphis
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission recommends the state overturn five local school board decisions denying charter school applications, including two in Memphis and another linked to Hillsdale College.
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February 2021
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Education Tennessee bill would empower teachers to remove problem students
The Teacher’s Discipline Act would create a uniform referral process allowing teachers to petition for removal of a student who repeatedly or substantially interferes with classroom learning.
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Education ‘Let’s test': Tennessee pushes ahead with in-person testing during pandemic
While some states seek to cancel student testing this spring as the pandemic grinds on, Tennessee isn’t wavering in its plan to give tests in person to most of its nearly 1 million students.
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Education Tennessee Democrats seek to address ‘broken’ education funding with flurry of bills
‘We are in a crisis situation,’ said Sen. Raumesh Akbari of Memphis, who chairs the Senate Democratic caucus. A GOP spokeswoman responded that the Republican Party is proud of its record on education since taking control of the legislature in 2010.
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Education ‘It’s time!’ says Kelsey as bill advances to get SCS students back in class
After a tense exchange between two Memphis-area lawmakers, the Senate Education Committee voted 8-1 for a measure that would ensure Gov. Bill Lee could legally force Shelby County Schools to offer in-person learning.
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Education State sets teacher diversity goals for school districts
The policy aims to address the growing mismatch between Tennessee’s increasingly diverse student population and the educators who teach them.
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Education Tennessee Supreme Court agrees to hear state’s school voucher appeal
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.
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Education Race, politics and power loom large in dispute over reopening schools
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.
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January 2021
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Education Tennessee recruits districts, school nurses to vaccinate teachers and staff
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.”
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Education Education equity alliance launches in Tennessee
The Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education is organized by The Education Trust, which last year opened a state office in Tennessee.
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Education Tennessee legislature passes teacher pay bump
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.
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Education New bill aimed at urban school districts: Give students 70 days of in-person education or else
If it passes, Tennessee’s two largest school systems would have to reopen quickly to meet that threshold.
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Education Tennessee teachers would get immediate 2% pay hike under governor’s proposal
Teacher pay is one of the key issues that lawmakers are expected to take up beginning Jan. 19 during a special legislative session on education.
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Education Gov. Lee proposes tutoring, summer school; promises teacher pay hike
In addition to new summer school and tutoring programs to catch students up from learning disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Bill Lee promised a pay hike for teachers, but did not specify an amount.
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