Education
MSCS lost money it needed for air-conditioning and roofs. Feds gave that $55M back.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools had abruptly lost access to leftover pandemic-era federal funding in March.
Laura Testino
Laura Testino is an enterprise reporter who writes about how public policy shapes Memphis. She is currently reporting from Frayser about education and housing. Please write her with your suggestions and story tips.
There are 190 articles by Laura Testino :
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July 2025
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Education
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June 2025
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EducationFeagins pushes court to get MSCS superintendent job back
Ousted Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins told a local court she “was publicly humiliated for following the law” in new documents requesting a judge overturn the school board’s vote to fire her.
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Education MSCS to sell $12M of property, but building donations, demolitions paused
MSCS board members are poised to finalize four property sales in June, one each in northeast Shelby County, Parkway Village, South Memphis and Whitehaven.
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EducationHead Start grant may not be awarded until beginning of school year
Federal officials say they are negotiating with finalists who want to operate Head Start preschool programming, which funds 3,200 seats, for students from low-income families in Shelby County.
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Education$30M Head Start contract up in the air
Memphis-Shelby County Schools received another violation notice from Head Start monitors after a child walked away from the classroom.
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EducationMSCS demands evidence from House, Senate speakers alleging records crimes
Tennessee legislative leaders alleged that Memphis-Shelby County Schools was illegally destroying records ahead of a state-funded forensic audit, but MSCS officials “are unaware of any such alleged acts.”
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Education Here’s who could help make decisions about closing MSCS schools
How many schools should MSCS operate in order to best serve its students and families, and where should those buildings be located?
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EducationMSCS board approves almost $2B budget with raises for some
Expected staff changes at Memphis-Shelby County Schools, including some reassignments, are not part of the budget and are expected to take place in coming months.
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EducationMSCS forensic audit could begin as soon as mid-July
Tennessee officials expect to choose a firm to perform the audit by the end of the month. But many details of the audit’s scope may remain secret.
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EducationFeagins alleges defamation, contract breaches in updated lawsuit
The claims offer the 18-month, $487,500 payout described in Feagins’ contract as an alternative outcome to returning her to the school district’s superintendent seat.
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EducationGoodwill Excel Center expanding to Shelby County Corrections Center
About half of those incarcerated in the Shelby County Corrections Center don’t have high school diplomas, according to The Goodwill Excel Center, which is expanding its adult learning programs into the prison.
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May 2025
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EducationMSCS board member retires from teacher-union leadership
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Keith Williams has retired from his role leading a local teacher union, a position that has stirred concerns of conflicting interests throughout his tenure on the school board.
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Education MSCS will continue using PowerSchool despite lawsuit over massive hack
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is suing the student-data system after a data breach exposed the personal information of about 500,000 current and former students and staff.
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EducationMSCS board pledges to support immigrant students
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members voted to affirm access for students regardless of immigration status, but the district’s number of Spanish-language registration sites has been cut in half.
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EducationThousands applied for vouchers. What Memphis schools will accept them?
Across the state, families’ interest in the new EFS vouchers, which relaxed family-income thresholds and academic testing requirements, has exceeded the available 20,000 spots for its first year.
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EducationShaping Frayser’s future: Libertas breaks ground on middle school campus
Construction begins on the public Montessori school’s $7.5 million expansion, revamping Southwest Tennessee Community College’s former Gill Campus building into a middle school with a kitchen and workshop for students.
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EducationWill MSCS cut staff this year? Here’s what the proposed budget says.
What the Memphis-Shelby County Schools budget says about job cuts, additions.
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EducationAs Medical District High seniors graduate, they’re already juniors in college
The students graduated high school on Wednesday, and on Thursday received college diplomas from Southwest Tennessee Community College.
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Education County commissioners want school-buildings plan as MSCS seeks $35M
This year’s funding request for building upgrades promises to be the final ask Memphis-Shelby County Schools leaders make before establishing a long-term plan for closing and consolidating schools.
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EducationMSCS sues PowerSchool over data breach
The software company stores personal information for students and their families, including addresses and Social Security numbers.
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Behind The Headlines Memphians ‘shocked’ at verdicts for ex-cops charged in Tyre Nichols’ death
“I think you could hear a pin drop in the courtroom when the judge read out the verdict: ‘not guilty, not guilty, not guilty,’ seven times, not guilty for each officer,” Memphis journalist Katherine Burgess said.
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EducationSell, lease, donate, demolish: MSCS may repurpose 10 buildings
Half of the deals would keep current charter school tenants in their buildings. Another Memphis-Shelby County Schools building could be a warehouse, and Elvis Presley’s alma mater could go to New Ballet Ensemble and School.
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EducationFeagins to supporters: ‘Let’s go take some seats’ in Shelby County election
The Daily Memphian obtained audio and video excerpts of Marie Feagins’ “Take a Seat” event cohosted by former CNN news anchor Brooke Baldwin. Feagins advertised the event as being open to media, but The Daily Memphian’s ticket was refunded without explanation.
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EducationWhat’s inside the MSCS interim superintendent’s 100-day plan
Memphis-Shelby County Schools interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond released a set of goals. But he told board members that accomplishing some of those goals will require more district reorganization.
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April 2025
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Education MSCS teachers to receive $2,000 bonuses this year
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board approved a resolution supporting private school vouchers, directed the superintendent to have local leaders weigh in on a facilities plan and did not censure board member Towanna Murphy for ethics violations.
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