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County Commission to meet on funding for MSCS lawsuit against takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 1 May 2026 18:56:28 -0500

The commission will try again on a resolution to provide county funding for a legal challenge of the state’s pending takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Can the GOP Memphis schools takeover be stopped? Local leaders weigh the district’s options.

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:52:03 -0500

Since Tennessee Republicans passed the takeover bill last week, community response has been muted. Some say that’s because there’s no recourse, but a district lawsuit could be on the horizon.

The AM/DM podcast: Is MSCS state takeover a land grab?

mcashiola@dailymemphian.com (Mary Cashiola) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:27:17 -0500

In part two of our podcast about the takeover, reporter Laura Testino returns to talk about how churn factors in, what we can take from the school system takeover in Houston and what role school closures and land sales might play.

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.

The AM/DM podcast: Burning questions about the state's MSCS takeover

mcashiola@dailymemphian.com (Mary Cashiola) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:29:19 -0500

Who will the new board members be? And is former superintendent Marie Feagins expected to get her job back?

County Commission fails to fund MSCS takeover lawsuit

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:49:28 -0500

A procedural vote Monday, April 27, killed a maneuver to fund a legal challenge by Memphis-Shelby County Schools to the state’s takeover of the school system. But there could be a second try.

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.”

Tennessee Republicans push for significant last-minute ESA voucher expansion

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:27:43 -0500

Voucher-friendly Tennessee Republicans are pushing a last-minute amendment that would drop all enrollment caps on the state’s original voucher program.

Mid-South public universities join forces for AI research

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:44:38 -0500

The universities of Memphis, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee Health Science Center will focus on five areas of research and development.

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.

Bailey: Germantown's debate on full-time mayor heats up

cbailey@dailymemphian.com (Clay Bailey) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:32:17 -0500

With early voting starting this week, the lobbying for Germantown voters to decide if they want to go the full-time mayor’s route has increased.

Tennessee to expand voucher program to 35,000 students in second year

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:07:24 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee and other Republicans are pointing to interest in the program, which will give more than $7,500 per child for private school tuition and certain educational costs.

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.

Tennessee House passes voucher expansion plan in tight vote

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:24:24 -0500

House Bill 2532 met with bipartisan opposition, barely clearing the majority vote needed to pass.

U of M, Ole Miss and others team up for new AI consortium

sbohnel@dailymemphian.com (Steve Bohnel) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:10:00 -0500

University leadership at four regional higher education institutions will sign an agreement forming an AI research partnership on April 20.

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.

Tennessee elementary schools might limit classroom digital device use under pending law

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Tennessee schools could limit digital access to K-5 students under pending law.