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CBU announces $6.2M gift to school

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:07:45 -0500

Christian Brothers University has received a $6.2 million gift from Bob and Paula McEniry that will be used to strengthen its business school, officials announced Tuesday morning.

UTHSC to break ground on new College of Medicine building in October

sbohnel@dailymemphian.com (Steve Bohnel) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 16:24:08 -0500

University of Tennessee Health Science Center officials have said the $350 million project is a transformational one that will grow the size of cohorts at the university and be a powerful recruitment tool.

City leaders designate Aug. 7 to honor Memphis’ only HBCU

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 15:33:15 -0500

Shelby County and the City of Memphis have officially declared Aug. 7 as LeMoyne-Owen College Day.

Voters elect four Democrats in first partisan MSCS board election

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 23:11:28 -0500

No Republicans ran for the Memphis school board seats on the ballot. Democratic nominees bested independent challengers in races for two open seats, while two incumbents on the board secured their victories in May’s primary races.

Millington school board primary candidates waltz into victory

ataylor@dailymemphian.com (Amaya Taylor) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 20:36:12 -0500

The Millington races for seats on the suburb’s Board of Education went as expected, as all of the candidates were unopposed, setting the stage for November’s general election.

First day of school 2026: Major changes for 5,000 Memphis students

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 16:08:27 -0500

District leaders kicked off the school year with a four-campus tour Monday, Aug. 3, stopping at three schools among the roughly 5,000 students affected by summer closures, consolidations and a district return.

MSCS school year begins with takeover still paused in court battle

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 04:00:15 -0500

The takeover remains on a federal court-ordered pause issued after the board had met for about two weeks. Meanwhile, school closures, mergers and relocations mean big changes for about 5,000 Memphis students returning to class.

Ruby Bridges believes 'every child deserves access to books'

nmclane@dailymemphian.com (Noah McLane) — Sun, 2 Aug 2026 09:26:26 -0500

The author, who was 6 when she became the first student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, continues to encourage young learners.

Opinion: Adults can debate — but children can’t wait

editor@dailymemphian.com (Allison N. Oliver) — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 04:00:01 -0500

“Here is my challenge to Memphis as a new school year begins: Move Memphis, mane! Move beyond the debates long enough to remember the reason we have them in the first place: our children.”

Elections, SpaceXAI and schools dominate local headlines

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 13:01:41 -0500

The many candidates for a wide range of local, state and federal offices were a key theme among journalists on this episode of “Behind the Headlines” on WKNO-TV.

State takeover, an audit and more school closures: 5 Memphis stories to watch as classes begin

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:57:39 -0500

With district leadership still up in the air, Memphis-Shelby County Schools is diving into chronic absenteeism solutions and math-curriculum changes. And more school closures are likely this year.

Facing state scrutiny, Memphis schools intensify efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:00:11 -0500

MSCS enrollment has suffered in the past decade. But the district doesn’t just struggle to get students in the door, it also has trouble keeping them in their seats day after day.

This Memphis charter school cut chronic absenteeism to only 3 students. Here’s how.

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 04:00:05 -0500

MSCS leaders ramped up chronic absenteeism interventions this past year, aiming to reduce chronic absenteeism rates for the first time since 2017.

The changing landscape for suburban schools

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:23:17 -0500

Superintendents from three suburban school districts appeared on “Behind the Headlines” to talk about the changes and challenges their districts face.

A new Memphis group is pushing for school reform via state takeover. Who are they?

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:05 -0500

Together4Students is the latest local group to join a cadre of Memphis advocates for school reform. It is urging the district to drop its state takeover lawsuit.

MSCS begins work on corrective actions after audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:12 -0500

More improvements are coming to internal controls, procurement, human resources and cybersecurity processes at Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Superintendent Roderick Richmond told board members.

Germantown to appoint temporary school board member

ataylor@dailymemphian.com (Amaya Taylor) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:13:31 -0500

The vacancy was created by the resignation of Scotty Hendricks Jr.

Tennessee points federal judge to MSCS audit in a push to restart takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:16:55 -0500

In federal court documents, the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General filed motions to dismiss the school district’s lawsuit and dissolve an earlier court order pausing the takeover.

Are major changes coming to Tennessee teacher licensure requirements?

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:09 -0500

The Tennessee State Board of Education is considering a policy to create alternate pathways to pass specialty area content assessments.

Lowery: 'Collaboration' with state, not intervention or takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:23:49 -0500

Democratic nominee for County Mayor Mickell Lowery talked about state intervention, his vote to raise county property taxes and tax breaks as economic development incentives on “Behind The Headlines.”