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Donor-funded consultant helped ready Memphis school takeover board during pause

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 12:05:39 -0500

A consulting firm that worked with Houston’s school system during its takeover has quietly played a key role in readying the state-appointed board to resume control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

MSCS asks another court to halt takeover in new suit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 12:22:33 -0500

Attorneys for Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government filed a new lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court

MSCS takeover board to reconvene Thursday

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 15:36:51 -0500

The meeting comes less than a week after a judge said he “didn’t mean to imply” the oversight board couldn’t do its work with a July 1 order, which MSCS and the state interpreted as a temporary halt.

MSCS takeover could resume when board is ‘ready,’ judge rules

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 19:02:26 -0500

How the oversight board determines what “ready” means could revive early criticisms from MSCS that the appointees lacked necessary structures to assume power over the school system.

Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx unveil new Dream Court at Northeast Prep Academy

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:16:26 -0500

Northeast Prep Academy students celebrated the unveiling of a vibrant new Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx Dream Court featuring a hand-painted mural by local artist Siphne Sylve.

4 things to know as the Memphis-schools state-takeover lawsuit progresses

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:00:03 -0500

More than three months after Memphis school leaders sued over Tennessee’s takeover law, the case’s first full hearing is set for Oct. 2 in Nashville.

Memphis schools lost more than 2,000 students this year, early data shows

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:32:53 -0500

MSCS continues to lose students year over year, with over 2,000 fewer enrolled in the district compared to last August.

Will MSCS takeover remain paused? Federal court could soon decide

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:07:55 -0500

Arguments in the case are expected to determine whether the takeover remains paused or whether the new state-appointed board of nine regains control over Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Tennessee kids could see major Meta settlement windfall. How will it be spent?

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:00:09 -0500

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Tennessee Rep. Gary Hicks, who sponsored the legislation to launch the Children’s Digital Protection Fund.

Three being investigated after death of 6-year-old left on daycare bus, lawyer says

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:46:47 -0500

Memphis police have completed their investigation into the death of 6-year-old Winter Jones after she was left on a daycare bus, according to attorneys representing her family.

Last-minute student laptop change leaves Memphis parents, teachers scrambling

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 11:10:06 -0500

MSCS has quietly ended a yearslong policy of giving every student their own personal laptop or tablet.

Should Tennessee fully fund special education pre-K programs?

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 15:01:07 -0500

A top committee of Tennessee educators wants lawmakers to include special education prekindergarten students in the state’s public school funding formula.

Two real estate agents vie for open Germantown school board seat

awarren@dailymemphian.com (Abigail Warren) — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 04:00:12 -0500

A Republican and an independent candidate are facing off for the GMSD board seat that Angela Griffith is vacating.

Tennessee TCAP testing time to increase in 2027 due to new, unscored writing test

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Thu, 3 Sep 2026 04:00:07 -0500

Trial tests are vital to producing reliable tests, education officials say, but there is concern about Tennessee lengthening TCAP testing times next spring.

Where the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial candidates stand on education issues

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:14 -0500

Tennessee governor candidates outline their education platforms and positions on policies such as the state’s third grade reading retention law.

Opinion: MSCS retains status quo while Houston schools defy the odds

rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov (Mark White) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:13 -0500

“It’s time for Shelby County government, including the new mayor-elect and county commissioners-elect, to exit their lawsuit against the MSCS oversight board and get to work rebuilding opportunity for Memphis students.”

Mullis to return as Holy Rosary principal after protests

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 19:24:26 -0500

After protests from parents and community, Darren Mullis has been asked to return as principal at Holy Rosary.

6 disabled MSCS students land internships at Memphis' Amazon center

nmclane@dailymemphian.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:46:35 -0500

Project Search, which trains people with disabilities for jobs through internships with corporations across the U.S. and Europe, partnered with Amazon to place six Memphis students in internships with the shipping giant.

Memphis law school launches institute to guide legal field through AI era

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:09 -0500

The institute seeks to foster AI literacy and accessibility across the legal spectrum.

All MSCS campuses reopen for students Thursday

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:31:15 -0500

School is reopening to all Memphis-Shelby County Schools students as Memphis Light, Gas and Water approaches its target date for power restoration.