State officials detail relief for individuals, families, nonprofits
Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle Barnes said 450,000 kids have been approved to receive EBT as part of pandemic food insecurity programs.
Topic: Penny Schwinn
RSSThere are 101 article(s) tagged Penny Schwinn:
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August 2020
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June 2020
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State urges districts to buckle up for school bus issues
Tennessee Department of Education has also warned districts to plan for driver shortages. On social media, some drivers have suggested that returning to their bus jobs may not be worth the hassle.
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May 2020
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Tennessee considers commission to help education rebound from the pandemic
The nine-member commission would report its findings to the Legislature by Jan. 1, in the face of learning setbacks for school children, disruptions to university life and the likelihood of more school closures next year.
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After canceling TNReady exams, state must pay millions for testing prep work
Decisions about payment and future tests are among scores of questions and adjustments that all states are dealing with after the pandemic shuttered schools nationwide before testing season got underway.
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Education stimulus funds should restore what children lost
The Tennessee Department of Education and Gov. Bill Lee should use federal stimulus money to restore our children and their schools back to the position they were in prior to March 20, 2020.
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April 2020
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Governor to allow restaurants and retail stores to open next week with social distancing
Gov. Bill Lee announced plans Thursday, April 23, for restaurants and retail establishments in rural and suburban counties to start opening next week on a limited basis using social distancing guidelines. A “safer at home” order in Memphis remains in effect at least until May 5.
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SCS hires state official overseeing voucher launch
Amity Schuyler will work for a school system that opposes the Education Savings Account program she hustled to launch.
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SCS to get $49M in emergency funds
The money will cover short-term needs as schools address students’ learning loss and anticipated trauma from this year’s shutdown, as well as uncertain future revenues due to a likely recession.
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Tennessee expects $260M in federal stimulus funds for schools
The money will go toward critical expenses, including technology to support remote learning, summer and after-school programs, mental health services, support for students with special needs, sanitizing buildings and planning for long-term closures.
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March 2020
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More Tennessee schools close due to coronavirus, but TNReady testing is on
For now, TNReady testing is on for grades 3-11. It’s scheduled to start as soon as April 13, though school districts have some leeway to decide exactly when.
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Schwinn on the hot seat over handling of textbooks and contracts
Tennessee's Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn appeared before the Senate Education Committee for a second straight week, where she was grilled about decisions last year involving the state textbook commission.
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Vouchers in the crosshairs: Shelby, Davidson County parents file challenge
Tennessee's voucher program is facing a second legal challenge, with a group of Shelby and Davidson County parents saying it violates the Constitution and state law by diverting taxpayer funds to private schools.
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February 2020
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Governor’s early childhood literacy bill runs into questions
House Education Committee Chairman Mark White is taking a "slow walk" on Gov. Bill Lee's proposed early childhood literacy legislation, a $68 million proposal to tackle poor reading skills among students.
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Parents blame Tennessee education department upheaval for voucher problems
The Individualized Education Account program is under scrutiny, and voucher opponents say the problems bolster their case that Tennessee can't be trusted to launch the larger school voucher program this summer.
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Tennessee hires Nevada’s former education chief
Steve Canavero is working with the newly created Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. He led a similar charter initiative in Nevada. Tennessee's 118 charter schools are mostly in Shelby County.
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Lawmakers seek raft of information about voucher program as key Republican expresses regrets
Gov. Bill Lee's education voucher program is taking hits from all directions as legislators raise questions.
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January 2020
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Five education issues to watch as state legislators convene this week
Likely to lead the 2020 agenda will be proposals to improve students’ reading skills and increase teacher compensation, two needs that most every lawmaker can agree on.
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Turnaround schools should move to new charter commission, lawmaker says
State Rep. Mark White says charter schools in the Achievement School District should be under the charter commission, but state Rep. Antonio Parkinson says all 30 schools should return to local districts in Memphis and Nashville.
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Tenn. Education Dept. loses key people just before legislative session
House Education Committee Chairman Mark White says two "go-to" liaisons to the Legislature who resigned Friday leave a communication void as the 2020 General Assembly session begins Jan. 14.
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All 30 schools in Tennessee turnaround district would exit by 2022 under plan
According to a copy of the proposal obtained by Chalkbeat, the transition is part of a massive reset for the embattled turnaround model known as the Achievement School District, which has fallen woefully short of its goal to improve student performance since launching in 2012.
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December 2019
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White: Non-tuition portions of school vouchers might be taxable
State Rep. Mark White believes non-tuition items paid for with education savings accounts could be taxed under the state's new voucher program. But even as questions are raised about the governor's initiative, the Department of Education still hasn't firmed up the rules.
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November 2019
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Abrupt reversal: Tennessee families won’t be taxed for using voucher money
The Department of Education released a statement Wednesday aimed at settling questions about the tax implications of receiving an education savings account under a new law championed by Gov. Bill Lee.
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Revelation about federally taxable vouchers causes state confusion
State education vouchers worth $7,300 that Shelby County parents can use to send their children to private schools will count as federally taxable income, according to Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn.
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Employee turnover high in Tennessee’s education department
The majority of the approximate 250 departures have been resignations rather than retirements or firings. The departure rate of just over 19% exceeds those of Schwinn’s two predecessors over comparable periods, according to state records.
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‘Whole child’ a priority amid student mental health concerns
A plan that sets Tennessee’s agenda for the next five years will bring new attention to students’ social and emotional health in a state that has given more lip service than funding to that need in recent years.
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