Elections, SpaceXAI and schools dominate local headlines
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.
Topic: Education
RSSThere are 231 article(s) tagged Education:
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August 2026
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July 2026
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State takeover, an audit and more school closures: 5 Memphis stories to watch as classes begin
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.
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Germantown to appoint temporary school board member
The vacancy was created by the resignation of Scotty Hendricks Jr.
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MSCS board approved $200M in contracts Tuesday. But will takeover appointees review them?
Even before a federal judge halted the state takeover of MSCS, it’s unclear whether the new oversight board had final-approval authority over any of the other contracts elected board members approved Tuesday. And the questions don’t stop there.
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June 2026
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MSCS sues takeover appointees as oversight board votes to hire attorney
Attorneys for Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government expanded their lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s takeover of the school district to include appointees to the new oversight board.
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Cracking the code: Memphis first stop on Black Girls Code summer camp tour
Older campers coded platform games similar to “Super Mario Bros.” from the ground up while younger participants worked on the fundamentals of coding by designing game worlds and characters.
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Memphis charter students are bucking district math trends. Here’s what’s guiding their growth.
In examining post-pandemic learning loss, officials at Leadership Preparatory Charter School came to a realization: Teachers were following scripted math curriculum a bit too closely.
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May 2026
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Memphis mom of eight shows her kids how Love overcomes all
This month, Trackeshia Love earned her associate’s degree from LeMoyne-Owen College, at the age of 47. And she’s just getting started.
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At JA BizTown, kids get first taste of ‘the world of work’
At Junior Achievement’s JA BizTown, fifth and sixth graders run a mini city and take jobs at storefronts that represent major Memphis organizations.
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MUS names next head of school
Hart Roper will succeed Pete Sanders, who announced in January that he would retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
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St. Mary’s names new head of school
St. Mary’s officially has a replacement for when current head Albert Throckmorton retires.
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April 2026
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Ask the Memphian: Where did Elvis live before Graceland?
Everyone knows Elvis lived at Graceland. But before this, he spent 13 months at 1034 Audubon Drive, during one of the most consequential periods of his career.
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Will TN voucher program expand by 15,000 or 20,000 seats? House and Senate are at odds on details.
House Republicans dropped the immigrant tracking provision of the expansion bill, which is poised for final votes within days.
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Tennessee elementary schools might limit classroom digital device use under pending law
Tennessee schools could limit digital access to K-5 students under pending law.
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Memphis’ forgotten figures: Jimmie Lunceford
You might not have heard of Jimmie Lunceford, a jazz musician and band leader. But in the 1930s, this Memphian was a major star.
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March 2026
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Before driving in Tennessee, Republicans want people to pass the written exam in English
In addition to progress being made on the Republicans’ immigration package this week, voucher expansion moved forward, Memphis Democrats were united while Nashville Democrats split and more at the state Capitol.
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These Memphis-area students are lobbying for mental health investments
The Shelby County Youth Council has spent the past six months crafting a list of almost 20 policy suggestions. Now, they’re trying to get those recommendations into county and city budgets.
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Memphis families grapple with where to send students after approved school closures
The MSCS school board voted last week to shutter five schools by the end of this year. That leaves over 1,200 students to find a new place to go next fall, with the district extending its priority transfer deadline to accommodate last-minute changes.
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February 2026
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Busy year of hiring, firing, reassigning led to payroll problems at MSCS, audit finds
The regular audit is separate from the state-ordered forensic audit of the Memphis school system. The forensic audit is underway.
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Tennessee private school teachers without a degree could get emergency teaching permits under new bill
A new bill would allow some Tennessee private school teachers to get an emergency teaching waiver to teach at a public school without a bachelor’s degree.
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Rhodes’ prison program adds bachelor’s degree
As Rhodes College professor Stephen Haynes puts it, “If you met somebody coming out of prison, wouldn’t it impress you if they had a degree from Rhodes College?”
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December 2025
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Memphis leaders lay out reasons for second school closure proposal in Frayser neighborhood
Memphis parent Chajuana Williams said she would miss the family history embedded at Georgian Hills Elementary if district leaders decide to close the school in June.
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November 2025
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This Tennessee school is stepping up to feed local families cut off from SNAP
Winchester Elementary opened its food pantry in March. The government shutdown means more Memphis families are going to the school for food.
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October 2025
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Tennessee graduation rate improves for third straight year
Tennessee graduation rates had steadily risen for about 10 years before the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions triggered a three-year slide in the state.
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‘It’s a calling': Collierville educator is Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year
When Brandi De La Cruz was deciding what she wanted to do with her life, a career as a high school math teacher was not on her radar. She wanted to be the next Martha Stewart.
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