University of Memphis workers, alumni and living wage advocates gathered on campus Thursday, chanting, "We work, we sweat, put $15 on our checks."

Young chess players from Memphis and beyond came gathered for the 18th annual Mid-South Chess Camp this week, where children ages 4-16 study under the direction of big-name grandmasters, masters and experts.

University officials said the location change would not disqualify some currently enrolled University Middle students from attending this fall, which was a concern because the school's contract requires one third of its students to reside within two miles of the school.

Tennessee used discretionary funds to ensure the Read to be Ready camps continue this summer, but there was no reprieve for a major component of the reading initiative: a statewide network of coaches created three years ago to help teachers improve their literacy instruction.

“I’m really struggling to see how equity is in the equation when 114 districts suffer” as Read to be Ready collapses. – Superintendent Joey Hassell of Haywood County Schools, a rural district near Memphis. 

Student mental health is one of 12 priorities identified in the state education department’s proposed five-year strategic plan.

Shelby County Schools students spoke candidly this week on what they want and need from teachers.

In an effort to increase the hourly wage for its lowest-paid employees, the University of Memphis board of trustees has approved an across-the-board pay raise for all faculty and staff. 

Yolanda Dandridge is leaving for charter operator Memphis Scholars. She will take charge of the Memphis-based charter organization’s Caldwell Guthrie Elementary School. She’s been at Georgian Hills as a teacher, assistant principal and principal since 2013. 

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray says the district needs to listen more before deciding whether to implement his predecessor's plan to consolidate 28 schools into 10 new ones.

Vatterott Career College’s shuttered culinary school in Cordova will reopen this summer as an extension of the University of Memphis Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management.

ASD chief Sharon Griffin wants to play a bigger role in the day-to-day operations of charter schools than past leaders have. She wants charter and school leaders to improve test scores, to bolster teacher recruitment and training. But school leaders say they were promised autonomy to run their charter schools as they see fit.

The growth in Tennessee’s immigrant population — accounting for 12% of its public school students in 2016 — presents special challenges for rural schools trying to teach smaller numbers of English language learners across multiple grades without additional state funding.

The newest upticks are expected to affect about 3,500 teachers in 62 mostly small or rural school systems now meeting the state’s lowest salary threshold.

Now that Gateway is officially closed, parents and students are left to find a new high school. Many are headed to their zoned neighborhood schools; others are still searching.

Shelby County Schools is asking for an additional $35 million in capital funding, and $7.5 million in additional operating costs to include support for a reading program and more English as a second language teachers. 

Collierville goes to the other side of the state for the suburb's new school superintendent and selects Gary Lilly, the director of Bristol Tennessee City Schools, to replace John Aitken.

Collierville Schools has interviewed five finalists for the district's next superintendent. The candidates are a mix of educators with experience in Collierville as well as ones who would be new to the system.

Collierville's superintendent search is narrowed to four after Russell Dyer said he is no longer pursuing the job.

The Shelby County Schools budget includes two major parts: the general operating fund that pays for day-to-day expenses, including teacher salaries and classroom initiatives, totaling $1.04 billion; and the remaining $360 million capital budget for new schools and building maintenance.

Asked on Tuesday if the House would have passed the voucher bill had Casada already been under the cloud of a scandal, Rep. Mark White of Memphis said “probably not.” White voted for the bill.

Teach for America has welcomed more than 1,200 teachers over the past 13 years in Memphis, who have a commitment to stay in the classroom for two years. About 500 alumni of the program are still in Memphis, according to recent numbers from the organization. Nafeesha Mitchell will take over in June.

The district’s proposed budget for day-to-day expenses would be $1.05 billion, which is about 3% less than the current spending plan. The district budget is determined by student enrollment, and the county is required to pay the district at least as much as it did last year. Shelby County Schools wants $10 million more than what would be allocated for next year.

The Achievement School District has dealt with a spin-off like this before with Memphis Scholars, which runs three schools in the state district. But this is the first time Shelby County Schools has dealt with a question like this.

The "SCS is 901" campaign marks 150 years of organized public education as the city celebrates the 200th anniversary of the founding of Memphis.