Education News

Nashville: ‘It City’ or ‘Inequity City’?

The quality of education a child receives should not depend on that child’s zip code or socioeconomic status. But in Nashville— a city known for economic growth and opportunity—  it still very much does. Too many students are being left behind.  At the Scarlett Family Foundation, we have sought to compile and share data in a clear, concise format, and use this information to help...Read More

What LeBron James Can Teach Us About Chronic Absenteeism — and What Schools Can Do About It

Basketball star LeBron James (also a founder of an Akron, Ohio public school) has been vocal about his experience as a chronically absent student. James shares that in his fourth-grade year, he missed a total of 83 days of school. James’ own struggle to get into the classroom speaks to the larger challenges causing chronic absenteeism across the county – challenges related to health,...Read More

States Are Ratcheting Up Reading Expectations For 3rd-Graders

Third grade reading performance is one of the most important early benchmarks we have for predicting a student’s long-term academic and career success.  As a result, several states are exploring new ways to improve third grade reading and close achievement gaps. This month, NPR reported that states work to increase third grade reading levels are looking to a variety of new policies: tudies...Read More

Nashville schools interim director taps Tennessee’s Achievement School District chief for top post

In a major coup for Nashville public schools, interim Director Adrienne Battle is appointing the state’s education turnaround czar to a top Cabinet position. Sharon Griffin, who heads the state-run Achievement School District, will join Metro Nashville Public Schools on July 1 as the chief of innovation. As well, Hank Clay, Communities in Schools of Tennessee CEO,...Read More

Here’s the No. 1 concern that Tennessee’s new education chief heard during her statewide listening tour

After visiting classrooms in 30 school districts across the state, talking regularly with superintendents and other stakeholders, and reviewing more than 25,000 comments from teachers, Tennessee’s new education commissioner says one theme keeps emerging: the need to support the mental health needs of students. “Without question, it’s the No. 1 piece of feedback I heard from every single...Read More

How Can States and Districts Make Teacher-Leadership Roles More Effective?

Research has shown that teachers having leadership roles in their schools can lead to improved student achievement. So why not formalize those roles? That’s the argument in a new report by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, a group that works to increase educator effectiveness. The group convened a panel discussion at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday...Read More

Bill Gates eyes the work ahead for Tennessee in education during visit to Nashville

Tennessee is making strong improvements in raising academic achievement among its students, but Bill Gates believes there is plenty of work still ahead for the Volunteer State. Improvements for the state over the last several years include changing its academic standards, curriculum and feedback to teachers, Gates said. But low academic achievement in...Read More

Gates Foundation Launches Postsecondary Value Commission in Hopes of Influencing the Ongoing Higher Ed Reauthorization in Congress

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is launching a new initiative to measure the value of higher education, an effort leaders hope will influence the ongoing federal debate over reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. “This cannot, and must not, be done like any other report that we’ve heard, that goes right to the shelf and no one uses it,” said Mildred Garcia, co-chair of the new...Read More

This senior signing day has nothing to do with athletics. Celebrate academics | Opinion

On May 16, LEAD Academy’s largest ever graduating class will walk across the stage at Belmont’s Curb Event Center for our sixth annual senior signing day. Surrounded by parents, teachers and community members, these young men and women will declare to friends and family the next big step in their journey. All of them have worked hard to determine this next best step, whether it be to a...Read More

As Free College Tuition Becomes a Popular Rallying Cry, ‘Tennessee Promise’ Hailed as Game Changer — but Equity Concerns Remain

Lake County, population 7,500, the bubble-shaped piece of land in Tennessee’s northwestern corner, is wrapped by the Missouri River that separates it from two bordering states. Tiptonville, its biggest town and county seat, has a state prison and a small tourist attraction noting the birthplace of rockabilly legend Carl Lee Perkins, best known for writing and releasing the original “Blue...Read More