Content Tagged 'Education'

An atheist group has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a Spring Hill high school student who dressed up as Jesus Christ for Fictional Character Day.

The House has voted to approve a Republican bill aiming to require children to be older before they can enroll in kindergarten over Democrats' arguments that the measure is aimed at laying off teachers.

A proposal that would allow parents to grade themselves on how involved they are in a student's school performance has passed the Senate.

Tennessee students in elementary and middle school will have a greater stake in the scores they earn on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests that start this week.

Administrators at Mississippi's eight public universities will craft business plans to address a new state law that will allow the schools to waive out-of-state tuition.

Memphis City Schools are on the defensive after an in-depth analysis found suspicious test scores. Watch Video

Are your kids doing their homework? Are they getting to school on time? If not, parents may get a failing grade. Watch Video

There are big troubles for Shelby County suburbs wanting to start their own school systems. After Tuesday's legislative session in Nashville, it looks like all kids will be going to class in the unified city-county school system. Watch Video

The state has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. To fight that rising number, Mississippi lawmakers are now requiring schools to teach abstinence. Watch Video

Gov. Bill Haslam says he may sign a proposal that critics deride as the "monkey bill" for once again attacking evolution.

A proposal to close public access to teacher evaluation data is advancing in the House.

Legislation to protect teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories will become law without the governor's signature.

In its initial review of No Child Left Behind waiver requests, the U.S. Education Department highlighted a similar weakness in nearly every application: States did not do enough to ensure schools would be held accountable for the performance of all students.

Arkansas Tech University has offered four times the scholarships to quadruplets from Russellville.

The word from city leaders in Germantown is to speak up and be heard. They met to discuss the pros and cons of starting their own school district. Watch Video

A bill requiring abstinence only lessons in Tennessee classrooms is working its way through the legislature right now. Watch Video

The Arkansas Department of Education has applied for a waiver from provisions in the No Child Left Behind law.

Senior White House business advisors said Memphis is not in bad shape when it comes to the economy, with a city work force ready to get busy. The trouble is many of them aren't ready to deal with the needs of new companies coming to the city. Watch Video

Tennessee's Achievement School District says it plans to take over three low-performing schools in the Memphis community of Frayser.

A bill headed to Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant would allow individual universities to waive out-of-state tuition if the state College Board deems it fiscally responsible.

E.E. Jeter Elementary school in Millington is one of only six schools in the state to be nominated for the Blue Ribbon School Award. Watch Video

Seven candidates will interview to become Tupelo's next school superintendent.

Collierville and Germantown are picking up the pace in the race to start new school districts. Watch Video

State senators are moving ahead with a relatively broad plan to expand charter schools in Mississippi.

Tennessee is out of the No Child Left Behind Act. It's one of 10 states that asked for an exemption to the federal education policy. Watch Video

The atheist student editor of the Lenoir City High School newspaper says her editorial was pulled after school officials claimed it would be disruptive.

Bartlett citizens held a town hall meeting to discuss the feasibility of starting their own school district. Watch Video

At least 18 of 152 Mississippi school districts might not have enough money to cover a cut in state funding, an Associated Press analysis finds. Those districts could be forced to borrow money, cut services or raise taxes to make up the difference.

Republican control of Mississippi government could bring a new charter school law, and supporters are working on proposals.

A measure that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues is once again before lawmakers.

A daycare van hit and killed a six-year-old boy after school let out at Oakshire Elementary School in Whitehaven. Watch Video

A proposed reduction in some state-funded college scholarships worries students and administrators at some of Tennessee's small private institutions.

Teachers who "meet expectations" in their evaluation would be eligible for tenure under changes the Tennessee Education Association is recommending for the state's new teacher evaluation system.

A high school art teacher at Monticello has been chosen as the Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

A committee of Tennessee legislators is considering cutting in half the amount of scholarship money for some college students.

Gov. Bill Haslam is asking for an outside review of new teacher evaluation standards in Tennessee.

A teacher at East High School in Memphis received a $25,000 award in a surprise ceremony at the school on December 1, 2011.

Desoto County schools are seeing an expensive side effect of rapid enrollment growth in recent years.

The charter school movement has reached its tipping point. Over the past year, Tennessee saw the biggest increase in the nation for new charter schools and the number of students enrolled in them. Watch Video

School districts across Mississippi spent $14 million less on textbooks last year than they did three years ago.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell announced a new resource to help area high school students attend community college. Watch Video

State Comptroller Justin Wilson says Tennessee's school funding formula is fraught with complexity and a lack of transparency that could lead to either inadvertent or intentional errors in distributing state money.

The University of Memphis has officially taken ownership of the Lambuth campus and a flag-raising ceremony is scheduled for next month.

Shelby County municipalities are moving forward with efforts to form their own school districts before the Memphis and county systems merge.

Nearly all parents of Mississippi public school children agree -- sex education is needed.

In his final Mississippi budget proposal, Republican Gov. Haley Barbour revives many recommendations he's made before, including reducing the number of school districts and merging some universities.

A consultant says the Memphis satellite city of Bartlett could legally start a municipal school system and should get public school buildings at no cost.

A federal appeals court says Arkansas can't cut off funding for desegregation programs in Little Rock-area school districts without a separate hearing and judge's order.

A new fast-track option at Dyersburg State Community College is being tapped by workers who lost their jobs when the Goodyear tire plant closed in Union City.

Gov. Bill Haslam says a goal to improve Tennessee students' proficiency scores by 20 percent over the next five years would provide evidence that the state's education overhaul is working.