These federal vouchers divert public funds to private education uses, with all the attendant harms, and they must be recognized as such, even if it may be possible to use the voucher money for public school students.
All vouchers harm students and undermine public education, and the federal voucher law is no different:
o Vouchers divert public funds to private schools.
o Vouchers lead to worse educational outcomes for students.
o Vouchers put students’ civil rights at risk.
o Vouchers lack quality and accountability standards and encourage fraud and abuse.
Gov. Bill Lee, Sen. Jack Johnson, and U.S. Senator and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn joined together to announce they are backing a “partnership” between the state and Turning Point USA to help the extremist right-wing group indoctrinate kids at high schools across the state.
Tennessee state leaders announced Friday morning that the state will partner with Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
Those state officials announced at an event at the Tennessee State Capitol that there would be Club America chapters, student-led organizations affiliated with Turning Point USA, at every high school in the state.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who is running for Tennessee governor, and state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, spoke at the event announcing the partnership. No media was invited, but a 30-minute video was posted on Rumble, a social media platform that’s particularly popular with right-wing creators.
It’s not clear how the state will facilitate Club America chapters – if there will be a mandate from the Department of Education, how state funds may be used to pay for the expansion of the group’s clubs, or if other groups may be able to obtain the same type of explicit state support.
Knoxville Preparatory School, an all-boys charter school that opened in fall 2024, failed to meet or fell far below nine of 25 state standards and must work to get up to requirements.
The school struggled in finance management, boosting enrollment compared to projections, protecting the rights of students with disabilities, and complying with government requirements . . .
Students at one Nashville high school are learning about business management and cooking by operating a food truck, NewsChannel5reports:
McGavock High School students are getting hands-on experience in both culinary arts and business management through their food truck program called Raider Bites.
The program, which launched in recent months, teaches students everything from cooking and food preparation to financial management and customer service. Matthew Long, a student who serves as sous chef of the food truck, said the experience has prepared him for college and beyond.
A media release from the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announces the 2026 class of Nashville Teacherpreneurs and explains more about the program:
The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announced the latest cohort of the Teacherpreneur program, marking its fifth year and continuing its partnership with founding supporter Amazon. Since 2021, the Teacherpreneur program has supported over 40 educators to develop their innovative solutions for removing barriers to student success, with winners receiving cash prizes and access to seed funding for implementation.
Some of the issues being considered by cohort members include creating employment certification pathways for multilingual students, increasing resources for family engagement programs, building support for first year teachers, and facilitating stronger connections to magnet school opportunities. The cohort experience will culminate in a pitch event in March 2026, where educators will present their ideas to a panel of community judges for a chance to win a share of $25,000, as well as funding to support the implementation of their ideas. The fifth Teacherpreneur cohort includes:
Board members Larry Grohn and Felice Hadden, both Republicans, practically melted down at a recent meeting.
What burned them up? The district’s policy that, according to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press:
Under the updated policy, educator diversity refers to a teacher workforce that “reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic backgrounds and pathways into the profession.”
Grohn said the policy was “racist” and Hadden suggested the diversity was fine as long as the district didn’t spend too much effort or money on recruiting diverse candidates.
The whole issue was spurred as Hamilton County updated its diversity policy (to the policy noted above) in response to a state law requiring the dismantling of DEI efforts.
That dismantling included undoing a previous state law – also passed by Republicans – that required school districts to adopt a diversity policy.
Memphis school leaders are exploring a range of options to help boost student attendance.
One option: Expanding bus service.
Chalkbeatreports that approach carries a heavy price tag:
Memphis school leaders say expanding student bus services to help boost attendance will raise transportation costs by a minimum of almost $10 million next school year.
Collierville is home to Tennessee’s Principal of the Year, WREG-TV reports:
A Collierville elementary school principal has been named as Tennessee’s Principal of the Year for the 2025-26 school year.
Deanna Jones has served as principal of Bailey Station Elementary School in Collierville since 2020.
“Deanna Jones exemplifies the kind of principal who lifts every classroom—pairing strong academics with joyful learning and building collaboration that benefits students and teachers alike,” said Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer. “We are proud that the state recognized her work with the Tennessee Principal of the Year award; it is a well‑earned honor that reflects the excellence at Bailey Station Elementary and across Collierville Schools.”
Finally, a good idea from Cameron Sexton. Chalkbeatreports the House Speaker is proposing providing stipends to student teachers.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton wants the state to start paying student teachers for their required internships, a proposal state education advocates say they support amid ongoing concerns about teacher shortages.
Sexton told Chalkbeat Tennessee this week he wants to provide additional state funding to allow local districts to pay teacher trainees directly.
Sexton said the amount could mean a $1,500 or $2,000 monthly stipend, though the proposal appears to be in the early days of development with few concrete details.
