Posted on by

On the Power of Public Education

Nashville Public Education Foundation President and CEO Diarese George writes about why public schools matter:

What I notice most in Nashville’s public schools is the resilience, creativity and excellence that shines through every day from teachers and students. At its core, the story of Metro schools is the story of who we are as a city, and the story of who we are becoming.

Public schools are where possibility meets empowerment — the kind of hope, connection and work that can change generations. 

Public education belongs to the whole city. It is the heartbeat of a thriving, just and equitable Nashville that ensures our children are seen, supported and set up to lead lives of purpose and impact.

It represents the promise that every child, no matter their neighborhood, language, race or background, has the opportunity to dream boldly, learn deeply and step into a powerful future full of possibility.

Diarese George
NPEF CEO Diarese George

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

A Voucher Problem in Florida

Trump Policies Leave Kids Hungry

Posted on by

Fritts Proposes Suspending School Voucher Scheme

GOP gubernatorial candidate Monty Fritts says if elected, he’ll suspend the state’s school voucher scheme. Fritts currently serves as a State Rep. from Kingston.

State Rep. Monty Fritts of Kingston told the Lookout this week he considers the governor’s new program unconstitutional and would try to block expansion on those grounds.

The state Constitution says the General Assembly “shall provide for the maintenance, support and eligibility standards for a system of free public schools,” according to Fritts. It doesn’t mention private schools, but he interprets that as a “specific and restrictive statement” that doesn’t permit spending public money to send kids to private schools.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

A Conservative Argues Against Trump’s Voucher Scheme

Trump Budget Means Millions of Dollars in Cuts for TN Schools

Posted on by

Blackburn, Rose Back Voucher Scheme

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose, both Republican candidates for Tennessee Governor, back the state’s new school voucher scheme.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose have said in various public comments they support vouchers. Blackburn is considered the favorite in the primary election that will take place in August 2026.

Gov. Bill Lee and House Speaker Cameron Sexton have proposed doubling the program – one that already costs the state more than $140 million this year.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Florida’s $47 Million Voucher Problem

Trump’s Extreme Agenda for Schools

Posted on by

NPEF Celebrates Hall of Fame Honorees

The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) celebrated this year’s public schools Hall of Fame honorees at an event in late September.

On September 30, hundreds of Nashvillians joined us to celebrate our city’s public school excellence and induct nine new honorees into the Public Schools Hall of Fame. This year’s event recognized one visionary business leader, three outstanding Metro Nashville Public Schools alumni, two transformational high school teachers, one inspiring school leader, and two local nonprofits improving opportunities and resources for students.

According to an NPEF media release:

Nine remarkable honorees were inducted, including Janet Miller, Martesha Johnson Moore, Marlene Eskind Moses, Tom Parrish, Addison Barrack and Montrell Williams, Chris Plummer, Ed.D, as well as the Adroit and Nashville Tools for Schools organizations.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Trump Wins, Schools Lose

Trump’s Big, Ugly Federal School Voucher Scheme

Posted on by

Vouchers Gone Wrong

A story out of Florida should give pause to those who think public money should just “follow the child” to whatever school or education experiment is out there:

The rapid expansion of the state’s School Choice scholarship program burrowed a $47 million hole in the Florida Department of Education’s budget and left public and private schools complaining they aren’t getting properly paid.

Money problems that arose during the 2024-2025 school year can largely be attributed to the mobility that students enjoy to shift from public to private or to home education freely, said Adam Emerson, director of the Department of Education Office of School Choice.

In short: Both public and private schools aren’t being paid in a timely fashion for the students in their care.

Voucher madness is unsustainable.

crop man getting dollars from wallet
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Trump Budget Leaves Families Hungry

Voucher Fraud in Arizona

Posted on by

Leadership Public Education App Open

The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) makes the following announcement:

The Leadership Public Education application is open now through November 14! This opportunity is for anyone looking to gain knowledge about our public schools, grow a network of fellow public schools advocates, and share their experiences and voice in support of the students, teachers, and schools in our community. NPEF believes in order to advance positive outcomes for students, we all have a role to play; Leadership Public Education is a great way to engage in the community to help ensure all students thrive.

In partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Public Education is a 6-month public education leadership development program that empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills to serve in community leadership roles at all levels of Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Application and information

cityscape of nashville tennessee at dawn
Photo by Cesar G on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Private School Coupons Cause Budget Shortfall

Bill Lee: A Legacy of Leaving Kids Behind

Posted on by

On The Danger of Trump’s Vouchers

Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” included a federal school voucher scheme. Not only will it cost taxpayers billions, but it will also be harmful to states.

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC) released a brief explaining the potential impact of these vouchers.

In a summary explainer, NEPC notes:

NEPC director and University of Colorado Boulder professor emeritus Kevin Welner cautions governors that the promised state flexibility under the new federal “scholarship” program is unlikely to materialize, leaving states vulnerable to federal overreach and harmful voucher expansion.

Ultimately, unless states are guaranteed full flexibility to protect their students and taxpayers, opting in would mean ceding state authority to Washington and exposing students to the well-documented harms of today’s voucher programs.

bitcoins and u s dollar bills
Photo by David McBee on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Vacations Paid for By School Vouchers

Trump Budget Cuts Millions from TN Schools

Posted on by

NPEF Announces Teacherpreneur Application

The Nashville Public Education Foundation made the following announcement:

Since 2021, NPEF has led a cohort of educators through a unique professional learning experience designed to harness their expertise and innovation. Teacherpreneurs participate in 5 sessions over January and February to build out ideas that help advance positive outcomes for students.

Teacherpreneurs will identify an issue they want to address, research root causes of the issue, learn about change management theory, and use design thinking strategies to create solutions that help students thrive. Then, Teacherpreneurs will pitch their ideas for a chance to win cash prizes and seed funding to pilot their idea.

Information and application here.

exterior of school building in daytime
Photo by Mary Taylor on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

On the Importance of Defending Public Education

Trump Proposal Cuts $131 Million from TN Schools

Posted on by

Cell Phone Bans Show Positive Impact

Data suggests improved test scores, attendance

Over the last several years, school districts around the country have begun to enact cell phone bans or cell phone restrictive policies.

The thinking is that decreasing use of phones during the school day decreases distractions and increases student focus.

But, does it work?

Data from one district in Florida suggests positive results.

“Interestingly, we observe significantly improved student test scores in the second year of the ban (about 2-3 percentiles higher than the year before the ban) when suspensions revert to pre-ban levels.”

The study, which is not peer-reviewed, also noted a decline in unexcused absences, which researchers say may have contributed to the higher academic performance.

The data indicate that a ban may initially cause disciplinary challenges as students and families adjust. However, the study notes that those issues resolve in a second year – Researchers did suggest that as much as half of the improvement in student scores may be the result of improved attendance.

It will be interesting to see results in other districts to see if similar results are shown – and what, if any, negative impacts occur.

person holding iphone showing social networks folder
Photo by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Trump vs. Public Schools

A School Without Teachers

Posted on by

Talk About Testing

Nashville education blogger TC Weber talks testing:

Mark White—longtime chair of Tennessee’s House Education Committee—just got a new gig overseeing the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This comes while lawmakers are finally asking if we test too much.

Meanwhile, real educators like Dr. Kevin Schaaf suggest common-sense alternatives. He argues students should be screened before taking high-stakes tests if we already know their reading levels. And maybe, just maybe, we could break up state testing into smaller chunks?

“Ten-year-olds aren’t built to sit for exams like college students,” Schaaf told the Joint Advisory Committee. “So why do we make them?”

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Trump Budget Puts Key Education Programs At Risk

Your Child’s Next Teacher May Not Be a Person