ESA School Voucher Case Appealed to Tennessee Supreme Court
Parents from Davidson and Shelby Counties have appealed the ESA Voucher decision to the Tennessee Supreme Court so their children can attend a school that meets their educational needs. Like other Tennessee parents seeking alternatives to public schools, their fate is now in the hands of Tennessee’s highest court. A Davidson County Chancellor ruled earlier […]
AG Slatery Announces $113 Million Settlement with Apple over iPhone Throttling
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, along with a coalition of over 30 attorneys general, announced a $113 million settlement with Apple, Inc. regarding Apple’s 2016 decision to throttle consumers’ iPhone speeds in order to address unexpected shutdowns in some devices. Based on the multistate investigation, the attorneys general allege that Apple discovered that battery […]
Tennessee House Republicans reelect Jeremy Faison as caucus chairman
Members of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus reelected Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, as caucus chairman during a leadership meeting held inside the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol on Nov.24. Faison was first elected to the leadership position in 2019. As Republican caucus chairman, Faison will preside over meetings and is the second ranking officer […]
Former Rep. Bill Dunn to Join Tennessee Department of Education
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Monday that former House Speaker Pro Tem Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) will join the Tennessee Department of Education as a senior advisor to Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Bill Dunn is one of the most experienced and thoughtful advocates for education in our state who has dedicated his career in state government to […]
Governor Lee, TDOE Announce $5 Million in Charter School Support Grants
Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education announced $5 million in grants to be distributed to charter schools across the state, with a focus on supporting charter schools that demonstrate sustained and significant academic growth. This charter school support grant is funded through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER). Every charter school will be awarded a per-pupil allocation based on 2020 school enrollment. These formula grants will total $2.5 million. An additional $2.5 million will be allocated amongst charter […]
Everything Voters Need to Know for the November 3 Presidential Election
Before heading to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3., the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office wants voters to have the information they need to cast their ballot in a safe, clean and secure fashion. On Election Day, polls open at various times. A list of when polls open in all 95 counties is available on […]
Tennessee Smashes Early Voting Record
As of the close of polls on Oct. 26, the 11th day of early voting in Tennessee, a record-breaking 1,808,546 voters had cast their ballot for the Nov. 3 presidential election. With three more days of early voting, turnout has already surpassed the previous record set during the 2016 presidential election when 1,689,989 Tennesseans voted early […]
Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) and the Tennessee DOE K-3 Book Delivery program to deliver 580,000 books to 58,000 kindergarten through third grade students and teachers across the state
Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) and the Tennessee Department of Education, in collaboration with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, announced the launch of a new K-3 Book Delivery program to deliver 580,000 books to 58,000 kindergarten through third grade students and teachers across the state. Over 50 school districts are participating […]
Tennessee Infrastructure Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
The Tennessee Department of Health today announced the state’s infrastructure plan for distribution of COVID-19 vaccines once they become available. TDH in coordination with other state and local agencies submitted an initial draft of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Tennessee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on October16, 2020. “We assure Tennesseans that safe, effective and approved COVID-19 […]
September Unemployment Rates Decrease in Every Tennessee County
NASHVILLE – The unemployment rates in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties decreased in September, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Twenty-seven counties recorded unemployment rates below 5%, while 68 counties have a rate of 5% or higher. There are no counties with an unemployment rate higher than 10% […]
Gov. Lee Calls For Temporary Suspension of Accountability Measures for 2020-2021 School Year
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn today called for removing negative consequences for schools and educators associated with student assessments for the 2020-2021 school year. Student assessments will be conducted as planned. “Given the unprecedented disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic and extended time away from the classroom has had on Tennessee’s students, […]
1 Out of 10 Registered Voters in Tennessee Have Already Cast Their Ballots
As of the close of polls on Oct. 15, the second day of early voting in Tennessee, 453,858 voters had cast their ballot for the Nov. 3 State and Federal General election. “Over 10 percent of Tennessee voters have already voted, and this high turnout demonstrates the public’s confidence in Tennessee’s electoral process,” said Secretary […]
Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group Issues Updated Guidance for Businesses Under Tennessee Pledge
In accordance with the current scientific understanding of COVID-19, Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group issued updated guidance today for businesses and other activities under the Tennessee Pledge. The updates follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and maintain emphasis on key preventative measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and frequent disinfection. The update […]
Tennessee Court of Appeals Decision School Vouchers (ESA’S) Unconstitutional
By David Seal Background Education Savings Accounts (ESA’s), more commonly known as school vouchers, became law in Tennessee during the 2019 legislative session. Tennessee is one of a handful of states to enact law giving parents school choice, providing an option for their students to escape failing schools. In doing so, the state would issue […]
Registration is Now Open for Tennessee’s 2020 Student Mock Election
The Secretary of State’s 2020 Student Mock Election gives Tennessee students a chance to make their voice heard in the upcoming election while learning about the electoral process. “The Student Mock Election gives students a hands-on opportunity to learn about how we, as Tennesseans, select our elected officials,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “We […]
AG Slatery Urges Congress to Expand Funding for Crime Victims
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III joins a coalition of state and territorial attorneys general representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories urging Congress to adopt key changes to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) that provide critical financial support to victims of violent crimes and their families. In a […]
