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 […]
Tennessee Promise Program Gives More Tennesseans College Opportunities
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has completed an extensive evaluation of the Tennessee Promise Scholarship Program, which was created by the General Assembly in 2014 to give more high school graduates an opportunity to earn an associate degree or technical diploma. Research by the Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) shows that a larger […]
Secretary Hargett Encourages Tennesseans to Help Run Elections in Their Community as Poll Officials
Today on National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, Secretary of State Tre Hargett encourages Tennesseans to serve as poll officials for the Nov. 3 State and Federal General Election. “Thousands of Tennesseans, especially students and young adults, stepped up to serve as poll officials for the August election,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “With tremendous […]
Secretary of State Tre Hargett Encourages Voters to Prepare Now to Vote in November Election
Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging voters to prepare now to vote in the presidential election on Nov. 3. Tennesseans should make sure their voter registration is up-to-date and make decisions about whether they will vote in-person or absentee by-mail if eligible.“We want every eligible Tennessean to be ready to vote in the November […]
Tennessee Property Owners Score Early Win in Lawsuit Against Warrantless Trespassing, Surveillance on Private Land
Today, Benton County Circuit Court Judge Charles McGinley denied the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s (TWRA) motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Tennessee landowners Terry Rainwaters and Hunter Hollingsworth. They joined forces with the Institute for Justice (IJ) in April to sue TWRA for ignoring their “No Trespassing” signs by entering and installing cameras on their land. Today’s […]
