Education

Main gates at Tennessee State University in Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee State University’s Glover urges state to pony up $2.1 billion

BY: - September 20, 2023

Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover is urging the state to follow federal recommendations and boost funding by $2.1 billion at the historically Black college to make up for a three-decades-plus shortfall. A 2021 report found the state shorted TSU by $544 million in matching funds for land grant institutions. “That’s no small sum, but […]

Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover and Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris smile at each other during TSU's commencement in May 2022. (Photo: John Partipilo)

States urged by Biden administration to rectify underfunding of land-grant HBCUs 

BY: - September 19, 2023

States engaged in decades of underfunding of land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities, leading to a more than $12 billion disparity with comparable white institutions, leaders of the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday. “Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities […]

Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette and his wife, Kate Bulls Lafayette, leave American Baptist College in Nashville on Nov. 18, 2022. (Photo: John Partipilo)

American Baptist College lands $3 million technology grant for minority communities

BY: - September 8, 2023

American Baptist College, the Nashville school responsible for educating a generation of civil rights leaders, has landed a grant of almost $3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce through its Connecting Minority Communities pilot program.  The funding, which comes from the department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, is designed to eradicate digital deserts within […]

Ayres Hall at the University of Tennessee. (Photo: Getty Images)

University of Tennessee students positive about campus free speech

BY: - September 8, 2023

A recent survey shows most University of Tennessee students are positive about their campus’s commitment to free expression, in contrast to conservative rhetoric. The 2023 Campus Climate Survey, published by UT before the fall semester, shows 92% of UT students said their campuses were committed to free expression, and 89% felt comfortable expressing themselves. Eight […]

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Millions enrolled in new student loan repayment program

BY: - September 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education. With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in October, and the Supreme Court’s summer decision to […]

An aerial shot of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Getty Images).

Biden administration provides guidance on diversity in college admissions

BY: - August 15, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice and Department of Education jointly released guidance on Monday to colleges and universities about how to consider race in admissions decisions, following the Supreme Court’s summer decision that struck down affirmative action in higher education. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, on a call with reporters, said higher education institutions can […]

A four-piece mailer sent to households across the state from Hillsdale College leads with accusations against Nashville media.

Hillsdale’s American Classical Education officially appeals charter denials in Maury and Madison

BY: - August 15, 2023

American Classical Education, a Hillsdale-College-affiliated charter school chain, continued its blistering critique of Madison and Maury counties’ school systems in its appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, filed last week. In letters attached to the appeal applications, American Classical board member Dolores Gresham — a former state senator — called the Maury charter […]

Glenda Glover, Ph.D., announced her resignation as president of Tennessee State University effective Jan. 30. 2024. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Glover to retire from TSU presidency, hints at national role

BY: - August 14, 2023

(This article has been updated.) Nearly a year after Republican lawmakers threatened to fire her over a housing crunch, Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover announced Monday she will step down next year. During a Faculty Staff Institute meeting, Glover said she will end her tenure as TSU president June 30, 2024, making her decision […]

A four-piece mailer sent to households across the state from Hillsdale College leads with accusations against Nashville media.

Madison, Maury Counties deny Hillsdale schools, likely leading to state charter commission appeals

BY: - July 31, 2023

For the second time this year, Madison and Maury counties school boards said no to American Classical Education, dealing a minor blow to the Hillsdale College-affilated charter schools. American Classical applied to open charters in five Tennessee counties this year, following its denials in three last year. Only the Rutherford County School Board approved the […]

A four-piece mailer sent to households across the state from Hillsdale College leads with accusations against Nashville media.

Hillsdale charter school resubmits applications in Madison and Maury

BY: - July 12, 2023

American Classical Education, a Hillsdale College-affiliated charter school network, resubmitted amended applications in two of four counties that denied it earlier this year.  School boards in Madison and Maury counties have until July 28 to review American Classical Education’s latest revision to its charter school applications.  The Maury County School board will vote on the new […]

Warner Elementary School in Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Teachers association sues state over payroll dues prohibition

BY: - June 13, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated. The Tennessee Education Association sued the state Tuesday claiming a new ban on automatic payroll dues deduction to professional organizations is unconstitutional and singles out teachers among public employees. Filed in Davidson County Chancery Court on behalf of association members and local education groups, the lawsuit names Gov. […]

Damon Curry Morris, second from left, Racheal Spriggs, third from left, and Tikeila Rucker, fourth from right, at a June 9 press conference in Memphis to address their banning from school property after speaking at a school board meeting. (Photo: Theryn Bond)

Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson backs group banned from Memphis school board meetings

BY: - June 9, 2023

Friday afternoon, state Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, joined four of the five community activists banned from Memphis-Shelby County School property, as the group attempted to enter a school board retreat.  Known as the “School Board Five,” Tikeila Rucker, LJ Abraham, Damon Curry Morris and Rachael Spriggs, reiterated their calls for accountability, integrity, and transparency in […]