Of the 30 elected positions on the Nov. 6 ballot in five suburban towns and cities in Shelby County, 11 were decided at the Thursday, Aug. 16, deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions.

2. 11 of 30 Suburban Races in November Decided at Filing Deadline - Friday, August 17, 2018

Of the 30 elected positions on the Nov. 6 ballot in five of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County, 11 were decided at the noon, Thursday, Aug. 16, deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions.

3. In His Final Months as Tennessee Governor, Haslam Reflects on His Education Legacy - Monday, July 30, 2018

While Gov. Bill Haslam entered office as an education-minded leader intent on reforms, much of his administration’s K–12 public school work has focused on holding the line on sweeping policies launched under his predecessor.

4. Candidates Stake Claims For November Elections - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

At the Memorial Day holiday, the incumbent mayors of Bartlett, Germantown and Lakeland had pulled petitions to seek re-election in municipal elections on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald and Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker pulled their qualifying petitions from the Shelby County Election Commission on May 18, the opening day of the filing period. Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, who has already kicked off his re-election campaign, pulled his petition four days later.

5. Redbirds’ Chad Huffman Grinding For a Return to Big Leagues - Friday, June 9, 2017

The Memphis Redbirds had just finished a Tuesday afternoon game at AutoZone Park. Wednesday was a cherished off day at home. It was a good time for a player to exit quickly, to get the most of the down time before coming back for the next game on Thursday night.

6. Last Word: End of The Season, Honoring Forrest and MATA's Coming Campaign - Friday, April 28, 2017

It’s over. No Game 7 for the Grizz and the off-season begins. Spurs advance after beating the Grizz at the Forum Thursday 103 – 96. But in the process, the Grizz created a chapter in Memphis basketball lore where it is about more than winning on the court.

7. Collierville, Millington Mayoral Races Top Suburban Ballots in November - Thursday, August 18, 2016

The mayors of Collierville and Millington are running for re-election on the November ballot and as the noon Thursday, Aug. 18, filing deadline approaches for the Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville and Millington municipal ballots the two mayors have challengers.

8. Education Leaders Question Why Virtual School Remains Open - Monday, March 21, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Legislature's failure to shut down an academically troubled virtual school run by a for-profit corporation has left some education leaders wondering whether Tennessee lawmakers really want to fix schools or have sold out children to powerful special interests.

9. McQueen Watching Teaching Methods, ASD Controversy Closely - Monday, February 15, 2016

At the last of three schools that Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen visited last week, Lester Prep principal Brearn Wright got right to the heart of the matter.

10. Teachers Wary of Haslam’s Push For Increased Pay - Thursday, February 11, 2016

Pushing a budget with more than $100 million for K-12 teacher pay raises, Gov. Bill Haslam says Tennessee is taking education to new levels by raising standards, linking teacher evaluations to student performance and expanding education options.

11. Haslam Point Man To Leave Administration - Saturday, May 16, 2015

Mark Cate is leaving Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration after serving as Haslam’s campaign manager in 2010 and as the governor’s chief of staff after he took office.

Cate served as point man for many of the governor’s top legislative initiatives, including caps on payouts from successful civil lawsuits and changing teacher tenure rules. He also spearheaded this year’s failed effort to pass Haslam’s Insure Tennessee proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income people.

12. Haslam Point Man to Leave Governor’s Administration - Friday, May 15, 2015

Mark Cate is leaving Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration after serving as Haslam’s campaign manager in 2010 and as the governor’s chief of staff after he took office.

Cate served as point man for many of the governor’s top legislative initiatives, including caps on payouts from successful civil lawsuits and changing teacher tenure rules. He also spearheaded this year’s failed effort to pass Haslam’s Insure Tennessee proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income people.

13. Tennessee Education Chief Stresses Teachers are 'Valued' - Tuesday, March 17, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has a message for the state's teachers: You're valued.

14. Haslam Names Candice McQueen New Ed Commissioner - Thursday, December 18, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam has named a top education official at Lipscomb University to be the next Education Department commissioner.

The Republican governor announced Wednesday that he's chosen Candice McQueen. She will replace Kevin Huffman, who announced last month that he's leaving for the private sector.

15. Community Hospitals Becoming Endangered Species - Saturday, December 13, 2014

The state of Mississippi has 110 hospitals and three-fourths of them are, as you might expect, in rural areas.

“And 56 of them have fewer than 50 beds,” said Mendal Kemp, director of the Center for Rural Health at the Mississippi Hospital Association.

16. Education, Economic Commissioners to be Named Soon - Tuesday, December 2, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam says he plans to name new commissioners for economic development and education by the first of the year.

The Republican governor, who was recently re-elected to a second term, spoke at a Nashville Rotary Club luncheon on Monday.

17. Education Commissioner Leaving for Private Sector - Saturday, November 22, 2014

Education Department Commissioner Kevin Huffman said last week that the scrutiny he received during his nearly four turbulent years at the helm of the state's schools didn't influence his decision to leave for the private sector.

18. Education Commissioner Leaving for Private Sector - Monday, November 17, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Education Department Commissioner Kevin Huffman said Thursday that the scrutiny he received during his nearly four turbulent years at the helm of the state's schools didn't influence his decision to leave for the private sector.

19. Achievement Schools Opposition Finds Frustration - Thursday, October 30, 2014

Charter school operators who are being considered for the next round of schools entering the state-run Achievement School District are facing the most organized opposition effort in the three-year history of the district in Memphis.

20. Keystone Educator Named Teacher of the Year - Saturday, October 4, 2014

A fourth-grade teacher at Keystone Elementary School was recognized Thursday, Oct. 2, as Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year.

Karen Vogelsang was recognized by state leaders, including Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.

21. Embattled Education Commissioner Gets Support - Wednesday, July 9, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman is getting some support amid criticism of his leadership.

22. Governor, Education Chief Release TCAP Data - Wednesday, July 2, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – The latest data shows Tennessee students made gains in the majority of the state's 31 grade and subject-level tests.

Gov. Bill Haslam and Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman announced Tuesday that the biggest increases seen in the 2013-2014 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program results were in high school, where students made gains on five of seven high school tests.

23. GOP Lawmakers Demand Education Chief's Resignation - Monday, June 23, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's office is dismissing as a "political stunt" a letter signed by 15 Republican lawmakers demanding the resignation of Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.

24. 2 Lawmakers Ask for Probe Into Test Score Delay - Monday, June 2, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Two Republican Tennessee lawmakers have asked for an investigation into the delay of student test scores.

Meanwhile, three Democrats have filed an open records request seeking information about the late release of student scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program.

25. Tennessee 12th-Graders Below Average in Math, Reading - Thursday, May 8, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said Wednesday that a report showing the state's high school seniors' below-average performance in math and reading is partially due to them not being exposed to recent education changes that have more rigorous standards.

26. Panel Begins Study of State's Funding Formula - Tuesday, March 25, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A task force appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam has begun studying the state's school funding formula.

The panel held its first meeting on Monday. It was formed amid criticism that the Basic Education Program, or BEP, is not adequately funding districts statewide. The program hasn't been fully funded since it was overhauled about seven years ago under then-Gov. Phil Bredesen.

27. Teachers' Union Files 2nd Test Scores Lawsuit - Monday, March 24, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's largest teachers' union is suing Gov. Bill Haslam and his education commissioner.

The Republican governor and Commissioner Kevin Huffman are included in the latest Tennessee Education Association lawsuit, which also includes the Knox County Board of Education as a defendant.

28. Tennessee Teachers Push Back on Evaluation Process - Tuesday, February 11, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – When Tennessee was competing for a half-billion dollars in federal education money, teachers agreed to allow the state to ramp up its use of student test scores for evaluating educators.

29. Task Force to Study State's Funding Formula - Wednesday, January 29, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed a task force to study the state's school funding formula.

The panel is being formed amid criticism that the Basic Education Program, or BEP, is not adequately funding districts statewide.

30. Haslam: Committed To Improving Teacher Salaries - Saturday, November 16, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he's committed to improving the salaries of the state's teachers and plans to provide some degree of funding in his proposed budget to start doing so.

The Republican governor began his annual budget hearings with agency leaders at the Capitol on Tuesday with the Education Department.

31. Haslam: Committed to Improving Teacher Salaries - Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s committed to improving the salaries of the state’s teachers and plans to provide some degree of funding in his proposed budget to start doing so.

The Republican governor began his annual budget hearings with agency leaders at the Capitol on Tuesday with the Education Department.

32. Test Progress Bolsters Haslam’s Education Reform Aspirations - Monday, November 11, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam picked up more statistics last week for his arsenal in the political battle over education reform in Tennessee.

And he touted the statewide growth rate in the 2013 National Assessment of Education Progress results at a Memphis school – a poignant choice because Shelby County is the epicenter for the reform efforts Haslam has made his own in the last three years after his predecessor, Gov. Phil Bredesen, began the effort in his second term of office.

33. Increasing Teacher Pay Next Goal for Haslam - Monday, October 7, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signaled last week that the next front in an increasingly vocal debate about education reform in the state will be over increasing teacher pay.

During a press conference Thursday, Oct. 3, in Nashville, Haslam set a goal of becoming “the fastest improving state in the U.S. when it comes to teacher pay.”

34. Senate Committee Questions Common Core Standards - Monday, September 23, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Senate Education Committee members on Friday expressed concerns about Tennessee's Common Core standards during a hearing on the issue.

One of the biggest concerns was that testing on the new standards will lead to unwanted data collection on Tennessee students.

35. Cleanup Crew - Saturday, September 21, 2013

DeAndre Brown runs what might be the best known landscape business in areas of Memphis where the yards have brush and trees taller than the vacant houses they completely obscure.

“We operate a little differently than other contractors. Most have subcontractors that work separately,” he said. “We are one large crew of 60 men or women. We get the heavy equipment in first. Then a team of weed eaters will go in behind that, then a team of people go in behind them and clean up.”

36. Haslam Disappointed in Superintendents' Petition - Wednesday, September 18, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam says he was disappointed to hear of a petition signed by nearly half of the states' school superintendents that raised serious concerns about Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.

37. Tennessee Education Commissioner Responds to Petition - Monday, September 16, 2013

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman didn't offer any apologies in his first comments about a petition signed by more than 60 school superintendents that is critical of his leadership at the department.

38. School Superintends Criticize Education Department - Friday, September 13, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – More than 60 school superintendents have signed a petition calling on Gov. Bill Haslam and state lawmakers to reevaluate the leadership at the Tennessee Department of Education.

39. Huffman Tours Memphis Achievement Schools - Friday, September 6, 2013

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman admits that when he tours an elementary school he is usually drawn to the first- and second-grade classrooms.

40. Superintendents Want Appeal for TCAP Coding Errors - Monday, August 19, 2013

A school superintendents group says nearly four dozen Tennessee public school districts would have appealed coding errors relating to TCAP test results if that were an option.

The Tennessean quoted a letter from Wayne Miller, executive director of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents to state Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman. In the letter, Miller asked Huffman to reopen the appeals window to allow school systems to review and correct TCAP coding errors

41. Teacher Salary Plan Raises Concern - Saturday, July 13, 2013

A decision by the state Board of Education to change how teachers are paid has led to a social media push to remove Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.

42. Haslam Defends Education Commissioner Under Fire - Tuesday, July 9, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday reiterated his support for the state's education commissioner, who has come under fire for changes to how teachers are paid.

At least two Facebook pages have been created calling for Kevin Huffman's ouster as well as an online petition that has garnered hundreds of signatures.

43. Teacher Salary Plan Raises Concern - Tuesday, July 9, 2013

A decision by the state Board of Education to change how teachers are paid has led to a social media push to remove Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.

44. Democrats Bemoan Changes to Teacher Salary Schedule - Friday, June 21, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State lawmakers are speaking out against a proposal by the state Department of Education they believe would eventually hurt teacher salaries in Tennessee.

Democratic leaders held a press conference on Thursday to oppose the measure that seeks to change the minimum teacher salary schedule.

45. New Common Core Standards Raise Questions in Tennessee - Thursday, May 2, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Proponents of a new set of uniform benchmarks for math and reading say they're needed to better prepare students for college and the workforce, but critics of the measures contend they don't know enough about them and are concerned about the federal government's involvement.

46. Senate Approves Virtual School Measure - Friday, March 15, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to tighten enrollment requirements at privately run online schools has passed the Senate.

The measure guided by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville was approved 27-2 on Thursday.

47. Haslam's School Voucher Bill Delayed - Friday, March 8, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – State Republicans are trying to decide between two competing proposals that would create a school voucher program in Tennessee.

Gov. Bill Haslam's measure had been scheduled to be heard Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee, but was delayed for two weeks.

48. Lawmaker Says Grade-Fixing Questions Justify Bill - Wednesday, February 13, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Questions about grades being changed at a privately run online school are a good example of why the so-called virtual schools should be run by the government, a state lawmaker said Tuesday.

49. Haslam Proposes Capping Online-School Enrollment - Thursday, January 31, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Some Democratic lawmakers say they support a proposal by Gov. Bill Haslam that would place stricter enrollment requirements on online public schools established in Tennessee.

50. Haslam, Tennessee Officials Hold School Safety Summit - Wednesday, January 30, 2013

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam told participants in a school safety summit on Tuesday that the state is committed to doing what it can to provide better security at Tennessee schools.

51. Lawmakers to Resume Education Focus in New Session - Tuesday, January 8, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Legislation that would allow parents to decide the fate of a struggling school is among several education-related proposals lawmakers are likely to discuss during the 108th Tennessee General Assembly that convenes Tuesday.

52. Schools Talks to Resume in Private - Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Private talks aimed at settling the federal lawsuit over municipal school districts are expected to resume with the end of the holiday season.

All sides in the legal matter had met behind closed doors at least twice after U.S. District Court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays ruled in late November that all moves taken in 2012 toward forming municipal school districts were void. He ruled the 2012 state law allowing leaders in Shelby County’s six suburban towns and cities to move ahead with their plans immediately violated the Tennessee Constitution.

53. Suburbs to Discuss Schools Agreement - Friday, December 14, 2012

There will be plenty to discuss Friday, Dec. 14, when suburban leaders sit down with their attorneys to talk about some kind of agreement on the terms under which schools in the six suburban municipalities will be part of the merged Shelby County public school system.

54. Huffman Not In School Talks - Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman won’t be involved in any meetings this week aimed at some type of agreement among all of the parties in the municipal schools district federal court case.

55. Huffman Brings Leverage to Possible Mediation - Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman would bring lots of political leverage with him should he mediate the coming merger of schools in Shelby County.

56. Calls Come to Change Schools Merger Process - Wednesday, December 5, 2012

As suburban mayors were scheduled to meet this week to talk over their options, the consolidation of all public schools in Shelby County that begins in August began to show signs of a shift.

The shift might be to take at least some of the decisions about the schools merger out of the hands of just the countywide school board or to junk the process the board is using. The mayors of the six towns and cities have all indicated they intend to push on for their own school districts, although several have said it is highly unlikely they could form them and open them for classes by August.

57. Memphis Charter School Growth Ranks Nationally - Thursday, November 15, 2012

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranks Memphis City Schools as having the ninth-highest growth rate for charter school enrollment in the country.

The new charter school survey, the seventh annual by the organization, released Wednesday, Nov. 14, shows charter school enrollment in Memphis City Schools grew by more than 21 percent in the 2011-2012 school year compared to the previous school year. Charter schools serve 6,500 students in Memphis by the alliance figures, which is a 6 percent market share.

58. Education Commissioner Says Federal Funds Unused - Thursday, November 8, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman says time is running out for school systems to use federal Race to the Top funds.

59. State Democrats Want to See Pre-Kindergarten Expansion - Thursday, November 8, 2012

Tennessee Democratic leaders say they plan to talk with Gov. Bill Haslam about expanding pre-kindergarten classes after the state’s education commissioner said he doesn’t plan to request funding for an expansion.

60. Data Show Tennessee Graduation Rate Improving - Friday, November 2, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's high school graduation rate is up and assessment tests taken by elementary and middle school students improved last year, according to data released Thursday by the Education Department.

61. Cash Clashes With State on Charter Schools - Thursday, November 1, 2012

Memphis City Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash warned countywide school board members Tuesday, Oct. 30, of what could be a second front in the clash between local school systems and Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration over charter schools.

62. School Board To Meet On Merger Recommendations Next Month - Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Countywide school board members will begin what several described as the “dirty work” of the schools merger to come at a special meeting Nov. 15.

At that meeting, the board will vote on many if not all of the recommendations from the consolidation planning commission that ended its work in July.

63. Nashville to Lose $3 Million for Rejecting Charter School - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The state Department of Education is withholding $3.4 million in funding from the public school system in Nashville over a rejected charter school.

The Metro Nashville school board last week defied an order by the state Board of Education to approve the application from Phoenix-based Great Hearts Academies.

64. Nashville to Lose $3 Million for Rejecting Charter School - Tuesday, September 18, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – The state Department of Education is withholding $3.4 million in funding from the public school system in Nashville over a rejected charter school.

The Metro Nashville school board last week defied an order by the state Board of Education to approve the application from Phoenix-based Great Hearts Academies.

65. Mays Opens Hearings On Municipal Schools With Testimony - Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The first of two days of testimony in the federal court case over the state laws setting up municipal school districts ended with a lot of reading material for U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays.

66. State Education, Nashville Officials at Odds - Thursday, August 16, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman says the Metro Nashville school board’s decision to put off approval of a charter school application is a violation of state law.

67. Muni Schools Questions Pass, Cohen Wins Big - Friday, August 3, 2012

Voters in each of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County approved establishing municipal school districts in the unofficial results of the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general and state and federal primary elections.

68. Planning Commission Approves Changes - Monday, July 30, 2012

More than a dozen school closings should take place in a single school year and have in other large school systems, the schools consolidation planning commission concluded Thursday, July 26, at what could be its last meeting.

69. Planning Commission Makes Adjustments To Schools Merger Plan - Friday, July 27, 2012

The group that drafted the blueprint for the consolidation of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools met Thursday, July 26, for what could be the final time to consider a few changes to their merger plan.

70. Committee to Disband as Board Considers Next Step - Thursday, July 26, 2012

The countywide school board’s ad hoc committee to review the schools consolidation plan is about to disband without acting on the plan sent to the board by the schools consolidation planning commission.

71. School Board Committee On Consolidation Plan Calls It A Day - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The countywide school board’s ad hoc committee to review the schools consolidation plan is about to disband without acting on the plan sent to the board by the schools consolidation planning commission.

72. Ed. Commissioner Approves Schools Merger Plan - Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman has formally signed off on the part of the local schools consolidation plan that required state approval. And he has said the state is not likely to provide additional post-merger funding.

73. Huffman Approves Schools Merger Plan - Monday, July 23, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman has formally signed off on the part of the local schools consolidation plan that required state approval. And he has said the state is not likely to provide additional post merger funding.

74. Schools Merger Draft Receives Different Responses - Monday, July 2, 2012

The plan for a consolidated countywide public school system got overshadowed last week by the federal court motion to stop the August referendums on municipal school districts.

But the 200-page plan with 172 recommendations is now formally before the countywide school board and Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman – the two next stops in the process for approving a merger plan.

75. Tenn. Scores Up in All but 1 of 24 Student Tests - Wednesday, June 27, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Proficiency levels are up in all but one of 24 of the latest assessment tests of elementary and middle students.

Gov. Bill Haslam and Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman announced the statewide test results at a Nashville middle school on Tuesday.

76. Cohen-Hart in Congressional Race at Filing Deadline - Friday, April 6, 2012

The chairman of the countywide school board, Billy Orgel, was effectively elected to his District 7 school board seat without opposition at the Thursday, April 5, filing deadline for candidates on the Aug. 2 primary and general election ballot in Shelby County.

77. Haslam: State Committed to Charter Schools - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The leader of a charter school company from out of state asked Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam in Memphis last week if there is anything he and other charter school leaders in the room should know about Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools.

78. State Education Commisioner to Get Consolidation Updates - Monday, January 16, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman will probably be meeting with leaders of the schools consolidation planning commission on a monthly basis.

79. Tenn. Comptroller Wants School Funding Formula Fix - Monday, December 12, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – State Comptroller Justin Wilson says Tennessee's school funding formula is fraught with complexity and a lack of transparency that could lead to either inadvertent or intentional errors in distributing state money.

80. Huffman: County's Education Faces Exciting Oppty. - Monday, December 5, 2011

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman told the group fashioning the plan to consolidate Shelby County’s two public school systems by the late summer of 2013 that the state wants to help.

81. Schools Planning Commission Hears From Huffman - Friday, December 2, 2011

The schools consolidation planning commission approved the idea Thursday, Dec. 1, of the Shelby County Education Foundation being the middle man for a contract with an education consultant group.

But a contract with Boston Consulting Group isn’t quite ready yet said planning commission member and attorney Christine Richards who is drafting the agreement.

82. Tenn. Ed Commissioner Appoints Two Officials - Friday, December 2, 2011

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman has appointed two state education officials, effective Jan. 1.

83. Teacher Evaluation System Due For More Changes - Wednesday, November 2, 2011

With state officials due to release new teacher evaluation report cards for school systems across the state this month, Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman announced Monday, Oct. 31, he will ask the state to again modify the system.

84. Ed. Department Outlines School District Strategies - Monday, October 3, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Tennessee Education Department on Friday released several strategies to help school districts reach goals set by the state, which U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has singled out as a leader in education reform.

85. Report Shows Decline in Tenn. ACT Scores - Thursday, August 18, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – State education officials say a recent ACT college entrance exam report highlights the ongoing need for education reform in Tennessee.

According to the report released Wednesday, results from the April 2011 test show the state's public high school students' composite ACT score dropped from 19.1 out of 36 in 2010 to 19 in 2011.

86. School Board Elections Next Step in Process - Tuesday, August 16, 2011

All eight of the entities involved in the schools consolidation case in Memphis federal court agree that the Shelby County Commission should draw the district lines for a new countywide school board.

87. Countywide School Board Plans Make Different Recommendations to Court - Monday, August 15, 2011
Recommendations for the creation of a new countywide school board began coming in late Friday, Aug. 12, to the Federal Court clerk's office.

The Memphis City School board recommends a seven district countywide school board with an election of that board to be held no later than March 2012.

88. The Second Coming of Schools Reform - Monday, August 8, 2011

Depending on what happens in Memphis federal court this could be either the last or the next to last school year for the Memphis City Schools system as we know it.

And it has been a busy one even before the first day of classes – even without what is expected to be a landmark court ruling setting the terms for a consolidation of city and county schools systems.

89. State Asks Feds For NCLB Waiver - Monday, August 1, 2011

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says the state is asking federal education officials to give the state a waiver in meeting federal education standards under the No Child Left Behind program.

Haslam and Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman announced the application for the waiver as they released figures for state public school districts measuring average yearly progress (AYP) under NCLB.

90. State Asks for NCLB Waiver - Friday, July 29, 2011

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says the state is asking federal education officials to give the state a waiver in meeting federal education standards under the No Child Left Behind program.

Haslam and Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman announced the application for the waiver as they released figures for state public school districts measuring average yearly progress (AYP) under NCLB.

91. TCAPs Show Gap Between City, County Schools - Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The results of the second year of higher state achievement testing standards for Tennessee’s third- through eighth-graders came with some basic conclusions in the test scores and some mixed signals in the percentage figures in a separate column from the TCAP scores.

92. Barbic Takes Charge of 4 City Schools - Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The first head of Tennessee’s new achievement school district starts Aug. 1 with four Memphis schools in his five-school district.

Chris Barbic was in Memphis last week as Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law the bill that removes the cap on the creation of charter schools. The law also permits a version of open enrollment for charter schools and allows the achievement school district to establish charter schools.

93. Haslam Guarding Against Reduction of School Days - Wednesday, May 18, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he wants to ensure that any changes to Tennessee's academic calendar won't reduce the number of days students spend in school.

94. Haslam Names Barbic to Run Tenn. Failing Schools - Wednesday, May 11, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam has named Texas charter school operator Chris Barbic to head Tennessee's special school district for failing schools.

The Republican governor on Tuesday announced 40-year-old Barbic will be the superintendent of the new Achievement School District that will take over five schools this fall. The administration plans to grow the special statewide district in future years.

95. Survey of Teachers Will Help State Improve Schools - Thursday, May 5, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – A survey of more than 57,000 Tennessee educators is expected to help education officials develop ways to improve the schools.

An impressive 77 percent of educators and administrators responded to the TELL Tennessee survey, short for Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning.

96. Haslam 'Won't Apologize' for Cabinet Pay Hikes - Wednesday, April 13, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam on Tuesday said he won't apologize for his decision to give many of his department heads big raises while proposing only a 1.6 percent increase for other state workers.

97. Teachers May be Evaluated on Performance of Others - Monday, April 11, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – More than two-thirds of the state's teachers may have a portion of their evaluations in the next school year based on what students learned, or didn't, in someone else's classroom.

98. Schools High on Haslam’s ‘To-Do’ List - Monday, April 11, 2011

The legal documents in the schools consolidation lawsuit include the name of Patrick Smith, the acting state commissioner of education when the lawsuit was filed Feb. 11 by the county school system.

99. New Tenn. Ed Chief Quiet on Teacher Bargaining Rights - Thursday, April 7, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Newly sworn Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman is staying on the sidelines of a contentious proposal to curb teachers’ collective bargaining rights in Tennessee.

100. Haslam Boosts Commissioners' Salaries - Thursday, April 7, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is paying his department heads significantly more than their counterparts made in the administration of the former Democratic governor.

An Associated Press analysis of public salary records shows that Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman is making $200,000 per year, up $20,000 from the previous administration. Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons is making $43,000 more than his predecessor.