UNANSWERED QUESTIONS In 2014, Tennessee didn’t choose Questar to create its standardized tests in part because of the company’s lack of experience. This week, the education department announced it was awarding the company a contract worth up to $150 million. Chalkbeat, The Tennessean, WSMV-TV
TOUGH DISCUSSIONS As Teach for America prepares new teachers to educate in Nashville, the conversation turns to two recent police killings of black men and how the events might affect students. Chalkbeat
LANDFILL OPPOSITION More than 50 Memphians attended a town hall meeting to voice their opposition of a proposal to expand a landfill close to an elementary school in the Frayser neighborhood. The Commercial Appeal, WREG-TV
BOARD FORUM The two candidates for the a Nashville school board race worked to distinguish themselves at a forum on some of the most important issues facing metro schools. The Tennessean
SCHOOL BOARD PANEL With a four-year incumbent trying to defend her seat on Hamilton County's school board, a challenger smells blood in the water. Chattanooga Times Free Press
FIRST LADY VISIT Crissy Haslam charmed a roomful of eager young readers at Glenwood Elementary School in Oak Ridge when she appeared to read books as a part of a "Read to be Ready" summer grant program. Knoxville News Sentinel
NAME CHANGE A Gibson County middle school could have a name change, depending on the vote of the school board. The Jackson Sun
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Sullivan County school leaders plan to approve two architectural contracts that could cost more than $4.3 million for design of an estimated $80 million worth of new school construction. Kingsport Times-News
ALMOST COMPLETED The principal of Hobgood Elementary School in Murfeesboro said a 4-year expansion project on the school building is almost complete. The Daily News Journal
CANDIDATE SURVEYS Commentary: Read candidate responses to questions posed by The Tennessean Editorial Board to the 12 candidates vying for positions on Nashville's school board. The Tennessean
TOWN HALL: Commentary: The Chattanooga Times Free Press and WRCB-TV hosted a televised discussion called "State of Education: A Town Hall Meeting," in which local educators and officials spoke about the challenges, realities and potential solutions to problems involving Hamilton County public schools. Chattanooga Times Free Press