SOCIAL STUDIES You've heard what Buzzfeed thinks about Tennessee's social studies standards. Here’s what teachers say. Chalkbeat, The Tennessean
PRE-K EXPANSION In a rush to adopt popular early-education programs, policymakers have not always evaluated what actually works for children, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University. The Atlantic, Chalkbeat
GRADUATION RATES A handful of Shelby County schools whose graduation rates ranked at the bottom a year ago made significant gains this spring, according to new data. The Commercial Appeal
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH Hamilton County's school board decides to hire a firm to conduct a national search for the district's next leader. Chattanooga Times Free Press
INTERIM DIRECTOR The K-12 supervisor for Cheatham County Schools is selected interim director to replace Stan Curtis after the termination of his contract. The Ashland City Times
SHAWN JOSEPH Nashville's new schools director defends himself about allegations that he used district employees to perform maintenance work at his house. WTVF-TV, WSMV-TV
SPORTS SEGREGATION High school sports in Tennessee are already split in many ways between private and public schools, but recent rule changes are resulting in a move toward even more competitive segregation. Nashville Public Radio
FAILING SCHOOLS Tennesseans have debated for years how to turn around chronically failing schools, and now voters in Georgia are taking up the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot. Chattanooga Times-Free Press
TURNAROUND DISTRICTS A Georgia legislator shares the lessons he learned from school takeover programs in Tennessee and other states and how those lessons have shaped Georgia's version of the Achievement School District. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
EARLY LEARNING Here's a look at Su Casa`s Esperanza Early Childhood Center, which opened this year as one of Memphis' first bilingual pre-schools. WREG-TV
SCHOOL BOARD RACE Six women are competing for three spots on Germantown's school board, and how to handle the district's capacity issues is at the heart of each race. The Commercial Appeal
TENNESSEE PROMISE The statewide program that allows high school graduates to go to community college for free seems to be boosting the number of students returning for a second year, according to preliminary data. Nashville Public Radio
BUILDING SCHOOLS Rutherford County taxpayers could pay $402 million in school building plans to keep up with growth through mid-2022. Daily News Journal
AP TESTING Sullivan County school leaders soon may seek request state money to cover Advanced Placement testing costs for students. Kingsport Times-News
MAKING THE GRADE Greene County's school board changes the district's grading system. The Greeneville Sun
SETTING STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS Blount County Schools is one of eight districts participating in a state research program to better guide students to college and careers. The Daily Times
EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY Maury County and state education and business leaders discuss how Tennessee Promise and tnAchieves initiatives can contribute to local economic prosperity. The Daily Herald
TINY HOUSE Students at Hamilton County's Tyner Academy learn about renewable energy by building an energy-efficient, solar-powered tiny house. Chattanooga Times Free Press
MOCK ELECTION Tennessee's secretary of state visits a Williamson County high school as students cast their votes for the next president. The Tennessean
GOOD MUSIC The marching band for Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett is named best of the best at the 2016 Super Regional Championships in Atlanta. Kingsport Times-News
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION More than 300 Williamson County high school students attend an inaugural leadership conference geared toward career and technical education. The Tennessean
SOLIDARITY A Jackson elementary school principal shaves his head to support a teacher undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. The Jackson Sun
LIFE MAZE More than a thousand Dyer County students participate in a role-playing game to learn about the consequences of personal choices. Dyersburg State Gazette
GO PINK Students at Nashville Pearl-Cohn High School use their musical talent to raise awareness about breast cancer. WKRN-TV
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING Kingsport special education students join with their peer tutors to feed, clean and brush horses during a field trip to a therapeutic equestrian center. Kingsport Times-News
FIELD HOUSE After nearly a decade in the making and a million-dollar budget, Mt. Pleasant High School booster clubs celebrate the completion of the school’s new field house. The Daily Herald
OPINION: TURF BATTLES IN MEMPHIS The fractious competition between Tennessee's Achievement School District and Shelby County Schools, as well political animosity that has developed over whether the ASD should be allowed to take over more failing schools, is not serving the best interests of children who deserve a shot at the best public education possible. The Commercial Appeal