This is not normal wapo.st/4pFh6lw

Know a Tennessee kid who's up to something neat, whether big or small? I want to hear about it. Maybe they're super into a hobby. Maybe they started a small business. Maybe they showed someone an act of kindness. Maybe they're dreaming big about the future. Reply here or DM me!

Know a Tennessee kid who's up to something neat, whether big or small? I want to hear about it. Maybe they're super into a hobby. Maybe they started a small business. Maybe they showed someone an act of kindness. Maybe they're dreaming big about the future. Reply here or DM me!

We need your help to see the full picture of how the dismantling of the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights is affecting students, parents, school employees and their wider communities. Here's how to reach out:

The final installment of my yearlong Class Disrupted project just published. This one is especially close to my heart. It tells the stories of kids and schools devastated by disasters and what it takes to recover. Here's a recap of part 4 and the project as a whole. ⤵️ (1/4) 📸: Mark Zaleski

The final installment of my yearlong Class Disrupted project just published. This one is especially close to my heart. It tells the stories of kids and schools devastated by disasters and what it takes to recover. Here's a recap of part 4 and the project as a whole. ⤵️ (1/4) 📸: Mark Zaleski

A few weeks ago I had the honor of sitting down with staff and students at B.E. Academy for Girls. The private, nonprofit Nashville school is up for the prestigious $1 million Yass Prize. Read more about the school's vision and see it all in action here. ⤵️

A five-year-old boy with autism is facing assault charges after outbursts at his school. Here's what @evanmealins.bsky.social and I learned after digging into records, hearing from the boy's parents and getting perspective from police and an expert. www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...

Four Fayette County Public Schools employees filed a lawsuit on Oct. 23 against the district’s school board, alleging a pattern of racial discrimination and retaliation against Black staffers. The next day, the district’s superintendent fired one of them. From [email protected].

My Saturday shift just so happened to land in the middle of College GameDay here in Nashville. I got to meet Tyler, the Vanderbilt sophomore who nailed a 33-yard kick (wearing socks!) and won $500K.

Some good news: Nashville is set to open a 24-7 emergency mental health facility that will be available free of charge to children ages 4-17.

I am delighted to celebrate this gem of a human being. She deserves every last one of her flowers, literally and figuratively. We love you, Miss Bev!

A lot of information about who's benefitting from Tennessee's new school voucher law isn't available, but @rachelannwegner.bsky.social has found many of the participating schools are religious and concentrated in populous counties: www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...

Nashville middle schoolers will soon walk through weapon detection scanners on their way into school. The move follows a rollout of scanners in district high schools after the deadly Antioch High shooting earlier this year.

Yesterday, a group wielding MAGA hats and signs that said things like "DEI should be illegal" was removed from campus at Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville. The group appears to be inspired by Charlie Kirk. Here's my story on what we know.

Dwayne Tucker was named as permanent president at Tennessee State University last month. He's taking the helm of the HBCU after years of leadership and financial upheaval. We sat down to talk about his story and his vision for TSU — and the sense of purpose that drew him back to his alma mater.

Pretty proud of this cross-newsroom collaborative reporting from: Kelly Puente on records of THP's immigration sweep on May 3-4, @angelelatham.bsky.social on the lack of transparency from THP, and myself, who built a map of the traffic stops + census demographics. www.tennessean.com/story/news/i...

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been let out of jail.

Public comments got heated at last night's MNPS board meeting over a $6.5M lawsuit settlement going to five people who claim Director Adrienne Battle fired or demoted them out of retaliation. Officials maintained the district and Battle did nothing wrong.

Need a heartwarming (and possibly tear-jerking) read? I got you covered. After I watched this all unfold on TikTok, I tracked down the people behind it to hear more of their story.

Need a heartwarming (and possibly tear-jerking) read? I got you covered. After I watched this all unfold on TikTok, I tracked down the people behind it to hear more of their story.

Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act paves the way for federal school vouchers to help families pay for private school. Tennessee intends to opt in to the program, which is set to start in 2027. Here's a look at how it will work and who qualifies.

More than $118M in frozen federal funds for underserved children in Tennessee will start flowing again next week after a monthlong delay by the Trump administration. The money is part of $6.2B previously passed by Congress and signed by Trump for K-12 schools nationwide.

Metro Nashville Public Schools just rolled back its DEI policies to comply with a Tennessee's new "Dismantling DEI Act." Board members expressed frustration over it during a committee meeting yesterday. "If not for state law, we would not be taking this action," Board Member Erin O'Hara Block said.

I had the honor of talking about the anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial on today's episode of The Excerpt. The trial kicked off in a small town in Tennessee 100 years ago today, starting what some say was the country's first culture war. (1/2)

More than half of third graders in Tennessee's public schools fell short of a reading benchmark on this year's standardized test. That set off a fast-moving timeline for them to avoid being held back under the state's controversial reading law.

More than half of third graders in Tennessee's public schools fell short of a reading benchmark on this year's standardized test. That set off a fast-moving timeline for them to avoid being held back under the state's controversial reading law.

Advocates say Trump's sprawling tax and spending bill that just passed will have "devastating" effects on children, low-income families and other vulnerable people in Tennessee. While the full impact is still uncertain, here's a look at what we know.

Just published: The Trump administration is holding back $6.5 billion in funding for K-12 schools that the law says must flow to states tomorrow. It's not clear when, or if, the money will be released. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Three key education laws will take effect in Tennessee tomorrow. Here's a look at what they entail, along with a look back at other major education bills that made it across the finish line after yet another contentious session earlier this year.

A bit of wholesome news to cleanse your timeline: The community has rallied around a Nashville middle school band that was slated to be cut. Today, their effort got a $50,000 boost from Old Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey.

I had the honor of stopping into a few Juneteenth celebrations around Nashville today. Here's a look at what I saw, heard and learned.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges against him in Tennessee. More below:

My Tennessean teammates are on the ground and in the courthouse today for a hearing for Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The Maryland man’s deportation has become symbolic of Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement. Live updates will be rolling here all day. ⬇️

Tennessee is suing the U.S. Department of Education over federal funding that supports Hispanic students. Tennessee AG Skrmetti, a Republican, joined with an anti-affirmative action group to file the suit against the Trump administration.

A lesser-known fact about CMA Fest: It doubles as a fundraiser for music education for kids in Tennessee and nationwide. This go around, it brought in $2.5M for the cause.

A little dose of joy: Antioch High School held its graduation ceremony last night. Tennessean photojournalist Mark Zaleski captured some truly beautiful photos of it all.

After years of controversy, Tennessee's statewide school voucher program is now up and running. Applications for the 2025-26 school year launched today for the taxpayer-funded vouchers that families can use to offset private K-12 school costs.

A wave of ICE arrests in Nashville have driven rumors that agents are targeting schools. While there are no credible reports of immigration officials showing up on campuses, I took a closer look at what's happening, what's legal and what students and leaders are saying.

I sat down with students ages 8-18 for this installment of Class Disrupted, a yearlong education project for The Tennessean. We talked about how gun violence and school shootings affect the way they think, feel and act. In a conversation dominated by adults, here's what the kids had to say. (2/3)

If there's a school shooting, where's the best place to hide? What's the fastest way out? How much do I trust my teacher? Is that kid acting strange? Is my school next? These are thoughts students shared with me after Nashville's second school shooting in as many years. (1/3)

Truly heart-wrenching coverage by @lucasfinton.bsky.social.

Tennessee State University just named James Sexton as its new interim director for the Grammy-winning Aristocrat of Bands. It also named Dwight Pope as director of cheer and dance, where he'll oversee the Sophisticated Ladies dance team.

Some personal news: After 13 years at The Tennessean, I am embarking on a new role as the senior editor for storytelling @usatoday.com where I'll get to work with a talented team of national correspondents telling in-depth stories from across the U.S. 1/

The Supreme Court is hearing a case today on whether a public charter school run by the Catholic Church in Oklahoma is permissible. It brings up issues of the separation of church and state and taxpayer dollars going toward religious education.

Meharry Medical College is expanding its reach, business model and academics with the purchase of 8 clinics in the greater Nashville and Memphis areas. I had the honor of pinch hitting for our health reporter last week as I sat down with Meharry leadership to hear more about what it all means.

Metro Nashville Public Schools released its "vals and sals" list for the class of 2025 this week. The students are the top in their classes across 19 high schools and plan to pursue everything from veterinary medicine to aerospace engineering. www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...

I was listening to interviews I did with kids all over Nashville on how they think, feel and navigate after two school shootings here in as many years. Then my phone lit up with news alerts about Florida State. My heart is continuously broken.

Timeline cleanse: Go behind the scenes with me for a morning with the @nashvillezoo.bsky.social veterinary team — complete with video and some truly amazing photos.

Hundreds marched to the Tennessee Capitol today to protest a bill that would allow public schools to deny a free education to undocumented children. The bill’s future remains uncertain in the stage legislature. More from me and @itsmelissabrown.bsky.social. ⬇️