The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is set to receive $107 million in additional funding after the State Building Commission approved funds to design the new Woodland Hills and John S. Wilder youth development centers, as well as renovations and construction of assessment and intake facilities.
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Dolores Gresham Says She Will Not Seek Reelection
Tennessee State Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), who also chairs the state Senate’s Education Committee, said she will not seek reelection this year, according to a press release Gresham put out Thursday.
Read the full storyRutherford County and Somerville Women Charged with TennCare Fraud
Tennessee officials have arrested women from Rutherford County and Somerville and charged them with TennCare fraud.
Read the full storyFayette County Commissioners to Decide on ‘In God We Trust’ Resolution
Fayette County Commissioners are scheduled next week to decide on a resolution affirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States.
Read the full storyNew Report Examines Impact of Ineffective Teachers on Students in Tennessee
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a new report that explores how students in Tennessee’s public schools are impacted when they are taught by an ineffective teacher for two consecutive years. This, according to a press release Tennessee Comptrollers released this week. The report was prepared at the request of State Sen. Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville. “More than 8,000 Tennessee students (1.6 percent of students included in the study) had a teacher with low evaluation scores in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years in math, English, or both subjects,” according to the Tennessee Comptrollers’ press release. “Students were less likely than their peers to be proficient or advanced on the state’s assessments when they were taught by ineffective teachers in consecutive years. Student achievement also suffered with the largest effects found for the highest and lowest performing students. These results are consistent with other research indicating that ineffective teachers have negative academic impacts on students.” Students in certain districts, grades, subjects, and subgroups were more likely to be taught in consecutive years by ineffective teachers, the press release said. “English language learners, students in special education, and students in high-poverty schools were over 50 percent more likely than other students…
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