Newsroom

Governor Bill Lee’s announcement around school closures: “We thank Governor Lee for encouraging school districts to close through the end of the month in order to protect the health and wellbeing of Tennessee’s students, teachers, and entire communities across the state. The Department of Education team has been working overtime to communicate with districts and issue guidance to help them make plans and decisions to ensure a continuation of academic instruction as well as critical meal and other services for students during times of school closure.

Murfreesboro, TN— On March 3rd and 4th, the Tennessee Department of Education led a critical conversation about due process and school safety at its 22nd Student Discipline Institute. Hundreds of experts, stakeholders and administrators gathered to discuss student discipline and keeping kids safe. Topics ranged from online bullying to mental health. Over 350 people attended the Student Discipline Institute last week despite the devastation caused by tornadoes across Middle Tennessee. Dr. Penny Schwinn, Tennessee Education Commissioner, opened the conference by addressing the damage in the area. “It’s one of those days where taking care of the whole child goes well beyond the walls of the classroom,” said Schwinn.

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Education was selected to receive $50,000 in grant funding from First Book’s OMG Books Awards to purchase 13,000 books for Tennessee students. These books are intended to help develop a love of learning among students in Tennessee’s rural and distressed communities, in alignment with the department’s Best for All strategic plan and early literacy strategic priority, as well as Governor Bill Lee’s initiative to support rural counties across the state.

KNOXVILLE, TN— The Tennessee Department of Education today announced a new “Grow Your Own” partnership between Knox County Schools and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville) to encourage more aspiring educators to pursue the profession and develop a local pipeline of well-qualified teachers who are ready for the classroom.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn praised Governor Bill Lee and his second State of the State Address in which he announced historic investments in public education in Tennessee, including major initiatives to improve early literacy, to establish a quarter of a billion dollar endowment to support mental health services in our public schools, and to build the best teacher preparation program right here in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE – Today, Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn awarded 21 Governor’s Civics Seal mini-grants promoting life-long civic engagement in schools and districts across the state. "Teaching civics to our students is a key priority of my administration, and I'm pleased to see this initiative is taking shape," said Governor Bill Lee. "Thanks to these new resources, we can better prepare our students in the classroom and in life for what it means to be a citizen of this great nation." The mini-grants allocate $220,000 to support public schools and districts implementing high-quality civic education programs that result in readiness for college, career, and civic life.

NASHVILLE — Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education are awarding start-up grants to fund middle school career and technical education (CTE); science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education; and the expansion of equitable access and participation in early postsecondary opportunities (EPSOs).

NASHVILLE— Today, Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn unveiled the state report card, an annual report designed to provide convenient access to the most important data and information about every school and district in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE—A Hamilton County high school principal and a Gibson County supervisor have been honored for their work in Tennessee education during the annual banquet on Tuesday night.

NASHVILLE— Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn today presented the department’s strategic plan to more than 1,000 statewide educators at the 2019 LEAD conference held in Nashville. The plan, called “Best for All,” sets priorities for the department in serving Tennessee students, teachers, administrators, and families.

NASHVILLE—Today Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced that 117 charter schools will receive approximately half of the $12 million that was allocated to the department’s Charter School Facilities fund in Governor Lee’s budget. The money is designed to ensure that students in a Tennessee charter school are being educated in an environment that supports student achievement, safety, and well-being.