Laura D. Testino 〽️

ICYMI: Tennessee lawmakers voted last week to stifle accountability lawsuits. Here is what an education lawyer told me at the time about how that may work out with a takeover, before details of takeover bill were decided: dailymemphian.com/section/metros…

Perhaps you are like my friends and family, squinting at my every byline to figure out when I will text you back. If so, you've seen datelines from Nashville and Memphis today. This happens because subscribers pay for local news and donors make it free in schools. Thank you.

NEWS: MSCS board votes to sue over state takeover proposal dailymemphian.com/article/60383/…

NEW: Closures, spending, superintendent hires: What could state appointees decide about Memphis schools? dailymemphian.com/subscriber/sec…

MSCS could move quickly toward a lawsuit on state’s takeover, which could move quickly through floor votes this week New MSCS special called meeting tomorrow evening 4/21 calls for vote on retaining outside counsel to pursue a suit go.boarddocs.com/tn/scsk12/Boar…

This bill uses the forensic audit and leadership churn to target MSCS. Other districts are implicated when relying on academic factors alone. You can get a sense of that from last year, too: dailymemphian.com/subscriber/art…

Spirit of this proposal is the same as last year, but there are some key differences in details that pinpoint MSCS as the target here and expand powers of appointees. If you want a refresher about last year's mis-matched bills: dailymemphian.com/subscriber/art…

NEWS: Takeover plan would give state appointees sweeping power over Memphis schools dailymemphian.com/section/metroe…

@ChanceCarlisle One FYI for academic comparisons: The only NAEP TUDA data for Memphis exists for test years between 2017 and 2022. The district withdrew participation ahead of the 2024 test year nces.ed.gov/nationsreportc…

@ChanceCarlisle @grok @SenBrentTaylor @CSexton25 You can find all comparable statewide analyses here: edunomicslab.org/roi-over-time/

Let’s try Memphis-Shelby County Schools District. @grok generated this chart using similar data sources. @ldtestino @SenBrentTaylor @CSexton25

State lawmakers restore funding for child summer food program rejected by Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Lookout reports: tennesseelookout.com/2026/04/17/sta…

Tennessee Republicans have cut $43M in funding for the state's TennCare diaper benefit. TN was the first state in the nation to offer two years' worth of free diapers for low-income mothers. That's now set to end in 2027. tennessean.com/story/news/pol…

Gov. Bill Lee and other Republicans are pointing to interest in the program, which will give more than $7,500 per child for private school tuition and certain educational costs. chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026…

Join our Metro team for an interactive panel discussion about local upcoming elections. Your voice matters — join us at The Roundtable on April 16 at @cafeeclectic. RSVP today 👉 eventbrite.com/e/the-roundtab… Featured staff: @ericbarnes2, @janedhoe, @samhardiman, @ldtestino and @bdriesdm

News: TN Senate inches closer to details of an MSCS takeover, which could get $1M in startup money dailymemphian.com/section/metros…

More: A source told me that the other, higher bidder for The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was Alden Global Capital (which did not respond to comment request). PG owner Block Communications went with the nonprofit Venetoulis Institute instead x.com/katie_robertso…

NEW: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will continue publishing! It has been acquired by the nonprofit Venetoulis Institute, which runs the Baltimore Banner. My story here: nytimes.com/2026/04/14/bus…

don't compare the education section production to T magazine or you may tearfully appear face-to-face with the realities of news as a business

Some Tennessee Republicans and Democrats argued the new voucher expansion breaks promises made to public school districts last year. House Republicans also quietly slipped in a new amendment that could target public school funding for immigrant students. chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026…

Senate message calendar > lawmaker appointments to conference committee > conf cmte meets to produce final, matching proposal > proposal goes to Senate + House floor votes These steps have to happen in next 2-3 weeks in order for it to pass Track here: wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/…

Once MSCS takeover bill makes it back to a Senate message calendar, then we'll begin to see which lawmakers will shape the final version of the bill. It's most likely there will be little time for public to see the final proposal before it's submitted for final floor votes.