Tagged: tennessee

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law a proposal encouraging school districts to develop parental involvement contracts with students' parents.  Under the proposal, parents would agree to, at a minimum, review their student's homework and offer assistance when needed, sign report cards, ensure that their student is not truant.  They must also attend school functions, and make every effort to attend parent-teacher conferences.  According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the law is similar to a proposal Michigan passed in 2001.  Another measure advancing in the T

Tenn Gov. Bill Haslam is expressing reservations about a bill seeking to cap the number of foreigners working at Tennessee charter schools.

The Republican governor says he is concerned about the measure headed for his consideration after passing both chambers.

Haslam says the state is trying to promote more science, technology, engineering and math classes in the state, and he doesn't want to close off a potential pipeline of teachers with expertise in those subjects.

Tennessee’s strawberry crop looks to be the best in years, despite recent frosts. Agriculture Department spokesperson Tammy Algood says the mild winter and warm spring have ripened the fruit more than in a typical year. That means it has increased sugar levels which make it more cold tolerant. She also says growers are used to close calls and are set up to react to cold weather. Algood says strawberry lovers should call ahead if they plan to visit a patch. She says a patch filled with ripe berries on Friday could be picked clean by Saturday, then ready for another crowd by Tuesday.

Opponents of a Tennessee proposal protecting teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories like global warming are urging Governor Bill Haslam to veto the measure.  Several opponents of the legislation delivered a petition containing more than 3,000 signatures to Haslam spokesman David Smith outside the governor's office Thursday.  Smith told those who brought the petition he would make sure the governor got it.  Haslam says he’ll sign the proposal, which he says encourages critical thinking by protecting teachers from discipline if they help students crit

A proposal that would allow school board members in Tennessee to participate in meetings remotely is headed to Governor Bill Haslam for his consideration.  The measure was sent to Governor Haslam Thursday after the Senate agreed to minor changes made by the House.  The legislation would allow school board members to participate in a meeting electronically up to twice a year if they were out of the country for work, on military service or attending to a family emergency.  Sponsors say the bill is necessary because some school boards already allow remote attendance and proxy voting without an