Reporter’s Note
What is the best way to teach a child to read? Who really pays for “free college” programs? How are teachers trained to work with special education students or enforce discipline?
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– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
Last week was the week of big announcements for Hamilton County Schools and other institutions in the region.
Hamilton County Schools announced that two partners, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, would expand their work with some of the district’s Future Ready Institutes – BlueCross will launch a second Technology Academy at Soddy-Daisy High School and UTC will partner with the district’s two International Baccalaureate programs.
Hamilton County also announced a historic agreement with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency that will allow Hixson High School students to manage state land.
UTC Chancellor Steve Angle reflected on the school’s 50th anniversary as part of the UT system with Interim President Randy Boyd in attendance at the annual State of the University address on Thursday.
Boyd and Angle also visited Red Bank High School last week to talk about the new UT Promise Scholarship program that covers tuition for Tennessee students who come from families with incomes under a certain threshold. Here’s everything you need to know about the UT Promise program.
In other higher education news, Bryan College’s controversial President Stephen Livesay is stepping down at the end of the 2019-20 academic year and current Provost and Vice President for Academics Doug Mann is set to take over. The college recently slashed tuition rates in and effort to increase enrollment.
Surrounding counties are also celebrating the groundbreaking of the new McMinn Higher Education Center near Athens – a $17.75 million project that has been years in the making. Gov. Bill Lee joined alongside officials from the Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee College of Applied Technology and Cleveland State Community College at the ceremony last week.
Finally, Hamilton County Schools has made national news again – this time because family members of a kindergarten student at East Ridge Elementary are alleging that the boy had been punished and reported to the state for hugging a classmate. District officials said the incident was more serious then that.
For these stories and more, keep reading!