Tennessee Schools Face Discipline and Audits as Letter Grades are Released

More than a quarter of Tennessee's public K-12 schools could face corrective action and audits after receiving Ds or Fs under a new grading system. The controversial letter grading system, which advocates argue provides transparency for parents, has been criticized for favoring standardized test proficiency over overall academic growth. Schools that receive low grades may be required to follow a corrective plan or face academic and financial audits starting in the 2024-25 school year. Nearly half of the schools that received Fs are within the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district. Critics argue that the system stigmatizes public schools and fails to capture the complexity of school performance.