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There’s been a lot of angst since then about the academic losses that students have shown since then. That’s part of why researchers at Harvard and Stanford started to publish analyses of academic recovery across the country starting in 2022.
And the picture they paint is not always rosy. The latest Education Scorecard came out this week. It found that only five states and the District of Columbia “had meaningful growth in reading test scores from 2022 to 2025,” according to the Associated Press.
The good news? Tennessee is one of those five states showing improvement.
WHAT TO KNOW
Tennessee students are among the top performers in the country for post-pandemic academic recovery. Credit: MNPS via FacebookIn fact, Tennessee students are among the top performers in the country for post-pandemic academic recovery in reading and math, according to the new dataset.
WPLN education reporter Camellia Burris combed through the report to find some of the most interesting tidbits:
📈 Between 2022 and 2025, Tennessee ranked second out of 38 states in math improvement and fourth out of 35 states in reading recovery.
📈 The report credited Tennessee’s gains in reading recovery to its early literacy initiatives and its phonics-based method of teaching reading, called the “science of reading.” This method pushes for students to learn how to read by sounding out words rather than relying on strategies like guessing words based on context clues.
📈 Chronic absenteeism has dropped statewide, from about 20% in 2022 to 18% in 2025. But it is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
📈 The improvement in high-poverty districts was in part a result of federal pandemic relief — about $3,900 per student in Tennessee. Those dollars are no longer available.
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How does a now-iconic military weapon trace back to a Middle Tennessee man with an idea? The Barrett “Light Fifty” sniper rifle was designed as a passion project by a local firearms enthusiast in his free time. Plus, the local news for May 15, 2026, and a city-state power grab.
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MORE TO KNOW
- There is now a fourth lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s new congressional maps. The NAACP and the League of Women Voters filed the latest legal challenge yesterday in federal court yesterday. The new suit centers on the fact that the new congressional map was pushed through the legislative process in just 48 hours with minimal transparency or public feedback, despite warnings it would weaken Black political representation. “A FOURTH lawsuit?” you say. “What are the other three?” Great question! WPLN’s Nina Cardona broke them down earlier this week.
- The window will soon close for Tennesseans to apply for FEMA aid in the wake of the January ice storm. So far, the federal agency has distributed nearly $24 million among more than 10,000 applicants. The money reimburses people for disaster-related expenses, including temporary lodging and home repairs. It can also go toward medical bills and transportation related to storm injuries. This level of assistance was approved by the president in April and is open to people in 29 counties. The deadline is June 10. We’ve got all the links you need.
- Four Memphis residents have sued U.S. and Tennessee officials over action related to the Memphis Safe Task Force. The residents say they have been harassed, arrested and physically mistreated for engaging in First Amendment protected activities by observing and recording law enforcement agents in their city. President Donald Trump created the task force last fall with the stated goal of fighting crime in Memphis using agents from more than a dozen federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The lawsuit says the task force has conducted over 120,000 traffic stops since late September. [Associated Press]
- Wally Dietz, who has led Metro through several high profile court cases as its legal director, is retiring. Dietz has led Metro Legal since 2021. During his tenure, he launched four lawsuits challenging state laws that the city said unfairly targeted Nashville. Metro saw some victories, although one case, which could halve the size of the Metro Council, is still awaiting a ruling from the state Supreme Court. He also partnered with other cities and governments to challenge funding cuts by the Trump administration. Mayor Freddie O’Connell tapped attorney Tyler Yarbro as his replacement.
FROM WNXP
The legendary rock opera, now playing at The Factory in Franklin, includes a cast of local professional actors alongside three Broadway stars in featured roles: Adam Pascal as Jesus, Mykal Kilgore as Judas and Olivia Valli as Mary Magdalene.
“The heart of the American theater is these regional theaters in communities where they are made by their community, utilizing professional actors, creating shows that are responsive to their audiences,” said Studio Tenn executive director Mark Fleischer. “They are not imported, they are made.”
Additional event opportunities include Grace Ives performing at the Blue Room and Nashville’s Erin Rae at the Basement East. Get event recs
FROM THIS IS NASHVILLE
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