Latest news with #Meharry
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Third-grade retention law sends students to summer academies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state's third-grade retention law is forcing thousands of students back in the classroom during their break if they want to advance to fourth grade. As vacation season gets underway, thousands of families across the state and those in the MSCS district are having to postpone their summer plans for tutoring sessions, all because of Tennessee's Third Grade Retention Law. 'I am very concerned because third-graders need to know how to read early,' said Stephanie Love/MSCS Vice-Chair. 'I agree with Mark White (State Representative/(R) Memphis). We need to state early on in kindergarten in the first grade. Third grade is too late for them to know.' Meharry to open medical training center in Midtown Memphis development A state law enacted in 2021 says students who fail the English portion of the TCAP exam must choose between summer school and tutoring just to advance to fourth grade. According to MSCS, approximately 9,000 students are enrolled to attend the Summer Learning Academy, and the number that attend will vary. MSCS is offering a Summer Learning Academy for grades kindergarten through 9th grade, and it's required for many third-grade students. About 10 thousand spaces are available. Across Tennessee, the state Department of Education says only 40% of third-grade students were proficient in English in the 2023 to 2024 school year. Restaurant Inspection Scores, June 3 – June 9 'Proficiency is when you get above a certain level in reading proficiency,' said Rep. White. 'The latest scores at our MSCS schools is 23% reading proficiency for our third graders. That's not acceptable.' As some students are back in the classroom for summer learning academies. Parents are also appealing to TCAP for third graders facing retention, as some call for changes in the state law. 'The state needs to take in all considerations all tests in academic levels, besides the TCAP,' said Love. MSCS told WREG that all 2025 TCAP testing results are under embargo by the state, so they cannot share results. School Board Vice Chair Stephanie Love said she and Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond will tour the summer learning academy at Woodstock Middle School on Thursday to see how students are progressing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meharry Medical College to expand into Memphis, partners with Mississippi Boulevard church
Meharry Medical College is set to expand into Memphis with a new medical training facility. The historically Black, Nashville-based medical school announced the formation of its 'Office of Memphis Programs' at a ribbon-cutting on June 9. The new program will be housed on the planned 23-acre mixed-use campus of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in the Medical District and will support students during clinical training. 'I see this as a wonderful opportunity to turn the tide on and bring about better health care outcomes in the city of Memphis,' said Rev. Jason Turner of Mississippi Boulevard church. The expansion is part of Meharry's long-term goal of building a second campus in Memphis, said CEO and president James Hildreth. The college often has to send students to hospitals out of state because major hospitals in Nashville have commitments to training students from other schools. 'One of the things that the branch campus in Memphis will do for us is to allow us to have two major training sites and not have to send our students to so many places,' he said. The new facility will feature classrooms, faculty offices and a student lounge. The quality of education will be the same as at the main campus in Nashville, Hildreth said, but it will lay the foundation for a branch campus and keep medical students in Tennessee. Memphis has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the country and struggles with obesity and diabetes, Hildreth said. He said Meharry plans to focus on the burden of chronic diseases in the city. 'Memphis is a place where we can have a huge impact,' Hildreth said. In April, Meharry acquired four medical clinics in Memphis. A Meharry alumnus, Dr. Joseph Walker, founded Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in 1921. He was its first pastor. 'It's serendipitous that their Office of Memphis Programs would be housed in the church that he founded 104 years ago,' Turner said. Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at and followed on X @jca2902. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Meharry Medical College part of Mississippi Boulevard Memphis expansion
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Redevelopment project underway at Memphis church
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held later this morning to unveil part of the plans for a redevelopment project at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Last week, the church announced a $310 million redevelopment plan. Pastor J. Lawrence Turner says a portion of the project will include medical offices, fitness centers, and other types of health-focused facilities. 'We came up with a mixed-use development that would be comprised of residential, retail, restaurants, but also, a place that would have healthcare and wellness purposes and educational purposes,' Pastor Turner said. Medical HBCU partners with church for $310M redevelopment Later today, in partnership with Meharry Medical College, Meharry's president and ceo, James Hildreth, will explain how the medical HBCU plans to improve health outcomes and access for Memphians. Meharry Medical College says its partnership with the church will further its mission to serve underserved communities. They're hoping that this new project brings unity and community to the city of Memphis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Vanderbilt University Medical Center cuts jobs, freezes some hiring amid federal cuts
Amid rumors of layoffs, Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials acknowledged May 5 that "some positions have been eliminated," but declined to reveal how many employees will lose their jobs. The cuts are in response to reductions in federal funding, according to an email from the hospital's chief communications officer John Howser. He declined to reveal the amount of money Vanderbilt expects to lose annually as President Donald Trump continues shrinking federal spending — including research aid from the National Institutes of Health. The hospital initially acknowledged a hiring freeze for most research positions March 28, but declined to give specifics. "In response to recent administrative orders impacting financial resources for medical research, it is necessary for VUMC to strategically reduce research operating costs," Howser said in a March statement. Both in March and in May, Howser said that despite the cuts, Vanderbilt is continued its efforts to provide health care to Tennesseans, citing a new 180-bed medical tower, the largest expansion in the medical center's history. The hospital "is continuing to hire frontline staff for its health system to accommodate ongoing growth in patient care and in preparation of the October opening" of the tower," Howser said. The federal cuts to National Institutes of Health grants also are expected to deliver a "crushing" blow to Meharry Medical College, its president and CEO, Dr. James Hildreth, told The Tennessean during a March interview. The renowned epidemiologist said he is bracing for up to a $30 million loss of funding, which could jeopardize jobs and vital medical research. The National Institutes of Health adopted a 15% cap on "indirect costs" for research, including equipment, laboratory space and utilities on Feb. 7. Hildreth joined leaders at Vanderbilt's medical center and college, at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and at the University of Tennessee Health System in Knoxville to send a letter in February to the Tennessee congressional delegation expressing "grave concern" of the anticipated cuts that "will drastically reduce support for vital research infrastructure and activities in Tennessee." Reporter Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville's Vanderbilt hospital cuts jobs amid NIH cuts
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Meharry dental college evacuated after CoreCivic officer leaves gun on restroom
The Meharry Medical College of Dentistry was evacuated on the afternoon of April 22 when a CoreCivic correctional officer accidentally left his loaded gun in a campus restroom, officials said. CoreCivic in a statement on April 23 said the guard was transporting an inmate to the Nashville dental college when he reported leaving his firearm in the restroom. Campus security staff evacuated the building and conducted a thorough search but did not find the weapon, officials said. A note from the college to the campus community said the officer was from Trousdale Turner Correctional Center. CoreCivic, the Brentwood-based private prison giant, said the officer was placed on administrative leave while the incident was being investigated. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meharry evacuated after CoreCivic officer leaves gun on restroom
