Camellia Burris

6 days ago | wpln.org | Camellia Burris

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said that education is the city’s biggest investment during his State of Metro address last week — allocating 37% of the total budget to Metro Nashville Public Schools. If O’Connell’s budget is approved as-is by Metro Council, MNPS will get 13% more money than it received last year. O’Connell said the additional funding will support teachers, classroom associates, textbook funding, and services for children with disabilities and English language students.

1 week ago | wpln.org | Camellia Burris

Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump’s administration has overhauled immigration policies through a flurry of executive orders, mass deportations and lawsuits. Amid the crackdown, two Nashville teachers say they have seen a rise in absences among their immigrant students and are working to support them. Ruby Aguilar teaches at a Nashville high school with a large immigrant population. WPLN News is not identifying the school to protect the privacy of the students.

1 week ago | wpln.org | Camellia Burris

A University of Tennessee student is asking her school to sign a national letter denouncing political interference in higher education. Jenna Ciesla started a petition on change.org calling on University of Tennessee, Knoxville leadership to join the chorus of university leaders who have signed on to a letter from the American Association of Colleges and Universities.

2 weeks ago | wpln.org | Camellia Burris

Foreign exchange programs in Tennessee are worried that the Trump Administration’s decision to revoke more than 1,000 student visas could have a chilling effect on students looking to travel to the U.S. There are about 10,000 international students in Tennessee colleges and universities, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. But there are also high school students that come here via foreign exchange programs that could be affected by Trump policies.

4 weeks ago | wpln.org | Camellia Burris

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit against the Rutherford County Board of Education for banning or restricting over 145 books in the school library. The banned books addressed LGBTQ rights, race and racism. In a press release Wednesday, the ACLU of Tennessee called this action an “attack on an inclusive education.” The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three anonymous families and an organization supporting the free expression of writers, called PEN America.