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Officials in Coffee County are looking to update their historic courthouse instead of replacing the 141-year-old structure.More >> Officials in Coffee County are looking to update their historic courthouse instead of replacing the 141-year-old structure.More >> This Memorial Day weekend across the country thousands of people will visit cemeteries to remember those who died in service to America.More >> Hundreds of local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts decorated the Knoxville National Cemetery with over 8,000 flags.More >> Health officials, health care workers and drug control professionals are talking about the problems surrounding Kentucky babies who are born addicted to drugs.More >> Health officials, health care workers and drug control professionals are talking about the problems surrounding Kentucky babies who are born addicted to drugs.More >> Officials in western Kentucky are taking a cue from Tennessee in their effort to make Owensboro synonymous with bluegrass music.More >> Officials in western Kentucky are taking a cue from Tennessee in their effort to make Owensboro synonymous with bluegrass music.More >> Government health officials are investigating several health problems reported with potentially contaminated medications made by a Tennessee specialty pharmacy.More >> Government health officials are investigating several health problems reported with potentially contaminated medications made by a Tennessee specialty pharmacy.More >> Two Tennessee appellate court judges have notified Gov. Bill Haslam that they will not run for another term on the bench in the August 2014 retention election.More >> Two Tennessee appellate court judges have notified Gov. Bill Haslam that they will not run for another term on the bench in the August 2014 retention election.More >> Three middle schoolers are facing felony vandalism charges for causing damage to several classrooms in a Rockwood elementary school.More >> Three middle schoolers are facing felony vandalism charges for causing damage to several classrooms in a Rockwood elementary school.More >> Authorities are investigating a deadly bicycle accident that happened on Friday afternoon.More >> Authorities are investigating a deadly bicycle accident that happened on Friday afternoon.More >> You may have seen the groups of kids in matching T-shirts walking around downtown Knoxville.More >> You may have seen the groups of kids in matching T-shirts walking around downtown Knoxville.More >> A 67-year-old man is behind bars, accused of heading a major drug operation in Cocke County.More >> A 67-year-old man is behind bars, accused of heading a major drug operation in Cocke County.More >>
NASHVILLE (AP) - A Memphis state representative is proposing a change in the so-called parent trigger education law that would give the state final approval.
A statute passed in 2011 allows parents to force education reforms at their children's public schools, but local school boards must sign off on the efforts.
Rep. John DeBerry, a Memphis Democrat, told WPLN radio in Nashville his bill is intended to start a conversation about making it easier for parents to force reform.
He is proposing that a simple majority of parents' signatures on a petition should allow that a school be transformed into a charter or closed altogether.
If DeBerry's initiative is adopted, parents whose petition has been turned down by a local school board could appeal that decision to state officials.
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