Tennessee
This Tennessee school system credits AI with improving student TCAP scores. Here’s how
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee school district is crediting an AI teaching assistant program with helping students improve their TCAP English Language Arts (ELA) scores.
Scott Langford, the director of schools for Sumner County, said in a press release that a preliminary report shows that education tech company CourseMojo has been helping maintain student engagement “at the most rigorous point of the lesson.”
“Students take ownership of their own learning while teachers can measure individual student progress in real-time,” Langford said. “Teachers benefit from the feedback to connect students to the standards included in each activity.”
Sumner County schools conducted a pilot test of CourseMojo for sixth graders in six schools during the 2024-2025 school year. After finding an average 8 percentage point increase on the TCAP ELA assessment for those students, they decided to expand the program’s use to all middle school grades last academic year.
While usage of Coursemojo varied across schools, a preliminary analysis of the district’s 2026 TCAP ELA assessment data showed that groups with an average of 25 or more Coursemojo activities per student improved ELA proficiency by an average of 3.7 percentage points. Groups with little or no use of the program saw -0.2 percentage points during those assessments, the district said.
Eighth-graders had the “strongest gains,” the district said, after “stagnant performance for the last several years.” According to the district, those students who had an average of 25 or more Coursemojo activities had an average increase of 8.7 percentage points in proficiency.
Dacia Toll, co-founder and co-CEO of Coursemjojo, said that the “technology alone doesn’t improve student outcomes,” but that the success depends on how educators implement tools.
“Sumner County Schools has been incredibly thoughtful about integrating Coursemojo while keeping rigorous curriculum and great teaching at the center,” Toll said. “We’re proud to partner with a district that’s so committed to their own learning and to helping every student succeed.”
While the district boasts improved proficiency with the AI tool, it also said that its preliminary findings compare outcomes among school-grade groups with different levels of implementation, “rather than against schools that did not use the platform.”
More analyses are expected to be done with the final TCAP data.
Even with the help of the AI tool, the district was not the top in the state for proficiency increase in its TCAP ELA scores, according to state data.
However, district TCAP results show that from 2024 to 2026, the percentage of middle school students not meeting expectations decreased from 54.7% to 51.9%. The number of students meeting or exceeding expectations increased from 45.3% in 2024 to 48.1% in 2026 for ELA.
While that is an improvement, it remains unclear the exact influence Coursemojo had on those scores. And overall, the results show that less than half of Sumner County middle schoolers are proficient in ELA — a result that echoes statewide.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
In about a week, youth baseball fans, teams and players will descend upon Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the start of the 2026 Little League World Series.
The International bracket is almost set with just the Canada Region winner to be named.
Meanwhile, the United States bracket teams will begin qualifying this week. In all, 20 teams will eventually claim their spot in the coveted global tournament, which will occur from August 19-30 and be shown on ESPN family of networks, in addition to ABC.
USA TODAY Sports will have updates on the US Region Tournaments as they unfold this week, and you can watch the action on the ESPN networks and stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
How to watch 2026 Little League World Series
Here is the full Little League World Series schedule for Aug. 12 and how to watch all the games.
Watch LLWS games with Fubo
Alabama 3, Tennessee 0
- TN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | = 0 | 2 | 2
- AL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | = 4 | 6 | 0
Easton Allen’s sacrifice fly to right field brought home the fourth run. It is now 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Alabama’s Kinsley Rasmus got a ground out to end the top of the fifth inning. Rasmus has a shutout through five innings.
The leadoff single by Williams gave Nolensville Little League some momentum. However, Rasmus got her sixth strikeout for the first out. A potential inning-ending double play turned into a fielder’s choice out at second and safe call at first base as the runner beat out the relay throw. The play was challenged by Alabama and reviewed. The call on the field stood. After that play, it was one on and two outs.
Van Horn came on in relief, faced one batter and struck out that hitter. After four innings, Alabama leads 3-0 over Tennessee.
Van Horn takes over for Frazier, who went 3 2/3IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K.
Tennessee’s Julian Frazier day is done. He almost got out of the inning with no damage but he fielded the 87th pitch of the day and threw the ball into center field. There was miscommunication if the shortstop or second baseman was going to take the throw to second base. Now there are runners on second and third after the miscue with two outs.
Cameron took the 75th pitch from Tennessee’s Julian Frazier and sent the ball into center field. It is one on, one out now.
Now, it is strategy time for the Tennessee manager on how much longer you leave Fraizer in there. Frazier looks dialed in after striking out the first batter of the bottom of the fourth on his 70th pitch. Daily maximum is 85 pitches.
Tennessee’s Hollis Smith turns a bunt attempt into an infield single to take away a perfect game opportunity from Alabams’ Kinley Rasmus. But that’s the only blemish so far.
It was a 3.5 hour rain delay that held up the start of this game, which was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. ET
We are through three innings and Rasmus has faced nine Tennessee hitters and no one has been able to reach base yet.
- TN | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | = 0 | 0 | 0
- AL | 2 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | = 3 | 4 | 0
Takes an elevated curve ball on a 2-1 count and launches it into center field to bring home another run. It is 3-0 Alabama now in the bottom of the third. It is his sixth RBI during the regional tournament.
Something to monitor is Frazier’s pitch count as the daily maximum is 85 pitches.
Rasmus has an impressive stat line thus far: 3IP, 0H, 0ER, 0R, 0BB, 4K.
During that historic 1999 run, the Phenix City National Little League team won the United States Championship before ultimately finishing as the world runner-up after a loss to Hirakata, Japan in the international final. Notably, that 1999 roster featured future Major League Baseball players Colby Rasmus and Cory Rasmus.
Frazier gave up a triple that was almost a home run to right field but was able to get another strikeout (two in total for the game) to defuse the threat.
Quintero hammered a breaking down down the right field line that almost left the field but it hit the wall and he turned it into a two-out triple. He gets stranded at third base. The fences are 225 feet all the way around.
Right now, the pitcher that has recorded two straight 1-2-3 innings for Phenix City Youth Baseball Little League. Phenix City is trying to get back to the Little League World Series for the first time since 1999, according to ESPN.
Alabama gets two runners in scoring position with one out. A wild pitch pushed across the first run and moved that second runner to third base. It is 1-0, Alabama. Casen Smith later walked putting runners on the corners with one out. With Cam Lee at the plate, runners take off and the runner from third beats the tag as the runner on first moved to second. 2-0, Alabama. Brooks Cameron walked putting runners on first and third again – now with two outs. Tennessee picks off Casen Smith off third to end the inning. After one full inning, 2-0, Alabama.
Alabama pitcher Julian Frazier got two strikeouts and one ground out for an easy inning.
Play is underway after a lengthy delay.
The Southeast title game is currently in a weather delay.
Watch LLWS games with Fubo
Little League World Series Aug. 11 regional results
- Wisconsin 3, Minnesota 2 (Midwest Region)
- Pennsylvania 10, Washington D.C. (Mid-Atlantic Region)
- Nevada 4, Utah 3 (Mountain Region)
- 3 p.m. – Tennessee at Alabama (Southeast Region Championship) – ESPN (game is delayed due to weather)
- 5 p.m. – Washington at Idaho (Northwest Region) – ESPN
- 6:20 p.m. – Kentucky at Indiana (Great Lakes Region) – ESPN
- 9:30 p.m. – Hawaii at S. California (West Region) – ESPN
Little League World Series schedule, bracket
- Dates : Aug. 19-30
- TV : ESPN | ESPN2 | ABC
- Stream : ESPN+
- Location : Williamsport, Pennsylvania
United States Regions
- Great Lakes
- Metro
- Mid-Atlantic
- Midwest
- Mountain
- New England
- Northwest
- Southeast
- Southwest
- West
International Regions
- Asia-Pacific
- Australia
- Canada
- Caribbean
- Curacao
- Europe & Africa
- Japan
- Latin America
- Mexico
- Panama
Drivers traveling through Lebanon should prepare for slower speeds and heavier traffic as the Tennessee State Fair gets underway this week.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is putting several temporary traffic measures in place to help handle the increase in vehicles expected around the Wilson County fairgrounds.
Starting Tuesday, Aug. 11, TDOT will lower the speed limit on Interstate 40 within Lebanon from 70 mph to 60 mph. The reduced speed limit will remain in place during the fair, which runs Aug. 13-22.
The department will also increase roadside assistance each afternoon during the fair. One additional HELP Truck and one Rural Service Patrol vehicle will be deployed to help with traffic control, crashes and disabled vehicles.
TDOT says the added crews should help clear incidents more quickly and reduce backups on the interstate.
Drivers can also expect a temporary change near Exit 239 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. TDOT maintenance crews will extend the I-40 westbound entrance ramp near mile marker 239, giving drivers more room to accelerate and safely merge onto the interstate.
Motorists are encouraged to give themselves extra travel time, slow down and pay close attention to changing traffic conditions.
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — A rare piece of Tennessee architectural history has a new owner: the Shavin House, the only residence in the state designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Shavin House has sold after more than a month on the market.
Real estate brokers say the home sold for $4 million.
Sotheby’s International Realty
That is $2.6 million above the original asking price.
The Shavin House has sat on Missionary Ridge since its construction in 1952.
We spoke with the previous owner, Karen Shavin, who says she spent her childhood at the residence.
The home is positioned to capture views of the Tennessee River, Lookout Mountain and the surrounding landscape.
While Wright designed the residence, Shavin says her father served as the general contractor behind its construction.
Built primarily of native Tennessee Crab Orchard stone and Louisiana cypress, the house features expansive walls of glass intended to strengthen the connection between indoor and outdoor space.
Sotheby’s International Realty
Its architectural details include mitered corner windows, clerestory lighting, custom wood screens, built-in furnishings and a cantilevered carport roof.
A stone fireplace anchors the living room, and the layout incorporates Wright’s principles of compression and release.
Sotheby’s International Realty
The property also includes native gardens and a pond designed specifically for the residence.
Shavin moved into the home with her family when she was young and lived there for decades.
She says she hopes the new owner will treat it as a long-term home.
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