State educators are seeking to quell concerns after an online professional blog item with comments from Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn led some to believe the state was considering summer school for pupils stuck at home because of the coronavirus.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Education told 10News that Schwinn didn't know about the article.
"The department was not involved in or aware of the article in EdWeek, which contained inaccurate information when posted. Upon review, we immediately requested a correction, and the article has been updated to reflect accurate information.
"The department does not have the authority to mandate additional learning time," the statement reads.
Right now students are learning at home as the state and local governments try to stop the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19. State health officials warn Tennessee still hasn't seen the peak of the crisis.
Some professional educators, as reflected by the Tennessee Education Association, objected because the state doesn't control local school systems' calendars.
TEA members and teachers also objected to some survey questions sent out recently by the state as it looks for input moving forward on how to use federal funding.
Two feedback surveys were launched last week, one for superintendents and one for the general public.
"Topics of the survey directly aligned to potential state or district solutions that were proposed in the federal CARES Act guidance to support students during school closures and after they return to school buildings," a statement from the Education Department Wednesday reads.
"The department asked questions aligned to the federal legislation to determine if districts wanted or needed additional funding to support the expanded needs of students academically and non-academically, all of which would be determined at a local level," according to the department.
The survey didn't come off quite as planned for some, however.
"The initial version of the survey was not consistently interpreted as intended and there was some confusion that the department intended to mandate additional learning time. To take that feedback into account, the department amended the survey and noted changes in the revised survey language."
The department has received more than 70,000 responses so far.
"All feedback submissions will be reviewed and considered," the state says.