TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT
EDUCATION POLITICS AND POLICY IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE
I Don’t Even Have a Headline
1Kby Andy Spears / 1d
So, the General Assembly has passed a bill creating essentially mandatory retention for third grade students who fail to meet certain benchmarks on TNReady tests. Here’s the key text from HB 7004 , that passed overwhelmingly in both chambers: (1) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, a student in the third grade shall not be promoted to the next grade level unless the student is determined to
The Biggest Factor
29by Andy Spears / 1d
State Rep. Bruce Griffey lists some states that outperform Tennessee in terms of academic achievement and then suggests “the biggest factor” is that those states pay their teachers a whole lot more. He’s not wrong. Teacher pay in our state lags behind the rest of the nation. We also don’t invest in our schools and we don’t use available resources to improve our investment. What’s wrong, though, i
Take the Money and Run
100+by Andy Spears / 3d
If school districts don’t do what House Majority Leader William Lamberth wants, he’s going to take their money and run. Seriously. It’s actually pretty much the text of HB7021 . As introduced, the bill says that if districts fail to provide at least 70 days of in-person instruction for students in grades K-8 in the 2020-21 academic year and 180 days in the 2021-22 academic year, the Commissioner
WTF is Learning Loss?
by Andy Spears / 4d
Nashville education blogger TC Weber calls bullshit on the latest term meant to provide full employment for the edu-elite. In a post examining legislation Gov. Bill Lee wants in the upcoming special session on education, Weber lays bare the truth behind the bogus term and further exposes the dark side of the bills being considered. Here’s how TC explains the issue: The term “Learning Loss” is a m
A Word on the Special Session
32by Andy Spears / 4d
Gov. Bill Lee’s “Not So Special Session” on education starts tomorrow at the Tennessee General Assembly. Former Nashville School Board member Amy Frogge offers some insight into what to expect this week. Here are her thoughts: The Governor has called a special legislative session this week to address three administration bills. Heads up to educators, parents and friends- we need your help to reac
Dad Gone Wild – Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it.
THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it.
THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS
Dad Gone Wild
Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it.
THE LESSON IS, ELECTIONS MATTER
by TC Weber / 19h
“Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.” – Amanda Gorman Elections have consequences – it’s a phrase most of us are familiar with. Currently, it’s a trope on full display in Tennessee where legislators have passed major bills on education and healthcare in the first few weeks of the new year. In regard to the lat
LUNCH WITH MY PAL SLATSKY
by TC Weber / 2d
“Remember: The rules, like streets, can only take you to known places.” ― Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous My buddy Slatsky called me this morning to see if I wanted to grab some lunch. Slat’s family is originally from Chicago, where his grandfather seeped into politics. He’s been here for a couple of years and continually trying to figure out our politics. Conversations with him are
QUESTIONABLE ASSERTIONS
by TC Weber / 4d
“Belief is a virus, and once it gets into you, its first order of business is to preserve itself, and the way it preserves itself is to keep you from having any doubts, and the way it keeps you from doubting is to blind you to the way things really are. Evidence contrary to the belief can be staring you straight in the face, and you won’t see it… True believers just don’t see things the way they
WELL, THAT’S A SPECIAL KIND OF DUMB
48by TC Weber / 7d
“What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” ― Mark Twain Years ago I worked at a bar down in the Elliston Place area of Nashville. Five days a week you could find me slinging drinks to people as they got off of work. My bar didn’t adhere to the rule of