THIS WEEK'S TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT
EDUCATION POLITICS AND POLICY IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE
A $1 Billion Failure
by Andy Spears / 21h
Fox 17 in Nashville reports that the state’s Achievement School District (ASD) has been a $1 billion failed experiment. Four Tennessee schools are now returning to local control after getting taken over by the state ten years ago. The Memphis-area schools were brought into the Achievement School District with the promise from state leaders to turn things around. The latest data from the Departmen
Williamson County Schools Approves Mid-Year Pay Increase
by Andy Spears / 2d
Last night, the Williamson County School Board unanimously approved a mid-year pay raise for teachers and staff. If approved by the County Commission, teachers will receive a 3% raise and hourly staff will see a $1/hour pay increase, effective January 31st. The unusual move of raising pay for teachers and staff mid-year is happening because of severe teacher and staff shortages. The district curr
$3 Billion
by Andy Spears / 4d
Tennessee consistently receives low grades when it comes to investment in public education. Year after year, Tennessee ranks between 44th-46th in total investment in schools and our state also typically earns among the lowest grades in the nation when it comes to funding effort. F for Effort I mean, our neighbors in Kentucky far outpace us when it comes to investment in schools – and, this invest
We’ve Got Questions
by Andy Spears / 6d
The Nashville Public Education Foundation has some questions about a recently released framework for school funding reform. Here’s what NPEF has to say about the early draft of BEP changes: Will the base weight in the proposed framework accurately reflect the cost of running schools where all students thrive? We need an increase in funding effort from the state level that matches an aspirational
Time to Decide
by Andy Spears / 8d
As Tennessee policymakers grapple with reforming the state’s school funding formula (BEP), the President of the Metro Nashville Education Association (MNEA) says it’s time to decide whether the state is truly committed to funding public education. NewsChannel5 reports on school funding and comments made by MNEA President Michelle Sheriff: Metropolitan Nashville Education Association reports Tenne
TEA’s Brown Continues Call for School Funding Boost
by Andy Spears / 9d
As the General Assembly returns and prepares to consider Gov. Lee’s school funding reform proposal , Tennessee Education Association President Beth Brown continues a push to boost overall funding for public schools. In a recent email to TEA members reporting on the committees reviewing the BEP, Brown said: I am pleased to report there has been significant discussion around the need for increased