THIS WEEK'S TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT
EDUCATION POLITICS AND POLICY IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE
BANNED: TN School District Seeks to Silence the Truth
by Andy Spears / 1d
The Tennessee Holler reports that the McMinn County School Board voted to ban the Pulitzer-winning graphic novel “Maus.” Here’s more from the Holler’s Twitter feed and from related tweets: NEW: The MCMINN COUNTY school board has just BANNED “MAUS”, the Pulitzer-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust — citing 8 curse words and an illustration of a woman that was objected to, with a 10-0 vote. h
A $1 Billion Failure
by Andy Spears / 7d
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 / 9d
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 / 11d
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 / 13d
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 / 15d
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 / 16d
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
TennesseeCAN Knows the Plan
by Andy Spears / 21d
How is it that pro-privatization group TennesseeCAN already knows the benefits of Gov. Bill Lee’s new school funding formula when that formula has yet to be released? It seems an “expert” from TennesseeCAN was on hand in Franklin County to present the details of the new, as-yet-unreleased plan. First, a bit about TennesseeCAN as reported in the Herald-Chronicle : TennesseeCAN, a state education a
Throw Some Damn Money at the Problem
by Andy Spears / 23d
While Tennessee lawmakers are expressing concern over investing too much money in schools, one educator is practically begging Gov. Bill Lee to just throw wads of cash at teachers. Former teacher Gabe Hart has a column in Tennessee Lookout that expresses his frustration at the current situation as it relates to teacher pay in Tennessee. Here’s a bit of what he has to say relative to teacher salar
Windfall?
by Andy Spears / 24d
While the State of Tennessee has a surplus in excess of $3 billion, state Senator John Stevens seems to want to shift more of the burden of public education to local governments – possibly resulting in local property tax increases. A Bountiful Harvest The Center Square reports that Stevens is concerned about how locals will spend what he calls a “windfall” of new state money. Stevens, like others
Is Sexton Serious?
by Andy Spears / 25d
House Speaker Cameron Sexton offered some concerning commentary on school funding ahead of an expected announcement this month on Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed changes to the state’s school funding formula (BEP). Meghan Mangrum highlighted the comments in an article published in the Citizen-Tribune out of Morristown: It seems the Speaker is not all that familiar with how schools actually work. The sug
Back to School, Back to Masks
by Andy Spears / 27d
The Daily Memphian reports that the Germantown Municipal School District will return to classes this month with a mask mandate. Germantown Municipal School District students will return to school and must wear face coverings. Staff will return Monday, Jan. 3 for a professional development day and they must also wear masks. Classes will resume for students Tuesday, Jan. 4. All visitors must also w