But is it Adequate?Gov. Bill Lee’s signature education funding reform initiative passed today even as concerns have been raised that the plan will do little to fundamentally alter the status quo for school districts in a state consistently ranked 45th in the nation in school funding. TN School Funding Report Card: 1 D, 2 Fs In response to the legislation, advocates with the Southern Christian Coalition suggested th
GrossThose rabble rousers over at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) are out with a statement condemning the “gross overreach” of an amendment to HB2666 that would give the State Textbook Commission authority over books in school libraries. That is, the bill would require all books in school libraries to be on an “approved” list provided by the Textbook Commission. Here’s the TASL s
Top Privatizer Backs TISAState Rep. Mark White is tweeting out misleading information about Gov. Lee’s school funding overhaul (TISA) in an attempt to build support for the effort as the legislature enters its final weeks. Lately on the Hill, we’ve been talking a lot about TISA (Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement). TISA is going to improve how Tennessee determines school funding, and we will be able to pour bill
WHY DID TN ED COMMISH SCHWINN LEAVE HER HUSBAND’S EMPLOYER OFF HER DISCLOSURE?This week some eagle-eyed Hollerers pointed out TN Ed Commissioner Penny Schwinn left TNTP, the company where her husband works, off of her source of income disclosure. She listed it last year, but not this year, despite the fact that he remains on their website as a “Leadership Coach”. This is especially noteworthy since TNTP was a recipient of an $16 MILLION contract from the Tennessee Educatio
SENATOR NICELEY’S ANTI-SEMITISM SHINES THROUGH AGAINLast week Republican state senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) made national news for his absurd comments invoking Hitler as an inspiration to homeless people. Nobody knew what the hell he was trying to say, and he didn’t seem to either when we asked him. WATCH: “What point were you making with your Hitler comments? If HITLER can do it anybody can?” After @senfrankniceley made national ne
FOLLOW THE MONEY: ORGS BACKING LEE’S ED FUNDING PLAN GET $$ FROM GATES FOUNDATIONToday a number of organizations have come out in support of Governor Lee’s education funding (privatization) overhaul, which many public school advocates say will be inadequate, bad for public schools and help education privatization efforts in the long run. Lee will boast of their support just in time to push his plan through key committees and onto the floors of the house and senate, but what h
12 MINUTES WITH REP. LEATHERWOOD, SPECIAL STRAIGHT PEOPLE MARRIAGE LICENSE SPONSORWe spent 12 minutes talking to Rep. Leatherwood, whose bill to give a special marriage license to straight people went globally viral because it also might have legalized child marriage if it hadn’t died. We may not have made much progress, but it was an honest frank discussion and we thank him for talking to us.
FREEMAN’S VICTIM-ADVOCATE PROTECTION BILL KILLED BY GRIFFEY & THE GOPWATCH: “Victim advocates are being called to court to testify AGAINST victims.” @VoteBobFreeman ’s victim-advocate confidentiality bill killed by Griffey (retiring to be a judge) & Republicans as @StateRepCurcio makes another suspect voice vote call #VoiceVotesAreNotDemocracy pic.twitter.com/WeIQhmwCzg — The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 16, 2022
INTERVIEW: ED FUNDING OVERHAUL BILL SPONSOR REP. MARK WHITEWe spoke with Rep. Mark White for 10 minutes about charter schools and Governor Lee’s potentially poisonous ed funding overhaul.
TN STUDENTS HELP KILL BOOK BAN & LIBRARIAN CRIMINALIZATION BILLWATCH: “CENSORSHIP IS NEVER THE ANSWER.” Brave @_youthcoalition students help kill @CepickyTn64 & @joey_senator Hensley’s book ban and librarian criminalization bill with powerful testimony that gets even some Republicans to back @SenatorLamar ’s motion to summer study it. pic.twitter.com/bj8VzCe588 — The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 11, 2022
