The Teacher Wage Gap PersistsEconomic Policy Institute is out with a survey of teacher compensation relative to other, similarly educated professionals. The news continues to be bad for teachers nationally. Teachers earn roughly 20% less than comparably educated professionals on average. In Tennessee, that number is 21.4%. Notes: Figure reports state-specific regression-adjusted teacher weekly wage penalties: how much less,
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
LIVE: BUSTING REPUBLICAN ABORTION MYTHS (with Francie Hunt)Francie Hunt of TN Advocates Planned Parenthood joined us to walk through a Republican talking points memo on abortion and set some things straight. PODCAST HERE. LIVE: FRANCIE HUNT OF TN ADVOCATES PLANNED PARENTHOOD (on the leaked GOP messaging doc) https://t.co/JWqh9zuCIO — The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) May 4, 2022
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
