March 2, 2016
We promised when we stepped into this important work to make sure every student in Tennessee is prepared for success that we would do our best to inform you of the goings on in education in Tennessee. We also promised something else: that you would know when our students needed you to step in on behalf of their success.
Today’s that day.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve talked about the Achievement School District. Tennessee’s unique turn-around model to help rescue failing schools is a practical and proven way to make sure every student –regardless of zip code – can achieve, grow, and succeed. The work to help rescue students in schools with decades-long history of chronic under-performance takes time. In the last year, we’ve celebrated growth and achievement in ASD schools and we’ve seen the tide start to turn after far too many years of expecting mediocrity.
Unfortunately, not everyone stands up to help rescue failing schools.
Next week a bill determined to slow down the growth and achievement of the ASD will be before the House Education Administration and Planning Committee Subcommittee. It’s a bill that embraces an age-old political trick: call it something simple and pleasant so citizens won’t fight against it. We promised you we’d pay attention and dig deep into legislation, no matter its pleasant name or caption.
HB 858 looks past decades of failing Tennessee’s students, encourages the status quo, and embraces the disastrous cycle of mediocrity that brought us to this moment. Education is the responsibility of everyone involved in the classroom: students, teachers, parents, and administrators. At our core, we believe every student should have the tools to succeed. If a student in Tennessee is in a failing school, every week, every semester, every year we wait to intervene is another year a Tennessee student is failing. Too many weeks, too many semesters, too many years go by and Tennessee’s students might not ever see success.
Before the end of the day, please take a moment to email the House Education Administration and Planning Committee Subcommittee and ask them to vote against HB 858. Stand up for the students stuck in failing schools and for the good work to help rescue our kids.