Tennessee lawmakers approved a $160 million legislative package aimed at tackling pandemic-related student learning loss, the state’s stagnant literacy rates and how schools will handle standardized testing in a flurried special session this week, but questions remain.
The four-day special session, which many Democratic lawmakers accused of being rushed, left little time to iron out details of the legislation or seek educator feedback. But many Republicans and legislative leaders said educating the state’s children was too important a topic to wait to address.
Several other education proposals wait to be brought up in the General Assembly’s regular session, which is expected to resume Feb. 8. But here are some things to know now about what took place in the special session.
School funding still in jeopardy
Lee was under fire this week from educators and parents in Nashville and Memphis after the governor slammed districts that have remained virtual through the pandemic during his opening address Tuesday.
Lawmakers continue to pressure Metro Nashville Public Schools and Shelby County Schools to reopen, through test participation requirements to an attempt to tie state funding to how many in-person instruction days school districts offer to students.
MORE:Nashville, Memphis school leaders fire back as lawmakers target districts that have remained virtual
A last-minute bill filed by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, had threatened funding to those districts, and any others, that don’t offer at least 70 days of in-person instruction for grades K-8 by the end of the school year.
But the legislation wasn’t taken up during this special session. Lawmakers could again file it during the regular session, but for now, district leaders and others are speaking out against what they call a punitive measure.
“As you’re making decisions on behalf of students in Shelby County, please don’t hurt my children. I don’t think it’s intentional, but the decisions of grown-ups show children their true colors,” Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray said as the special session closed Friday. “Because when you advocate for in-person learning against the decisions of a duly-elected school board, you abridge the very essence of local control and run the risk of hurting my children.”
Members of the Metro Nashville Board of Education also spoke out against the possible funding cuts in a letter to Nashville Mayor John Cooper and the Metro Council Friday, asking them to continue to support the school district.
“The bill would punish the students of Nashville and Memphis … because MNPS and Shelby County Schools are maximizing health and safety by teaching students in a virtual environment. This attempt to reduce funding is a punitive and retaliatory measure aimed at two majority-minority urban school districts,” the letter read. “Losing local decision-making harms students and removes Nashville citizens from running their own school system.”
Tennessee adopts phonics-based approach to reading instruction
Despite ongoing “reading wars” among educators, many experts agree that phonics-based reading instruction is the best way to ensure students in early grades are set up to be successful readers throughout their life.
Schools that aren’t already using a phonics-based approach to teach children how to read will now be required to under the legislation lawmakers passed.
The Tennessee Department of Education will develop a new “universal screener” or test to assess how well students are performing. It will be made available to school districts for free.
The test, given to students three times a year, will help determine if students are falling behind. Many districts already use their own such tests and aren’t required to adopt the department’s new model.
The legislature approved about half of a total of $1 million for the department to implement this legislation, including providing teachers with support and resources to deliver this type of reading instruction.
The legislation comes just weeks after the state education department launched a $100 million reading initiative, Reading 360, to also provide support to improve the state’s stagnant literacy rates.
More third-graders likely to be held back
Third-graders who do not score at least “proficient,” or on grade level, on the state’s annual standardized assessments will soon have to either attend summer school or commit to a year of tutoring or risk repeating the grade under a new policy approved during the special session, strengthening a 2011 state law.
The policy is an effort to increase the state’s dismal literacy rates — only 36{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} of Tennessee’s third-graders scored on grade level during the 2018-19 school year. The law would apply to third-grade students in the 2022-2023 academic year.
TNReady still required this year
For now, students across Tennessee will take the state’s annual standardized test this spring — in-person.
Though educators and schools will be protected from any negative consequences due to potentially poor test scores this year, the state is requiring at least 80{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} of students in every district to participate in testing, although the education commission can grant districts a waiver.
The testing window has been expended to nine weeks and test results will help determine if students will be required to attend school camps this year to make up for any learning loss they have experienced.
Last year, lawmakers canceled TNReady outright when schools closed for the spring. Regardless, any changes to accountability measures are dependent on federal waivers from the U.S. Department of Education, which Tennessee expects to receive later this spring.
Teachers will see a pay increase
Lawmakers approved a 2{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} increase to the funding school districts receive for teacher salaries — to a tune of almost $43 million. But teachers might not see an increase on their paychecks right away and Democrats argue the amount in practice will not equal the money the governor has promised.
Lee committed to including a 4{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} increase in the fiscal year 2022 budget.
Sen. Heidi Campbell, a Democrat from Knoxville said during a hearing she didn’t think the state was doing enough for teachers.
“I wish we could also increase teacher pay even more, especially when our teachers are risking their lives,” Campbell said. “Give them hazard pay and that would be a real way to show that we care about our teachers.”
PREVIOUSLY:Tennessee is spending more money than ever on teacher pay. So why aren’t some seeing raises?
Teachers in districts with more certified staff members than are covered by the state might not see the full 2{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} raise — something lawmakers discussed at length this week but have yet to re.
Lee said the General Assembly would work to ensure that those raises actually reach teachers, though additional legislation may be necessary.
Other bills lawmakers could address in regular session
A variety of other bills will likely be brought up during the legislature’s regular session, including:
Lawmakers will discuss the additional funding appropriations needed in the fiscal year 2022 budget to match the pay raise approved during the special session.
Reporters Natalie Allison and Laura Testino contributed to this report.
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Meghan Mangrum covers education for the USA TODAY Network — Tennessee. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.
