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Teacher Pay, Testing, and Guns: A Tennessee Education Story
Another week in the Wild West that is Tennessee education policy
Education policy in Tennessee is a bit of a misadventure.
You can count on this: Schools will be underfunded, teachers will be disrespected, and the needs of students will be ignored.
As it has been, so it shall be.
Here’s the evidence from this week:
I write this story every year. Have been since about 2015.
State standardized tests are always a problem.
This year, like so many before, the tests were not ready on time to be included in student final grades.
The tests do a fine job of assessing which students are either from low-wealth homes or in schools with concentrated poverty.
Otherwise, they are essentially useless. Unless you’re the testing vendor drawing a contract in excess of $100 million.
The above story addresses the perennial low ranking of Tennessee when it comes to teacher compensation and overall investment in schools.
Tennessee this year ranks 44th in the nation in teacher pay and 45th in school funding.
Same as it ever was.
Neighboring states like Kentucky and Alabama pay their teachers significantly more.
While Metro Nashville provides free school meals to all kids every day, that is not…
