ASK TEA HAS ANSWERS TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION TO MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS, PUBLIC SCHOOL PAGE 3 ADVOCATE LEGISLATIVE REPORT | JANUARY 16, 2017 | VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS Privatization industry targets public schools, active in Tennessee Set up to ail? Have you ever wondered where all We have a problem when ACT scores are good and TNReady is bad the anti-public school legislation, propaganda and hubris comes from? ere is growing concern about the state tests. It’s called the PIE network. One of Tennessee’s best performing districts, Williamson e entire multi-billion dollar school County, had a 2016 average ACT score of 23.8, out- F privatization industry is organized pacing the national average by three points (or 15 through the PIE Network, connecting percent higher), exceeding the threshold for college 70 education reform organizations readiness. Scores from the new TNReady end-of-course in 34 states, including several in tests, however, show only 44 percent of Williamson high Tennessee, which has long been school students are at grade level in math. considered the battleground for the Maryville has a 23.2 ACT average, but most outrageous money-grubbing the state test shows only 33 percent are schemes. Since 2007, the PIE Network at grade level. So who should we believe has quintupled, and their e orts have - the leading college admissions test or produced exponential growth in the new TNReady? charter schools and voucher programs Problems with very low EOC scores were recorded PIE Network across Tennessee. As the new TNReady tests are cont. page 4 Set up to fail cont. page 8 TN should learn from other Surplus opens states’ mistakes on vouchers door for school Tennessee gets more value for or pilot program that would be every education dollar than limited to just Shelby County. investment almost any other state, as we are ey’re saying they will start Our schools are clearly underfunded. 45th in funding per student and small, see if it works, and only Tennessee just received an “F” for school 9th in on-time graduation rate. grow when necessary. funding in the national Education Week In fact, both our graduation rate Don’t believe the hype! Quality Counts report. We rank 45th in the and our average ACT score keeps nation on funding per student. Tennessee going up. Money invested in Any voucher scheme is a risk is below every neighboring state, except public schools gets results. to millions in public education Mississippi. e state spends 25 percent dollars. Any voucher scheme, ese facts haven’t stopped below the national average for K-12. no matter how small at the start, Yet the state has had a $2 billion surplus privatizers from spending will take public money and send millions of dollars to push risky, over the past two years while average it to private schools. at’s a teacher salaries have barely kept up with unproven voucher schemes on sure way to damage one of our Tennessee. For the past four in ation. We have the opportunity and state’s best investments: our need for record school investment. years, TEA has been the number public schools. one opponent of vouchers at the TEA has laid out several budget General Assembly, and thanks to Vouchers priorities for 2017. members, we’ve won every  ght. cont. page 5 Budget With untold millions backing priorities them, voucher proponents are cont. page 8 back again. is time, they are pushing a so-called “limited” voucher scheme

THE STRONGEST VOICE FOR SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS Step outside your comfort zone Winning the big games requires a and advocate for your students strong o ense and a strong defense

By TEA President Barbara Gray By TEA Executive Director Carolyn Crowder

Con ict resolution is a pretty important skill for e most successful football teams have both a teacher to possess. Managing a classroom full strong defenses and strong o enses. In recent of students requires a certain a nity for keeping years, TEA has gotten really good at playing the peace. I think this might be what makes defense. Together, we have defeated dangerous political advocacy feel so far outside of many legislation on vouchers (for four straight years!), teachers’ comfort zones. tying licensure to test scores, constitutional Making that  rst call to an elected o cial or amendments threatening public school funding, attending your  rst TEA Civication can feel direct attacks on TEA (three times in one session!) pretty intimidating, but I can tell you from and more. personal experience that you will quickly For the past few years, Tennessee has been become hooked on the empowering feeling that replacing low performing schools with the ASD comes with being a public education advocate. (Achievement School District). is basically As educators, we have this incredible and means, the school principal is usually replaced, unique passion for children. It is important that we not keep that passion the teachers all have to reapply for their jobs and the school is turned over bottled up inside our classrooms and school buildings. We can increase to a charter. our students’ potential for success by being loud, visible, even obnoxious We have been pushing back on the ASD because it does not have a track advocates for public education. record of success. Many of the schools that have been taken over by ere are 65,000 teachers in Tennessee. Do you realize what 65,000 people the ASD are performing worse than the schools they were supposed to can accomplish when “transform”. they organize, unite Instead of just saying “NO” to ASD – we now have an opportunity to Make 2017 the year you and advocate for the play o ense and push an alternative to state takeovers: Transformational same thing? Add the Community Schools. take your passion for thousands of education e community schools model gives me so much hope and inspiration for your students and your support professionals, Tennessee schools. More than 5 million students across 44 states are already administrators, parents thriving in community schools – we even have a few here in Tennessee. It profession outside the and other public is time to expand this model in Tennessee and push our children to reach education supporters in their full potential while putting a moratorium on the failed ASD model. the state, and we would walls of your classroom. be unstoppable. When properly implemented and funded, community schools embody the principle of caring for the whole child. e design and implementation e thousands of phone of the schools does not include “giving our students away” to a charter calls, emails and visits company. It includes direct involvement from existing school personnel, educators made in 2016 secured an increase in salary and insurance funds, parents and other put test transparency into state law, protected students from the greedy community members. hands of privatizers and more. e 2017 legislative session is shaping up As a result, these We have an opportunity to have a full slate of public education issues, including reducing the role community schools of standardized testing, teacher evaluations, school improvement plans, address all of these things to fundamentally change privatization schemes and more attacks on our profession. and more to make sure the way we educate our If your voice was not part of the 2016 e ort to protect and improve public students are set up to education – what are you waiting for? Make 2017 the year you take your succeed in school and in students and improve passion for your students and your profession outside the walls of your life. classroom. Join the thousands of educators statewide who are already Now, you may be struggling schools. standing united to advocate for the best learning conditions for our questioning, “Is this even children and the best working conditions for our friends and colleagues. possible in a state like is is important work. If Tennessee’s educators don’t lead the e ort to ours where standardized tests rule everything?” ensure every student receives a quality e new federal education law – the Every Student Succeeds Act – provides public education, who will? If we our greatest opportunity at the state level. ESSA encourages states to look don’t lead the e ort to ensure for new and better ways to turn around struggling schools. e Tennessee the teaching profession Department of Education has actually included community schools in its remains attractive to dra ESSA implementation plan. It is important that we seize this political bright, talented young advocacy opportunity to implement more community schools statewide. people, who will? But there is also no need to sit and wait for the state to take action. Most e future of public community schools have started organically at the local level, not as a education in the result of a state mandate. e TEA Organizing Summit on February 3 and state we call home 4 in Cool Springs will include an in-depth look at the community schools depends on the model and empower educators like you with the tools needed to get the ball work we put in moving in your own district. today. If the people who truly know what We have an opportunity to fundamentally change the way we educate our our students need to students and improve struggling schools. I hope you will join the TEA succeed don’t take the o ense in advocating for the expansion of community schools in Tennessee. lead, someone else will.

TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MANAGING EDITOR: Amanda Chaney DISTRICT 2 Michele Bowman (865) 679-6523 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Pam Thompson BUILDING OPERATIONS MANAGER: Galen Riggs; (USPS 17201) PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATE [email protected] DISTRICT 3 Michael Carvella (865) 212-9774 (615) 948-7378 COMPTROLLER: David Shipley; UNISERV FIELD is published nine times, biweekly, mid-January through DISTRICT 4 Connie Mitchell (865) 609-1702 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE MANAGERS: Karla Carpenter; Leigh Phillips; STAFF mid-May, by the Tennessee Education Association, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jim Wrye DISTRICT 5 Jeanette Omarkhail (423) 413-9114 VACANT 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER: ATTORNEYS: John Allen, Virginia A. McCoy; BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST Tiffany Reed Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN, and additional Carolyn Crowder DISTRICT 6 Jennifer Eilender (931) 704-2487 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Drew (901) 412-2759 offi ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennessee Education DISTRICT 7 Jim Gifford (615) 430-6233 Sutton; COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION DISTRICT 8 Kevin King (615) 504-0425 STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Debi Ponder (615) 969-4362 Chaney; COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATE, 801 Second Avenue Association DISTRICT 9 Stephen Henry (615) 519-5691 NEW TEACHER Carrie Allison (812) 205-7689 Alexei Smirnov; INSTRUCTIONAL ADVOCACY & 801 Second Avenue North North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage paid DISTRICT 10 Randall Woodard (615) 594-5632 ESP Sandra McDurmon (901)237-2866 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: at Nashville, TN, and additional offi ces. The subscription Nashville, TN 37201-1099 DISTRICT 11 Brandi Adams (731) 439-3476 TN NEA DIRECTOR Tanya Coats (865) 308-2787 Rhonda Thompson; William O’Donnell; ADVOCACY price of $6.89 is allocated from annual membership dues Telephone: (615) 242-8392, DISTRICT 12 Janis Carroll (731) 431-2387 TN NEA DIRECTOR Karen Anderson (423) 741-9682 HOTLINE COORDINATORS: Forestine Cole, Gera of $258.00 for active members; $129.00 for associate, Toll Free: (800) 342-8367, (800) 342-8262 DISTRICT 13 VACANT STEA MEMBER Kristina Standridge (865) 223-2856 Summerford & Cynthia Wood. education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired Fax: (615) 259-4581 members; and $10.00 for student members. Member of DISTRICT 14 Kenyon Cook (901) 605-7080 TN RETIRED Linda McCrary (615) 888-7026 Website: www.teateachers.org State Education Editors (SEE). DISTRICT 15 Neshellda Johnson (901) 857-6042 * Executive Committee UniServ Staff contact information ADMINISTRATOR EAST Jessica Holman (865) 689-1450 AT LARGE RETIRED DIRECTOR ON NEA BOARD can be found on page 6. Postmaster: Send address changes to BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson JoAnn Smith (423 )914-2818 TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (800) 342-8367 (615) 643-7837 PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATE, VICE PRESIDENT: Beth Brown* (931) 779-8016 ADMINISTRATOR WEST Dennis Kimbrough TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFF 801 Second Avenue North, SECRETARY-TREASURER: Carolyn Crowder (901) 494-0105 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carolyn Crowder; ASST. Nashville, TN 37201-1099. (615) 242-8392 HIGHER EDUCATION Josephine McQuail EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS: Terrance Gibson; DISTRICT 1 Joe Crabtree* (423) 794-9357 (931) 520-0449 Steve McCloud; Jim Wrye; TECHNOLOGY & Member Voices Lies, Darn Lies, and Statistics By Lauren Hopson, Knox Co. EA President

Research experienced educator. I reminded them shows that that we were all new teachers once, and ASK teachers don’t the experienced ones would be there to TEA improve in their guide and mentor when needed. eir e ectiveness children did quite well thanks to quality ANSWERS FROM THE EXPERTS a er their fourth teacher education programs, but teaching year. at’s right. is no di erent than any other profession AT THE TEA HOTLINE You heard it. in that respect. At least that is at   h year heart surgeon may I was approved to take leave weeks ago. On the what Mitchell be brilliant, but I would bet on the Q: Zais, the former experience of a twenty year veteran day of my leave, however, school was closed due to South Carolina State Superintendent should an unexpected situation arise on snow. Can I still be charged a leave day even though of Education, stated at a SCORE (State the operating table. I am at a loss trying school was closed? Collaborative on Reforming Education) to name a profession in which workers event in Nashville last week. top out on their expertise a er just four A: No, state law says a teacher shall not be charged leave In this era of “fake news” it is vitally years. if the teacher’s school or school district is closed because of important that decisions a ecting some unexpected event, such as snow. e same is true for So when you hear that Knox County sick leave. our children should be made based Schools ranks in the 79th percentile on facts and a preponderance of ALL among districts in the state for high the research, not just cherry-picked school math and 75th percentile in data supporting a particular agenda. reading, you also need to know that the Q: I was checking the status of my license on Although SCORE is a “think tank” that rate of students that were advanced or TNCompass and found it marked “SBE Review.” should be up on the most recent data pro cient was 20.8 percent and 30.3 What does this mean and what can I do about it? concerning education, not one person in percent respectively. the room challenged that statement. We understand the state board of education may When you hear that only 43.5 percent of A: advise directors of schools to  le a report with the state While there are a few studies linking our high school freshmen are pro cient O ce of Educator Licensing whenever a teacher resigns, teacher e ectiveness to test score data, in English, remember that the new test is suspended, or dismissed, which is curious because that which back up Mr. Zais’ claim, there cut that percentage in half from last year. are many more that do not. In a June advice is not entirely consistent with the actual language of 2016 review of 30 di erent studies, the When you hear that Tennessee is the relevant rule. Once a director’s report is  led, the license Learning Policy Institute concluded fastest improving state in the nation in status goes from “Active” to “SBE Review.” is means the that, “Teaching experience is positively education, you also need to know that teacher’s license is “ agged,” and it will remain so until associated with student achievement we didn’t really improve that much, most the board decides whether to take any action against the gains throughout a teacher’s career.” ey other states incurred  at or lower test license. Unfortunately, no notice is routinely provided noted that gains continue for teachers scores. to the teacher when his or her license is  agged. Only if in the second and o en third decades When you hear that educators can be the board decides to take an action does it provide notice, of their careers and didn’t just a ect test held accountable by having test score data which may be several months later. If an event occurs that scores, but the absenteeism and discipline included as a part of their evaluation, you might lead to your license being  agged, contact your local rates of students as well. need to know that the vast majority of association representative (AR) or TEA UniServ coordinator for assistance. We know this to be true, however, even teachers don’t teach tested subjects. without the statistics. I certainly hope I at means they are judged on the Practical tip: TEA members should regularly review their am a better teacher now than I was in the performance of other teachers and even local personnel  les along with the status of their teaching fourth year of my career. I have learned students they don’t teach or who may not licenses. Also we recommend that members print and an abundance of things since then. In even be in their school. maintain dated hard copies for their own records. fact, the entire system on which I run my When you hear that India and China classroom, I did not learn until my eighth have three times as many mathematicians year of teaching. and scientists as the United States does, Q: Does tenure still exist? When is the last time you thought, “Boy, you have to realize they should. ere seems to be a common misconception that I sure do hope my kid gets a rookie ey have exponentially more people. A: teachers lost tenure when the General Assembly changed teacher this year?” I have, in fact, talked When you hear that teachers don’t the law a few years ago. However, state law still says, “[n]o several parents o the ledge in recent improve a er their fourth year, teacher who acquired tenure status prior to July 1, 2011, shall years who were upset that their child remember what they say about statistics. was not placed in the classroom of an be returned to probationary status,” which means teachers who obtained tenure prior to that date remain tenured as long as they are employed with the school system that granted tenure. Teachers who did not gain tenure before July 1, 2011, are also Fusing Power & People eligible for tenure a er  ve years of employment, though the eligibility requirements have changed. Teachers  rst tenured To Create Great Public Schools a er the change to the law are required to maintain certain “performance e ectiveness” scores, or they may be returned to probationary status. If you have tenure-related questions, contact your local association representative (AR) or TEA Organizing Summit UniServ coordinator for more information. And look for more answers to your tenure questions in future editions of FEBRUARY 3 – 4, 2017 e Advocate. Embassy Suites — Cool Springs e TEA Advocacy Hotline supports local leaders and building representatives in answering member questions. If you have an employment- related question, please contact your Register now: www.TEAteachers.org/OrgSummit building rep or UniServ coordinator.

TEA Public School Advocate 3 PIE Network from page 1

nationwide. Financed by billionaires and large corporations, such as the Walton Family Foundation, the PIE Network coordinates and funds think tanks that label public THE PRIVATIZATION MACHINE schools as failures. By supporting the so- A look at the inner workings of the multi-billion dollar strategy to destroy public education called “reform” groups that push for more and harder testing, the PIE network and its a liates strive to sway political entities to drive the legislative process toward privatization and attack the opposition – public school teachers, parents and TEA is the ONLY organization community members who want to keep and improve public education. It is a massive and well-oiled machine. standing in the way of the Tennessee members of the PIE Network are SCORE, Stand for Children, Students privatization machine. First (now renamed as Tennessee CAN), Federation for Children, the Beacon Center, Memphis Li , and Campaign for School Equity, among others. It is a formidable array of resources and propaganda. And the only folks poised to stop it are us – teachers, parents and community members DESTROY TRUST not willing to give up our rights or sell our Most Americans love their local public schools. schools for something worse. For this privatization plan to work, Americans’ “ e reason why TEA is attacked every trust in teachers and public education had to be legislative session is because we are the  undermined. A new teacher evaluation system only group standing in the way of vouchers, based heavily on test scores allowed privatizers to radical charter expansion, and other paint teachers as “ine ective.” Distrust is sown on privatization schemes that will damage issues like curriculum, painting schools as out- every public school in this state,” said Jim of-touch with the values of the communities they Wrye, TEA chief lobbyist. “We are the only serve. organized political force that can push back and win against these opponents, and protect our great public schools.” e education industrial complex strategy is simple and sounds all too familiar to Tennessee teachers. Privatizers push for new and harder tests, declare that schools are failing and SAY SCHOOLS ARE FAILING demoralize teachers. ey push for so-called In addition to using  awed standardized tests to “school choice” and sponsor legislation to label teachers as ine ective, those same tests are open a limited number of charter schools used by privatizers to label our schools as “failing.” in the “most troubled” districts. Once those Teachers know that a standardized test is not the charters are in place, campaigns are launched best way to measure student achievement, but to further discredit public schools, calls are their voices went unheard as privatizers pushed made to expand charters and more public the nation to evaluate schools based solely on test schools get privatized. scores. Since 2008, 4,000 public schools were closed nationwide and more than $33.6 billion of public school funds went to charters. In Tennessee, privatizers targeted Nashville and Memphis schools through the Achievement School District. Started in 2012, ASD promised to turn the state’s bottom 5 percent of schools to the top 25 in  ve years, but results are a disaster, with MAKE MONEY dropping graduation rates and enrollement, As public schools are closed, privatizers lobby school closures and  nancial troubles. the state to hand its schools over to a number e ASD troubles are just beginning. eir of di erent private school operators and/or academic growth rate is the lowest in the implement private school voucher programs. is state, which is the reason why almost all $ scheme diverts billions of dollars from public ASD schools are still in the bottom 5 percent schools and into private pockets. a er years of additional funding and charter operation. In spite of all data that proves them wrong, TEA fully expects privatizers to push vouchers and charter expansion again in the General Assembly this year. “People get paid a lot of money to be a part of the privatization industrial complex, and just because the data and record shows they are  at wrong, I doubt any of them will quit,” said Wrye.

4 TEA Public School Advocate Voucher mistakes from page 1

Florida and Indiana o er two examples of how small voucher plans ended up costing taxpayers big money. THE PRIVATIZATION MACHINE Indiana Back in 2011, Indiana enacted a “limited” A look at the inner workings of the multi-billion dollar strategy to destroy public education school voucher plan. en-Governor Mitch Daniels said at the time, “It is not likely to be a very large phenomenon in Indiana. I think it will be exercised by a meaningful but not an enormous number of our students.” Indeed, the program was initially limited to just 7,500 available vouchers. Enter Mike Pence. Pence became Governor of Indiana in 2013 and rapidly pushed to expand the voucher program. Now, approximately 33,000 TARGETED BY BILLIONAIRES students receive a voucher at a cost of $131 Years ago, wealthy investors like the Walton Family million a year. More than $50 million of that Foundation, the Gates Foundation and the DeVos is spent on students who never attended a family, decided they wanted to turn our nation’s public school. system of public schools into a for-pro t operation Florida - prioritizing money over quality public education In 2002, Florida Governor Jeb Bush began for all children. a push for a limited voucher scheme in his state. e program would start small, and only expand if successful. Now, Florida has three di erent school voucher programs enrolling more than 100,000 students costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Here’s the most interesting part: ere’s little evidence vouchers are doing much good. Not only can the state not say vouchers have improved student achievement, in the case of the WEAKEN THE OPPOSITION McKay scholarships for students with special Tennessee educators witnessed  rst-hand how needs, there’s been rampant fraud and abuse. privatizers try to silence the opposition. Six years Parents of limited means have handed over ago when the legislature voted to repeal collective state vouchers to unsavory private school bargaining rights, privatizer  ngerprints were all operators out to make a quick dollar. When over the legislation. e plan back red though. x the operators get caught and schools close, Teachers are more engaged than ever, and TEA kids get le behind. is the largest and strongest hurdle standing in Tennessee their way. Now they’ll come a er payroll dues deduction. Education reformers have been working to dismantle public education infrastructure in Tennessee, too. One good example is the Achievement School District (ASD). When it started, the ASD was designed to provide targeted intervention and additional resources to up to ten schools at a time. e goal was to provide assistance and hand the schools CLOSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS back to districts. Now, however, the ASD has more than 30 schools under its control and Once unreliable test scores provide the has farmed out the management to a wide manufactured data privatizers needed, they go range of charter operators. e data shows about the business of shutting down one “failing” ASD schools simply aren’t getting results, school a er another,  ring its sta in the process. and yet the state has expanded the program  into Nashville and has announced intentions to move to Chattanooga. is once small program costs millions to run and leaves hundreds of students behind. Starting Small Means Big Tennessee groups linked to Problems Florida and Indiana show us that a small the privatization industry privatization experiment can create big problems for a state budget. Our own SCORE experience with the ASD shows that a “limited” program can do signi cant damage. Stand for Children When legislators tell you they support a pilot TennesseeCAN (formerly Students First) program for vouchers and that it will only impact Shelby County, don’t believe it. Tell Federation for Children them what happened in Florida and Indiana. Tell them you don’t want hundreds of millions Beacon Center in public money sent to private schools. Memphis Lift Above all, tell them our public schools are doing a great job – improving graduation Campaign for School Equity rates, increasing ACT scores, and moving ahead on the NAEP. Let’s keep supporting our state’s best investment – our public schools.

TEA Public School Advocate 5 Come to

Join the ght to: Reduce high-stakes testing Mileage, hotel Improve teacher evaluation and breakfast Increase teacher salaries School-grading bill criticized Defeat privatization attacks by superintendents, provided by TEA! implementation delayed Head to Nashville the Tuesday of your Spring Break! Growing concern about a new school letter grade R.S.V.P. to [email protected] system has moved legislators to talk about delaying its use. Opposed by TEA but passed by the General Assembly last year, the bill is criticized by Implications for educators as state educators as unfair and unworkable and is viewed as another e ort by out-of-state privatizers to de ate the value of public schools. attempts to increase outsourcing A battle is brewing of Governor Bill Haslam’s Recently, Wilson County Schools voted to “I’ve got to make sure they understand what proposal to outsource thousands of state outsource substitute teachers to a private I meant by delay,” Rep. Glen Casada, the bill’s employees at public parks and universities. contractor. sponsor, said last week as he addressed the e plan is part of a larger trend of privatizing Williamson County school board. And then there’s Teach for America, the public services. e track record of ultimate outsourcing program. Nashville just Starting in 2017, the bill was designed to assign outsourcing is mixed at best. It doesn’t save extended a $1 million contract to TFA to letter grades to schools — A, B, C, D or F — based taxpayers money in the long run, and the provide (and train) “teachers” for the district. on student achievement, student growth data and services are rarely any better. Sometimes they e training consists of a 5-week boot camp other factors determined by the Tennessee State are dangerously worse. for college graduates who typically stay in the Board of Education. What does outsourcing mean to you? system for two years or less. “ is is a disconnect between the legislative While your job may not be outsourced, you Public sector outsourcing is here, and part of attempt and policy,” Superintendent Mike Looney may to feel the impact in the costs of your the larger privatization agenda. Even if your said. “ e model that’s being proposed is giving bene ts. If thousands of state employees leave job isn’t on track to be outsourced, the state’s more weight to growth. What we see is our schools the state’s health insurance plan, that shrinks plan to outsource others may impact your keep being penalized and we become C schools. the pool for the remaining members. at may wallet. As a taxpayer you’ll likely spend more, But when you’re in the 99 percentile, you’re there. mean a premium hike. and as a member of the state health insurance Give a letter grade for growth and achievement.” While the state may shed the cost of bene ts plan, you’ll likely pay more. Other critics of the bill continue to point out that for those who become employed by private When you hear legislators talking about it would bring more confusion and distrust in contractors, the cost of providing bene ts for the bene ts of outsourcing, be aware of the the state’s education system, further stigmatizing the smaller pool will likely go up. very real dangers it poses. Let them know schools and communities with low-income outsourcing is a raw deal for both employees populations. Additionally, the move toward large-scale outsourcing of public jobs seems likely to and taxpayers. TEA has maintained that letter-grading schools is expand into public education. a bad idea, no matter what metric is used — ACT scores, high school graduation rates, TNReady In fact, public education has seen scores or attendance and truancy. Information on its share of outsourcing, mainly school demographics, pro ciency on state tests and impacting education support improvement on state tests is already available on professionals like bus drivers and the annual state report card. custodians. “ e letter-grading bill came to Tennessee courtesy Following the recent tragic bus of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, accident in Chattanooga, analysis founded by former Republican presidential showed that outsourced bus candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush,” said services were more likely to be TEA Executive Director Carolyn Crowder. “ e involved in accidents. School foundation pushed to pass similar legislation in system leaders and educators also 16 other states. It’s yet another example of out-of- report di culties with holding the state special interests meddling in Tennessee public employees of private contractors education and we don’t like it. Schools are far too accountable. e savings always complex to reduce them to a letter grade, instead seems good on the front end, but of delay we should repeal.” inevitably savings disappear.

Co., Walters State Community College. District fax: (855)299-5674; Assns: Fentress Co., Lenior 37211; (615)347-6578 (Campbell), (615)476-3161 38088; (901)258-3902, fax: (844)270-8083; Assns: Contact TEA 4 — Duran Williams, KCEA, 2411 Magnolia City, Loudon Co., Meigs Co., Morgan Co., Oneida, (Dalton), fax: (855)299-4968 (Campbell), (855)299- Bradford, Crockett Co., Dyer Co., Dyersburg, Tennessee Education Association Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917; (865)522-9793, Overton Co., Rhea-Dayton Co., Roane Co., 5837 (Dalton); Assns: Dept. of Higher Ed., Dyersburg State Community College, Gibson Co., 801 Second Avenue N., Nashville, TN 37201-1099 fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, Pellisippi State Scott Co., York Institute. District 9 — Jackie Metropolitan Nashville, TN School For The Blind, Hardeman Co., Haywood Co., Humboldt, Lake (615) 242-8392, (800) 342-8367 Comm. College, UT-Knoxville, TSD. District Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN MTSU, Murfreesboro City, NSCC, Rutherford, Co., Lauderdale Co., Milan, Obion Co., Tipton FAX (615) 259-4581 5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37128;phone: (615)898-1060, fax: (855) 301-8214, TSU. District 14 — Maria U elman, P.O. Box 99, Co., Trenton, Union City. District 18 — Zandra 37831; (615)521-1333, fax: (855)301-8366; Assns: Assns: Bedford Co., Bledsoe Co., Co ee Co., Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827- Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN UniServ Coordinators Athens, Alcoa, Anderson Co., Blount Co., Clinton, Franklin Co., Grundy Co., Manchester, Marion Co., 3333, fax: (855)299-4925; Assns: Austin Peay State 38128; (901)377-9472, fax: (855)320-8737;—Assns: District 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Etowah, Loudon Co., Maryville, McMinn Co. Moore Co., Motlow State Community College, University, Clarksville-Montgomery Co., Henry Bartlett, Collierville, Fayette Co., Germantown- Elizabethton, TN 37644; phone: (423)262- (except Athens City - see District 7), Monroe Sequatchie Co., Tullahoma. District 10 — Je Co., Houston Co., Paris, Stewart Co., Weakley Co., Arlington-Lakeland, Millington, Southwest State 8035, fax: (866)379-0949; Assns: Bristol, Carter Co., Oak Ridge, Polk Co., Sweetwater. District Garrett, P.O. Box 1326, Lebanon, TN 37088-1326; UT-Martin. District 15 — Cheryl Richardson, Community College, University of Memphis. Co., Elizabethton, Johnson Co., Hancock 6 — Shannon Bain, P.O. Box 3452, Lebanon, TN (615)630-2605, fax (855)320-8755; Assns: Clay Co., P.O. Box 354, Goodlettsville, TN 37070; phone: District 19 — Karla Carpenter, UniServ Field Co., Hawkins Co., Kingsport, Northeast State 37088, phone: (615)547-7769, fax: (844)274-0765; Jackson Co., Macon Co., Pickett Co., Robertson (615)630-2601, fax: (888)519-4879; Assns: Benton Manager; UniServ Director: Tom Marchand, Community College, Rogersville, Sullivan Co. Assns: Cannon Co., Cumberland Co., Cumberland Co., Smith Co., Sumner Co., Trousdale Co. District Co., Central, Cheatham Co., Clarksburg, Decatur 6520 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38134; phone/fax District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton, University, DeKalb Co., Lebanon, Putnam Co., 11 — Antoinette Lee, P.O. Box 1412, Antioch, TN Co., Dickson Co., Hickman Co., Humphreys Co., (901)379-6939; United Education Association of TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (855)299-0723; Van Buren Co., Warren Co., Wilson Co., White 37013; (615)308-5293, fax: (888)519-7331; Assns: Huntingdon, Lewis Co., McKenzie, Perry Co., Shelby County, www.unitedshelby.org. Assns: Cocke Co., Greene Co., East Tennessee Co., TTU. District 7 — Theresa Turner, HCEA FSSD, Williamson, TN Dept. of Ed. District 12 — West Carroll. District 16 — Lorrie Butler, P.O. State University, Greeneville, Hamblen Co., 4655 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN Sue Ogg; P.O. Box 210486, Nashville, TN 37211- Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, Johnson City, Newport, Unicoi Co., Washington 37411; (423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: 0486; (615)856-0503, fax: (855)427-6660 — Assns: fax: (855)299-4591; Assns: Chester Co., Jackson- www.teateachers.org Co. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 70288, Athens City, Bradley Co., Chattanooga State Fayetteville City, Giles Co., Lawrence Co., Lincoln Madison Co., Jackson State Community College, Knoxville, TN 37938-0288, (865)688-1175, fax: www.nea.org Community College, Cleveland, Hamilton Co., Co., Marshall Co., Maury Co., Wayne Co. District Hardin Co., Henderson Co., Lexington, McNairy (866)518-3104; Assns: Campbell Co., Claiborne UT-Chattanooga. District 8 — Josh Trent, P.O. 13 — Mary Campbell, Susan Dalton, Metro Co., West Tennessee School for the Deaf. District Co., Grainger Co., Je erson Co., Sevier Co., Union Box 451, Livingston, TN 38570, (931)279-9530, Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 17 — Terri Jones, P.O. Box 2140, Cordova, TN Cumberland Co. educators take action on teacher raises Teachers in Cumberland County, like many other own families without having so we can provide the best districts around the state, were tired of seeing the to take extra part-time jobs salaries to the best teachers, headlines about the legislature passing a raise for to make ends meet,” Timson and keep quality educators in teachers, but never seeing anything show up in continued. Cumberland County.” their paychecks. Cumberland teachers were one e local association is During the 2016 legislative session, the state’s of those groups falling through not resting on this victory. Basic Education Program was increased by a the cracks because the district Cumberland Co. EA also historic $220 million, resulting in an additional was above the threshold set by successfully petitioned $2 million to Cumberland County Schools. the state. When the school year the local board to begin Legislators indicated that a portion of the started and still no raise showed collaborative conferencing funds were to go towards teacher salaries, but up in paychecks, Timson and and was voted to represent only districts below a certain salary threshold TEA UniServ Coordinator all Cumberland teachers. were required to strictly use the salary funds Shannon Bain went to work Engaging in PECCA will to increase the number that shows up on organizing teachers and give the association the paychecks. Districts above the threshold have advocating at the local level for A er years of not receiving opportunity to ensure  exibility to use the money for merit pay or other the much-needed raise. teachers don’t go so long the state increase, without a raise next time. compensation. “Julia and I quickly realized the Cumberland Co. EA opportunity we had to educate “Seeing the power of “Teacher pay in Cumberland County has President Julia Timson remained relatively stagnant over the past  ve and organize teachers on how organizing  rst-hand was an led the  ght to get her years while other districts in the area have BEP funds really work and eye-opening experience for increased teacher pay,” Julia Timson, President of the implications for teacher members a raise. CCEA members,” Bain said. the Cumberland County Education Association, raises,” said Bain. “As teachers “ ey now realize that we can told e Crossville Chronicle. “How many times increasingly pressured board stand together and take action. will teachers in Cumberland County be expected members about where the BEP dollars were spent, United action can accomplish great things for to forgo an increase in compensation? e the board began investigating the issue.” educators and students.” General Assembly meant well when they passed Timson’s and Bain’s e orts paid o . is is just one example of the power of the 4 percent, but I saw an increase of 42 cents in “Salary increases will be our number one priority organizing at the local level. TEA is fortunate to my paycheck.” for the 2017-2018 school year and for subsequent have a network of local association leaders and “Teaching is not a 9-5 job. All we ask is that years a er that,” Director of Schools Janet UniServ sta statewide dedicated to working Cumberland County teachers be compensated Graham stated in a letter to the Cumberland Co. in the best interests of Tennessee educators and fairly and adequately to be able to support our EA. “Our goal is to work with everyone involved students.

Local organizing wins Bedford Co. teachers insurance reimbursement Victory proves signi cance of collaborative conferencing MOU Empowered by success stories from across the County Education Association to pay a certain state, more locals associations are organizing level of its teachers’ health insurance premiums. collaborative conferencing votes and winning When the board failed to live up to its legal the right to represent teachers in Tennessee obligations, with assistance from TEA’s legal school districts under the Professional Educators team and local UniServ coordinator Jackie Pope, Collaborative Conferencing Act. the Bedford County teachers stood up to defend Teachers in Metro Nashville, Cumberland, their rights. Bedford, Giles and Greene counties were among “ e biggest takeaway from this  ght is that we Having the MOU in place when the school board the latest to entrust negotiations with local school have to stand up for ourselves,” said Tamra King, decided to cut bene ts was a key component of boards to TEA a liates. former BCEA president. “We had a very good BCEA’s success. relationship with the school board, but when “We don’t take this great responsibility lightly. “Without the MOU, we could not have taken they took our insurance away, that really a ected Our leaders recognize that teachers trust TEA the steps to correct the wrong,” said Samantha our members. We had to draw the line.” and our local associations to have their backs on Cochran, BCEA member-at-large and TEA important issues and work with them to improve King said it wasn’t her decision alone: every building representative at Community public education in our state,” said TEA President teacher she spoke with and the local association Elementary School. “Fighting to win back what Barbara Gray. “We are proud to represent the leaders felt like it was time for teachers to  ght was already negotiated and agreed upon also majority of teachers in Tennessee and to work on for their rights. helped us increase our membership. For too behalf of all Tennessee students and educators to “Until we stand up for ourselves, things aren’t long, people were asking, ‘What is BCEA, TEA ensure every child has access to a quality public going to get better, because nobody is going to do and NEA doing for us?’ is victory was a huge education in our state.” this for us,” King said. “It took a couple of years, step in showing that TEA and NEA took our Passed in 2011, the PECCA law provides a way we won, but the battle is far from over.” situation to heart. I live on a single income, so for local associations to negotiate tough issues I’m personally grateful to TEA and NEA for Looking back at the  ght to win back insurance helping us  ght for it.” with local school boards concerning working premium funds, TEA UniServ Coordinator conditions, salary and bene ts, and teachers are Jackie Pope said it’s clear that without the In order to get the PECCA conferencing process seizing on that opportunity. local association, no single teacher could have underway, teachers in each school district  rst have to vote to negotiate with a school board, Bedford County victory sets precedent negotiated the contractual commitment in the MOU, and no single teacher could have a orded and then vote on the organization they wish to Following the repeal of collective bargaining, legal assistance to recover what that teacher lost represent them in those talks. TEA a liates have many educators worried how much weight a been winning the majority of those votes during when the Board breached the MOU. memorandum of understanding under PECCA the last several years. would really carry. “ e members of BCEA are the real heroes here. “ e Bedford County ruling has de nitely ey put themselves on the line to ensure that all A major victory came last year in the form of strengthened our con dence in the collaborative teachers in Bedford County were protected. is a court decision in Bedford County, which conferencing process. Winning back the only happens when all educators come together, demonstrated the strength of the MOU insurance money was a long process, but when they join the professional association and provisioned in PECCA, proving that it has the helped galvanize and strengthen membership, support a common cause,” said Pope. “Working same legal signi cance as collectively bargained so even the recent skeptics are saying that all with BCEA leaders to go to bat for our members contracts. local associations need to get an MOU in place when the MOU was not followed by the district immediately to protect the rights of educators,” e Bedford County Board of Education was demonstrated not only the strength of the MOU, President Gray said. bound by the MOU negotiated by the Bedford but the power of organizing at the local level.” TEA Public School Advocate 7 Set up to fail from page 1 administered in all schools this spring, same students aren’t testing on grade there is growing concern our students level. and teachers are being set up to fail. Set Up to Fail? When a well-respected national test says “Great job!” but the state test Some public education advocates are shows failure, there is a problem with suggesting that a piece of the broader TNReady. school privatization agenda is setting teachers and schools up to fail. at “We want the students theory gains credibility when scores from we teach to have the same group of students show a wide opportunities to be disparity between ACT numbers and successful in life. One TNReady results. goal of the shi to TNReady was to change “If privatizers can say schools are failing, the way we test in order they can justify failed policies like rapid to better assess college charter expansion and even vouchers,” and career readiness skills, but Gray said. “Teachers may see their growth unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be scores drop and their overall ratings su er. what is actually happening,” said TEA It is important for parents, educators President Barbara Gray. and elected o cials to consider that this is a part of a bigger plan to disrupt and Since the standard for student dismantle our public schools.” Join the discussion! achievement is a good score on the ACT, it stands to reason that districts Transparency is critical Tell TEA, your elected o cials and the who have high ACT scores would also Right now, all we have are these Tennessee Department of Education do well on the new TNReady end-of- inconsistent results – top school systems in course tests, but results from the 2015- (@TNedu) about what you and your students student achievement getting low marks on 16 school year indicate otherwise. TNReady. But, thanks to TEA’s aggressive are experiencing with TNReady. When we look at two of our state’s push for testing transparency, we’ll soon be able to see the questions on these tests. Instead of an over-emphasis on  awed high- highest achievers on ACT, Williamson County and Maryville, we see surprising is transparency will give educators and stakes tests, how can legislators and the TNReady results. ese districts are elected o cials greater understanding department help educators set Tennessee showing achievement well above the where the issues lie. students up to succeed? national average in ACT, yet also “Our teachers, parents, and students showing that between 50-67 percent of deserve fair, transparent testing that their students aren’t on grade level. accurately re ects student work,” Gray #SetUpToFail #TNReady Clearly, students in these two districts said. “Early results from TNReady indicate are demonstrating a high level of college we might have a serious problem.” and career readiness based on the state’s Be sure to thank your legislators for de nition. e ACT is saying students passing testing transparency, and ask /TennesseeEA @TEA_teachers are well-prepared and ready, yet the them to be sure we get the questions and state is saying that a majority of those answers to TNReady, as intended.

Budget priorities from page 1 TEA’s 2017 Budget Priorities “A salary increase is always at the top of TEA’s list, and 2017 is no di erent. Gov. Haslam has made great strides in increasing state investment in public education, and salaries in particular, but there is still SALARIES signi cant work to be done,” said TEA Executive TEA is advocating for an 8 percent increase in state Director Carolyn Crowder. teacher salary funds, which equates to approximately $200 million. The association is also continuing its An important part of the association’s advocacy e orts e orts to make sure increases actually show up in this year will be educating legislators on the need to put safeguards in place to ensure the raise they pass teacher paychecks by asking the legislature to take actually shows up in teachers’ paychecks. control of the State Minimum Salary Schedule. Other budget priorities for 2017 include the RTI program, TCRS and health insurance needs. “RTI has so much potential to really help our RTI INVESTMENT struggling students, but inadequate funding is holding For a program like RTI to be successful, the state must back the state’s less wealthy districts,” Crowder said. properly fund it. TEA is advocating for a new line item in “TEA strongly believes every student should receive the state budget for RTI teachers in Math and Language a quality public education, regardless of their ZIP Arts so every school can have specialists to work with code, and fully funding the RTI program would be an struggling students. important step in the right direction.” TEA has been successful in recent years in getting more state money allocated for teacher health insurance and protecting TCRS, but it is crucial that BENEFITS educators keep the pressure on legislators to continue Tennessee teachers are fortunate to have a well-funded properly funding these important bene ts. retirement plan, but it is important that we hold the In addition to these recurring investments, the state state accountable in continuing to fully fund TCRS. TEA surplus provides an opportunity for much-needed is also advocating for the state to fully fund educator one-time funds, like technology purchases and health insurance needs. classroom supplies. “As the state keeps its eye on moving to an online state assessment, it must prioritize education technology ONE-TIME FUNDS purchases now,” Crowder said. “We don’t need to wait The state will have a signi cant surplus again this for another TNReady  asco to equip our schools with  scal year. Legislators need to invest that money into the necessary technology.” one-time purchases for education technology and an increase in classroom supply money for every teacher.

8 TEA Public School Advocate