Christmas Cheer from the Tennessee Department of Education
"Wisdom and foolishness are practically the same. Both are indifferent to the opinions of the world."
- Joseph Campbell, "The Joseph Campbell Companion"
I am forever struck by the inherent hypocrisy of being a parent.
We curse like sailors, yet threaten to wash our children's mouths out with soap for using the same language.
We lecture about the value of hard work and remaining focused while we play video games on the office computer.
We want them to be strong independent thinkers, but we preach and reward compliance.
We value report cards but quickly dismiss them when it's not a child being graded.
It's too hard.
We don't have enough money.
The rules are unfair.
All fall on deaf ears, unless it's our institutions that are being graded. Suddenly those are very viable reasons for low scores.
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) released school grades yesterday, 3 days before Christmas. Nothing says confidence like sneaking some data out when you are hoping everyone is looking the other way.
Let's face it, the real discussion on these assigned grades won't happen until the General Assembly is ready to consider Governor Bill Lee's Education Freedom Scholarship Act (EFSA). When that rolls around, you can bet nobody will be shutting up about them.
The problem is, that by then the scores will be even more stale than they are now. And they are already way past their sell date now.
In describing the grades, you'll hear all kinds of fancy language, a balanced measure between achievement and growth, and how growth is measured by TVAAS. It sounds great, but the reality is that for elementary and middle schools, it's all derived from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program(TCAP data). High schools get an additional weight added for college and career readiness indicators, like SAT and ACT scores.
The bottom line, is these grades are all derived from a test taken 8 months ago. So how relevant is it? A student could currently be doing better, or worse but we'll never know because our focus is on 8 months ago.
Now legislators will offer that this is a benchmark and that when you compare trends, there are repeat offenders...sure but that brings up the question of why these grades are even needed.
Did anybody look at these results and think. "Wow, William F Lee HS is a D? I thought they were rocking it."
or "Bill Dunn Elementary is an A? My kid got beat up there regularly and struggled with his teachers. Must have been us."
Doubtful, at best the grades just confirmed what we already knew.
So they are useless, right?
Well not completely. Again, much like our children's report cards, they bring up areas of concern and places for further discussion. Why is a school a "D"?
It's not just a case of socio-economic benefits either. Looking through the list I found several schools that were graded a "C" and I'm hard-pressed to find a reason why?
When a school is both home to a state high school football championship team and scores an "F", that's a conversion that Neds to be had.
Kids are repeatedly lectured about taking responsibility for their failures and owning the results. Yet when the shoe is on the other foot, those sermons are quickly forgotten.
When it comes to Metro Nashville Public Schools(MNPS), I think there is a pretty clear indication that we have issues with our high schools.
Graduation rates lag behind those of the state by nearly 10 points.
When it comes to ACT scores, MNPS has a composite of 17.5(2022-23_ACT_school_suppressed), while the state average is 19.
According to Federal criteria, roughly half of Nashville high schools are on a priority school list. At least three of them are newly designated.
The district grade is a "C".
So while I wouldn't put too much stock in the report cards by themselves, they do seem to echo an undeniable trend.
Instead of looking closely at those scores, and owning them while planning adjustments, Nashville's Mayor delivers this insight;
"We're continuing to coordinate both with Metro Schools and other jurisdictions across Tennessee to ensure that stronger accountability measures are implemented legally," he said. "What I can tell you is that Metro Schools has shown positive growth in the last two years — the highest level of measured growth impact, outpacing other districts across the state, and outpacing state levels on average."
Yeah..not exactly helpful and contains expectations that parents need to continue to offer blind faith, while funding goes up and enrollment goes down.
The mayor is not alone in his failure to accept accountability, legislators and TDOE officials are right there with them.
Just like when I review my kid's report card, there are expectations on both sides. Conversations are held around ways that teachers can improve communication on deficiencies. We talk about things we can do at home to support. We develop strategies for improvement.
That's not the case here. State Commissioner of Education Lizette Reynolds just drops them off on the way to the airport while humming, "Deep in the Heart of Texas" and "I'll be Home for Christmas."
When she took the gig back in June, she told people, "I'm a policy wonk. I don't like the spotlight." Brilliant strategy, it means that she can get on with her life without any of those pesky public appearances.
Failure to acknowledge that you are using stale fruit to make your salad is disingenuous.
Not promising to substantially move up the timeline for releasing report cards, shouldn't be acceptable.
Selling the grades as being multi-faceted when they are basically single-sourced...yeah, you know the answer to that one.
According to an analysis done by ChalkbeatTN, only 5% of Tennessee’s schools received F’s. Half of those schools are located in Memphis. Six are charter schools operated under agreements with the state-run Achievement School District or the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.
This begs the question again, when is a legislator going to get the courage to end the Achievement School District?
The most common grade was a C.
Metro Nashville Public Schools received mostly B’s, C’s, and D’s.
Another caveat to this fiasco. If you want to go back and calculate a school grade under the old formula, you can't because the TDOE hasn't released the results from last year's TCAP. Plans are to do that sometime after the first of the year.
This year's scores are for conversation purposes only, but come the 2024/2025 school year, that potentially changes. While plans have yet to be formalized - maybe that will be next year's Christmas surprise - low-performing schools could lose funding or face audits.
Back at a November 2nd State Board of Education meeting, Reynolds told the board, "We're not going to go in there and take away their money or slap them around," she said. "The public will know how they’re doing with their kids. At the end of the day, it’s got to be about the kids."
But is this really about the kids?
Or is it about shifting money from one pocket to another?
Is it about control?
I've yet to see any evidence that shows letter grades for schools improve individual student outcomes. Many states, including Texas, have either paused or repealed their letter-grade policies.
It's hard to grade schools when we can't even agree on what success looks like.
Some people are looking for strict foundational skill outcomes. Others are looking for schools to produce well-rounded critical thinkers. For others, it's all about securing future employment.
The interesting thing about possible school punishments for low grades is that the policy will likely be determined in the middle of election season.
I suspect that how punishments are determined will be a reflection of electoral outcomes. Maybe that's a question to ask on the campaign trail this summer.
I've heard the argument that this is just the first year, things will only get better.
That's fine except you are dealing with children who have a finite number of years as students. Are they supposed to burn those years while legislators think tanks, and state administrators use them as guinea pigs for their ideology?
- - -
Got to love it. Governor Lee giveth, and State Representative Justin Jones giveth right back.
I'd argue that Lee is the best Democratic governor in the past two decades. His policies have continued to set up Democrats for success. Between guns, abortion, and now vouchers, it couldn't be a better time to run for office as a Democrat.
Lee's support for partisan school board races is the latest example.
Before the last election cycle, school board races were non-partisan affairs. I mean you suspected where people stood, but candidates didn't publicly disclose.
One of the problems facing Democrats in Tennessee was the lack of a backbench for elected office. It's hard to get your party bonafides when all the races are non-partisan. Luckily Governor Lee solved that issue for them.
Look at the upcoming MNPS school board race. You have 1 Republican and 7 Democrats running for 5 seats. Two democrat incumbents are running unopposed, two more Democrats don't have opponents, and one Republican squares off against 3 Democrats.
It sounds to me like the Democrats now have 6 new people getting vested in the election process. Their names can only become known to more voters. That's how you build a bench, by getting people more playing time.
Should help create an advantage for Democrats.
But don't worry, Jones is ready to step in and tip the scales in the other direction.
Via Twitter, he's indicated plans to introduce a reparations bill this session. That's sure to produce nothing but an open and honest conversation.
Whether reparations is the right or wrong action is debatable. What's not debatable is the folly of choosing to pursue a divisive subject while your party tries to claw itself out of the super-minority.
Shouldn't you try to recruit a few folks before engaging in another battle? This is guaranteed to push people further into their silos.
Here we come, hello chaos my old friend.
- - -
Look who's back. After successfully filing suit against MNPS, former priority school head Euna McGruder is back in the courtroom.
A federal judge in August 2022 ordered MNPS to reinstate Euna McGruder as its executive officer of priority schools for the 2022-2023 school year, but shockingly that didn't happen. Now McGrudder is seeking justice.
At the root of the issue is the former administrator's failure to disclose her bankruptcy filing as an asset in 2018. She says they weaponized the filing they call routine.
I admittedly don't understand any of it, but it's back to the courtroom they go.
McGruder is asking for front pay or reinstatement, as well as damages "to be determined at trial, but to exceed" $5 million.
- - -
Albuquerque Schools is looking for a new superintendent and MNPS might have their answer.
MNPS's Chief Academic Officer Mason Bellamy has thrown his hat into the ring, and district educators are sending a unified message west that he's the man. Universally, district stakeholders are encouraging Albuquerque to grab the man while they can.
I mean you can't argue with success. Look what he's done:
● Achieved historic success across 131 schools in MNPS delivering the highest academic results in history by surpassing pre-pandemic achievement levels and earning TVAAS growth scores of level 5 (the highest possible) two years in a row.
● Increased proficiency levels, and closed gaps relative to the state, in 7 of 8 tested subjects and matching state gains in the 8th tested subject for two consecutive years.
● Increased federal graduation rates in two consecutive years.
● Achieved TVAAS growth level 5 on all ACT indicators through the Office of Advanced Academics
while increasing the number of students earning postsecondary credentials and enrolling in
advanced coursework.
● Collaborated with TNTP and SCORE for the Lead in Literacy Initiative. This partnership brought
university partners (Belmont and Lipscomb) into MNPS schools to observe our successful shi to HQIM in Literacy based on the Science of Reading, to improve educator preparation programs serving MNPS.
● Implemented the school-based components of the Scholars Portfolio of extended learning and tutoring opportunities impacting over 20,000 students, showing improved learning outcomes compared to non-participating peers.
● 48 Reward Schools, the highest designation in TN, in 2022-2023, followed by 31 in 2023-2024.
● Increased time in school among Black, Economically Disadvantaged, and Students with Disabilities
by reducing disproportionality in discipline practices.
● Achieved TVAAS 5 Level growth for EL students, with over 130 languages served, through the Office
of English Learners (17,000+ EL students).
● Achieved over 80% of SWD in Tier 1 instruction 80% of the day through the Office of Exceptional
Education (10,000+ students).
● Achieved record growth on GOLD assessment through the Office of Pre-Kindergarten (2,000+
students).
● Met Focused Outcomes for student growth 3 years in a row through the Office of Multi-Tiered
Systems of Support
Here's hoping.
- - -
Former MNPS administrator Sito Narcisse is likely looking for a new home now that the East Baton Rouge School Board decided not to renew his contract. That contract ends on June 30, 2024. Narcisse has had some success while in Baton Rouge but was often at odds with community members.
Before the vote, public commenters expressed frustration about Narcisse's leadership, especially with the bus driver sickout that took place at the beginning of the school year.
Narcisse has also been criticized for the school system's involvement in the 2022 "Day of Hope" program, which some saw as blurring the lines between Church and State and which has led to legal action against East Baton Rouge Schools.
The board cannot revisit his contract for 60 days. Speculation is that this will not leave enough time to negotiate a new contract before the old one expires.
- - -
Time to rattle the cup a little bit before I head out the door.
If you could help a brother out…and you think this blog has value, your support would be greatly appreciated.
To those who’ve thrown some coins in the basket, I am eternally grateful for your generosity. It allows me to keep doing what I do and without you, I would have been forced to quit long ago. It is truly appreciated and keeps the bill collectors semi-happy. Now more than ever your continued support is vital.
If you are interested, I’m sharing posts via email through Substack. This has proven to be an effective way to increase coverage. Readers have the option of either free or paid subscriptions. Paid subscriptions will potentially receive additional materials as they become available. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
If you wish to join the rank of donors but are not interested in Substack, you can still head over to Patreon and help a brother out. Or you can hit up my Venmo account which is Thomas-Weber-10. I don’t need much – even $5 would help – but if you think what I do has value, a little help is always greatly appreciated. Not begging, just saying, Christmas is right around the corner.
If you’d like less opinion and more news, check out my writing for The Tennessee Star. It’s a bit drier but equally informative.