A former worker from the TN Dept. of Ed speaks of the problems with the state of education in TN: 
 
1. The Value Added Model (VAM) is a flawed, inaccurate formula for measuring teacher quality, as more and more data research groups are finding. Be that as it may, I do not believe that Bill Sanders ever intended for his data to be used for teacher evaluations, teacher compensation, nor license renewal requirements.

2. A quality teacher preparation program can produce more effective teachers than a summer boot camp training. [Of course, we need to be constantly striving to update, modernize, and improve!] Also, I believe the time teacher candidates spend in classrooms with good, veteran teachers is the most valuable training tool we have (and the benefit is reciprocal). 

3. Charter schools are often being taken over by corporate entities more interested in turning a profit than in educating children. They are also leading to increased segregation.

4. Teachers cannot be intimidated into improving. They need to be supported, encouraged, well-compensated, and held accountable in a realistic way.

5. 'Merit pay' will never be applied accurately or fairly. (I remember attempts at implementing Merit Pay dating back to the 60's!)

I do believe that there are many good people at the State Board of Education and the TN DOE, who truly believe they are doing the right thing. . . . I believe that they are being led astray by the 'pied piper' of DC mentality in the Michelle Rhee mode. I observed first hand the frenzied efforts to race through the checklist of their reform agenda passing laws, policies, rules, etc. without taking the necessary time to research thoroughly; to gather input from teachers and parents outside of their elite, chosen few; and to develop a plan for implementation that assures all of the pieces are in place and working properly (i.e. the TCAP test results disaster of the past week or so). 

I am a firm believer that the best leaders for policy development and implementation should be 'home-grown' educators who understand the cultural landscape in Tennessee, not people from the Washington, DC crowd who come here solely to promote the national reform agenda. Most of the people I reported to in the last two or three years at the Department were extremely intelligent and well-educated, but are younger than my own children and have less than five years of teaching experience.

Just when you think the madness can't get any more maddening, the TN Department of Education raises the bar: 

1) Children were forced to take TCAPs and End of Course exams soon after their communities were ravaged by storms and tornadoes. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that their scores are not going to truly reflect what these children are capable of doing. 

2) There were errors discovered on the 4th grade math TCAP test and in TCAPpractice booklets. Where there is smoke, there is fire.

3) Several parents have asked the TDOE to see copies of the TCAP tests their children took--all requests have been denied even though we have yet to find a law that prohibits us, as parents, from seeing this test. Transparency anyone? 

But wait....There's more!

4) Just yesterday, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) informed districts that they will not have the TCAP "quick scores" back in time for districts to include them in grade calculations on final report cards! The scores, by law, make up 15-25%of a child's final semester grades and teachers use the percentage of problems correct (i.e., quick scores) on the TCAP to determine the semester grades. 

We have obtained a copy of the letter the TDOE sent to the state's school district directors and, from what we can tell, the TDOE is supposedly conducting a statistical analysis (i.e., "post-equating") on the quick scores and that is why the scores will be delayed. (According to the letter, in the past they they conducted post-equating after the quick scores were released and that is why they were able to get the scores out earlier.) Even though the TDOE suggested that districts delay the release of final grades, some districts are applying for waivers from the TDOE, asking that their student's TCAP scores not be included in their grades. It remains to be seen if the TDOE will honor these requests. 

We have lots of questions for the TDOE:

• When did you decide to make this change?
• Why were districts told at the last minute about this change?
• What about the districts that don't get waivers? Are their teachers supposed to come back to work during summer vacation to complete final grades? 
• What about the districts that do get waivers? Kids all over the state stressed out, to the point of illness, over these tests. And all of a sudden, all of that stress and hard work will have been for naught!   How is this fair to our children? And what about the kids who needed those scores to increase their grades? How is this fair to them? (Don't get us wrong--we despise the requirement that TCAP scores be included in grades, but we despise the additional emotional trauma inflicted on our kids even more.)
• And what about the teachers whose job security is dependent upon these scores? How can we be assured that the scores are not purposefully being manipulated to reflect an agenda that includes undermining traditionally educated teachers (Teach for America, anyone?), closing neighborhood schools, and opening unaccountable, privately-run charter schools? (Transparency is not something the TN DOE is known for.) 
• And last, but not least, would you allow a group of independent, 3rd party statisticians, testing experts, and parents to be a part of the current "post-equating" process so we can be assured that you are not attempting to manipulate the very scores that may affect our children's grades and definitely will affect their teachers' evaluations? 

To the legislators reading this post: 
We appreciate all that you did to help protect our children, their teachers, and their schools this past legislative session. But, as you can tell, there is much more work to be done. Please keep this in mind during this campaign season and, if you are re-elected, during next year's legislative session. We are desperate for your help. We are fighting for our children the best we can, but we are battling a bureaucratic nightmare. Using test scores to judge teachers and our students is clearly wrought with errors at every turn. It's time to find a more effective, and much less emotionally traumatizing, manner of evaluation.  

There's a catch.  There's always a catch, isn't there?

We are told that Tennessee will be developing our own Science Standards, and NOT adopting the controversial Common Core Next Generation Science Standards.  The TN Department of Education posted on their website seeking:

"excellent educators and content experts to serve on science standards development teams.  Up to 30 science standards development team members will be selected, representing all grades and subject levels. Teams will work together to develop proposed grade and course level standards and assessment design specifications."  

Sounds reasonable and fair, right?  Here's the catch...

The application to be considered to belong to this elite group of decision-makers specifically asks the applicant's opinion about Common Core, and even asks why the person believes that Common Core will benefit students in TN.  If you don't agree, then you don't get to answer the rest of the question.  (In other words, they don't want to hear anything negative about Common Core.  You need not apply for this job if you don't love Common Core as much as they do.)

We're not kidding.  See:

(Click HERE to see the other 8 questions on the application )
 
The Question we should all be asking:

Q: Who gets to pick the people to be on this new TN Science Standards Team?  

The Answer we are all slapping our heads over because it is so clear:

A: The Department of Education led by the appointed Commissioner of Education, Kevin Huffman (who all just love love love Common Core).

In fact, the person to submit applications to is none other than Dr. Bethany King Wilkes, who is pictured below grinning like a Cheshire cat and holding the Next Generation Science Common Core standards learning map with a bunch of other important people.

She gave a speech the day that picture was taken.  In her speech, she used all the reform Common Core buzz-words that people are growing sick and tired of hearing:  

“The Mission is to provide Tennessee students access to rigorous pathways aligned to STEM labor market needs in order to develop and promote a workforce that is educated and skilled in STEM fields”

(Click HERE to read more of her speech and to find out who those other important smiling people are in the photo)
 
So when the TN DOE unveils the new Tennessee State-Led Science Standards, don't be surprised when they are the same pig with different lipstick.  

Indiana did the same thing last month.  Their legislature and Governor revoked Common Core standards to the cheering crowds of parents and teachers. Then, after a process that resembled a "state-led" effort, they slapped a new name on the Common Core standards to rebrand them as the new Indiana standards.  Voters aren't fooled.  Not one bit.

The reality is that these standards must align with the other states for the testing and database fields to be compatible.  This matters to the Federal Government.  This matters to Bill Gates.  This matters to those who stand to profit from tracking our children's personal data.  They don't care what we color lipstick the pig is wearing, as long as they still bring home the bacon.
 

While our local school districts are in survival mode with shoestring budgets, the Tennessee Department of Education has plans to hire a Public Relations Firm to spread its propaganda:

"The State desires to procure media marketing/advertising including design, production, reports and administrative reconciliation services to assist in efforts to inform and educate the public on education issues."

Contract period:  May 15, 2014 through April 30, 2019
 
(Click HERE to see the job details and contract)
 

Lovely... our tax dollars used to "sell" us more you-know-what to cover up the smell of unqualified leadership.


We do NOT need:
any more logos, slogans, TV commercials, radio ads, billboards, videos, social media advertisements, or targeted mail in our state.  

Our schools DO need:
funding to fix leaking roofs, 
funding for more teachers & smaller class sizes,
funding for more assistants in schools,
funding for more guidance counselors,
and funding for technology to meet the state-mandated testing.  


No amount of marketing or advertising will fix the very real and loud problems of Common Core, PARCC, and the TVAAS teacher evaluation system.
No amount of marketing or advertising will erase the mediocre results of charter schools or hide the fat paychecks of the charter school leadership.  
No amount of marketing or advertising will camouflage the failure of vouchers (in the unfortunate event that they become legalized in TN).  
No amount of marketing or advertising will silence the growing awareness of parents & educators that these reforms stink.
 
This is just more money not making it to where it matters... in the classrooms.