Image Credit: Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
For the second consecutive year, Tennessee schools are preparing to receive a report card detailing both their successes and failures as they anticipate being awarded an A, B, C, D, or the dreaded F.
The law was originally passed in 2016 but only implemented in 2023, changing the prior rating system where schools were ranked from on a numerical scale from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most desirable.
The grading criteria were also readjusted to focus on four key areas: achievement, overall growth, how much the lowest performing students have improved academically, and college & career readiness. Each category is also weighted differently based on whether the standards are being applied to an elementary, middle, or high school.
Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds said the goal of revamping the grading system was to give families, educators, and policymakers a “snapshot” to better understand how their local schools are doing, but the topic quickly became controversial.
Local school leaders worried the grades would create confusion for parents and that a single letter grade was too simplistic of a metric to fully capture the learning and community experiences.
The debate intensified when the state education department revised its grading formula, making it more difficult for certain schools to earn an A or B.
Last year, some Tennessee schools did not perform well under the new grading system, with only 17.4% of schools statewide earning an A, while 92 schools, approximately 5.44%, got an abysmal F.
This year, the grades will again reflect an evaluation of both a school and its district utilizing the four main categories and other indicators like attendance, English proficiency for English learners, and graduation rates.
It will also include information about expenditures, funding, enrollment, and state-level data comparing schools and districts across the state.
“The report card considers both student achievement and growth,” the Professional Educators of Tennessee said. “It’s important to also account for the number of special needs students and those from low-income backgrounds; while these factors are somewhat included in the growth aspect, they represent only a tiny portion.”
According to the Professional Educators of Tennessee, there are no official penalties for schools receiving a D or F, but they may still face scrutiny from the Tennessee Department of Education, though there is no clear definition of “scrutiny” or if any actions will be taken to help failing schools improve.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
