Stock image of student taking a test¶
A new poll conducted by education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) finds conservative voters oppose many of the potential education changes Republican lawmakers are meeting this week to discuss.¶
Members of the Tennessee General Assembly approved the creation of a ten-member Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education last April that will make recommendations next year on a broad swath of accountability, assessments and licensure measures, including whether to potentially reduce testing and teacher evaluation requirements for public schools. Leaders in the House initially proposed reductions to both testing and evaluations, but scaled the legislation back to study those potential changes and others through the advisory committee.¶
TSS’ poll of 1,000 Republican voters found 86 percent consider it important for public school students to receive annual statewide assessments and 91 percent support holding teachers accountable for the success of their students.¶
Additionally, 71 percent said they oppose the testing and teacher evaluation reductions House members initially proposed, and 77 percent support the state’s School Letter Grades system that provides each public school with an annual A through F grade. The Tennessee Firefly is a product of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.
