Issue Position: Education
Issue Position
Gloria believes we need to see education as an investment in our future. The Tennessee Promise and Drive to 55 are a good start for those in post-secondary. But if we truly want success, we need to start much earlier. We need to support quality early childhood education, to make sure that our education system is equitable for all, giving every young child the opportunity to be a successful student. We need to work collaboratively with teachers - not against them - to improve the performance of students, teachers, and schools. Our state Constitution requires us to "provide a system of free public schools" and that directive is quite clear.
One of the best ways to improve our public schools is happening right here in Knox County in our Community Schools like Pond Gap, Christenberry and others. We have grown this program in Knox County to twelve schools and we are currently reaching out across the state to expand the idea. There are groups in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis who have visited our programs here and are beginning to start their own programs in their area.
Here is some of the education legislation Gloria sponsored and co-sponsored:
HB0369 Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As enacted, gives teachers who teach in multiple subject areas until January 1, 2014, to pass the content area tests in the subject areas in which they are teaching.
HB1846 "Community Schools Act" - A community school is a traditional school that actively partners with its community to leverage existing resources and identify new resources to support the transformation of the school to provide enrichment and additional life skill opportunities for students, parents, and community members at large. Each community school is unique because its programming is designed by and for the school staff, in partnership with parents, community stakeholders, and students.
HB1375 Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As enacted, prohibits the department of education from revoking or non-renewing an individual's license based on student growth data as represented by the Tennessee value-added assessment system (TVAAS).
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