StickWithANose

Now that Tennessee has taken its bribe money the children of the urban poor are being set up for yet another un-controlled experiment in quasi-privatization and the intellectual bounty that is “drill and kill” test-prep academies. In my own little slice of the Southern Appalachians, the first institution to get the ax is a school [Austin-East High School] that has gone through an endless stream of quick-fix miracle programs, staff turn-over, and re-structuring while the building itself and the surrounding community continued to crumble. Here’s how the game is going to played here in Tennessee…

The bill [Tennessee First to the Top Act of 2010. (SB 7005 )] passed by the state legislature and signed by Bredesen, authorizes the commissioner [of education] to contract with any person, governmental entity, or nonprofit entity (managing entity) to manage the day to day operations of any or all schools or LEAs in the district including providing direct services to students. A managing entity may apply to the commissioner for a waiver of any state board of education rule that inhibits or hinders the ability of the school or LEA to achieve the required adequate yearly progress benchmarks.

Tennessee has partnered with Louisiana in applying for and receiving a $30 million grant to “expand the charter model implemented in New Orleans to the lowest performing schools in New Orleans and Tennessee, particularly in Memphis and Nashville. The consortium aims to turn around the bottom five percent of failing schools by establishing successful charters that have a track record of boosting academic achievement in challenging school environments.”

Note the waiver section that I’ve highlighted above. I wonder what kind of rules the Gates Foundation public intellectuals in the state house have in mind…

I’m beginning a new research project on KIPP schools while I get some much needed R&R on the beach. I had anticipated having to travel to Nashville, New Orleans, or D.C. to conduct observations, but it might turn out that I can do some of the observations here in my home town. Oh joy!

Regular posting will resume next week…