Public education system needs continued reforms

• Classrooms should be centers of learning and not machines for recalling answers on a test.
• A strong accountability system helps us replicate strengths and improve weaknesses.
• For many, success in the classroom comes in a traditional setting. For others, more focus is needed.

We believe in public education. Every day, thousands of our future parents, teachers, doctors, leaders, pastors and citizens come into classrooms to engage in active learning and spend their day with Tennessee’s best. Success is defined differently for every student, though high academic standards, fewer and better tests, greater accountability and more choice in education are all central in a high-quality education.

As Tennesseans for Student Success looks back at another legislative session, we celebrate how far Tennessee’s students have come. From the bottom of the pack to being ranked in the top 25 for fourth-grade math, Tennessee’s public schools are reaching new heights. Our students are more prepared now for their futures than ever before. Those are gains worth celebrating, but we can’t let up now. That’s why we, along with parents, teachers, students, community leaders and partners in education, committed to advocating for and protecting student-centered reforms during the 2016 legislative session that led to Tennessee becoming the fastest-improving state in the nation.

During the 2016 legislative session, our work focused on four priorities for building success in Tennessee classrooms:

It starts with academic standards that refuse to champion mediocrity. When we expect our students to grasp big ideas and expect our classrooms to be places of higher-level thinking, we’ll know our students are prepared for success.

Classrooms should be centers of learning and not machines for recalling answers on a test. We know fewer, better tests are helpful to students, teachers and parents. That’s why we supported legislation to reduce the number of unnecessary tests taken in classrooms around the state, while also supporting assessments that provide valuable information to improve student achievement.

Public education is a public good, a good public good, and we must have confidence it is providing all Tennessee students with a high-quality education. We supported an accountability system to ensure every child has the opportunity for success. We also advocated for teachers to receive professional development options to help them rise to greater heights. A strong accountability system incorporates student achievement, helps us replicate strengths and improve weaknesses, and continues the work to ensure all students are able to succeed.

More than anyone else, engaged parents know best the right place where their child can achieve success. For many, success in the classroom comes in a traditional setting. For others, more focus is needed. The goal shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to learning, and we are proud of the General Assembly, and its leadership, for putting Tennessee’s kids first by continuing to support a strong accountability system and public school options for parents.

Every child in Tennessee deserves a top-notch Tennessee education that prepares them for success. As we look back over the 2016 legislative session, we are proud that the policies that led to Tennessee’s record academic growth remained strong, but we will continue to advocate vigorously, at a grassroots level, to ensure students throughout Tennessee can know success for years to come.

Adam Lister is president and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success.