Lee denies Williamson school district's waiver request on TNReady, school days

Gov. Bill Lee has denied a request from Williamson County Schools to hold the district "harmless" in TNReady accountability this school year and to waive flexibility in instructional days.

Despite WCS superintendent Jason Golden's request, Lee said in a Wednesday he would not grant a waiver for TNReady testing accountability nor would he waive the amount of state-required instructional days on the school calendar for the district.

"We must be able to measure how our students are progressing to know where they need support and what areas they need to focus on, and the state remains committed to providing this critical data to educators and families," Lee says in the letter.

"Instructional days and instruction hours requirements are stipulated in state law."

More:Williamson County superintendent asks governor for TNReady waiver in 2020-21

Lee cites the Continuous Learning Plan rule and policy, recently passed by the State School Board, which provides a mechanism for schools to track instructional hours and days and take attendance even while operating in a hybrid or remote learning setting.

The Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) Emergency Rule 0520-01-17 and Policy 3.210 provides a rubric for districts to follow, based on the 180-day school calendar.

"As we navigate a new era for education, the department has been working to create expansive guidance for districts as they make local decisions for their schools in the new school year,” said Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn in a June media release. 

“The Continuous Learning Plans represent the next phase of work to reopen schools and will help to ensure every student receives academic instruction each day, whether they are learning at home or in the classroom.”  

Per the State Board rule and policy, each district and public charter school must submit to the TDOE the CLP for their schools.

Golden asks for waiver on testing, school days

In a July 17 letter, Golden argued that Lee's passage of Chapter 0652 in March giving the State School Board flexibility to adjust policies during COVID-19, could be applied to a testing waiver, holding the school district "harmless" of TNReady test results and allowing flexibility in the instructional school calendar. 

"Given the difficult and uncertain times we are facing as WCS prepares for the 2020-21 school year, in light of COVID-19, we are urging you to ensure that the district, schools, teachers and students are held harmless from testing requirements and accountability measures," Golden writes. 

Golden also joined other superintendents, such as Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray, in the desire to waive testing accountability.

In March, the Tennessee General Assembly canceled the TNReady state achievement test for the 2019-2020 school year due to coronavirus.

The Williamson County School District, along with 137 districts across the state, also escaped TNReady testing accountability in 2018 when the first-time computerized test crashed multiple times during the testing window.

WCS is known for consecutively holding the highest achievement test scores in the state.

The school district is referred to as the county's "economic driver" by Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson and Williamson Inc., the county economic department and chamber of commerce.

Kerri Bartlett covers issues affecting children, families, education and government in Williamson County. She can be contacted at kbartlett@gannett.com, 615-308-8324 or @keb1414 on Twitter.