Tennessee Parent Teacher Association awarded grants to local PTA chapters to encourage them to organize virtual town halls. The goal of the town hall is for PTA members to meet with school district leaders and ask questions about the current state of education. Eight PTA chapters have submitted proposals to host town halls, including a chapter in Hamilton County.
The Hamilton County Council of PTAs is organizing a small community conversation with representatives from learning communities and the school district to discuss testing and a possible mastery-based grading system. The grading system is a growth-mindset approach to K-12 teaching and learning, based on the expectation that everyone can learn when provided with the right conditions and support. It offers students and teachers an alternative to traditional instruction and grading.
Vice President of the HCCPTA Christy Highfill says the goal of the discussion is to help break down changes to a level that parents can understand. “Having an engaged family has been proven time and time again to be one of the key indicators for student success. When we empower families to be an engaged and informed part of the process, we support every student being able to make their potential a reality. These community conversations give parents the tools they need to be engaged and help their students succeed,” said Ms. Highfill. The semester ends in mid-December for Hamilton County students and Ms. Highfill hopes to have a date on the calendar for the virtual town hall before then.