Winston Churchill said, “The price of leadership is a responsibility,” a principle applicable to all levels of leadership, from the White House to local schools. While educators bear the burden of education reform, those in high offices often escape accountability, which seems unjust.
Republicans have controlled the Tennessee General Assembly and the Governor’s Office for 14 years. If public education is struggling, everyone involved should reflect on their roles. Continuing the current administration’s policies would be a mistake.
Future gubernatorial candidates should engage with school boards, superintendents, teachers, and parents now. Ask our current occupant: “If Tennessee knows best about our education needs, why are so many out-of-state groups influencing your education policies?”
Public affairs consultant Todd Kruse stated, “Our nation can continue tinkering with mandatory testing... or we can start thinking about revolutionary change in our public schools.” Many education reformers have lost their way by focusing on misdirected ideas without firsthand experience, leading to biased opinions and flawed policies. Taxpayers reasonably expect their tax money to fund effective programs.
If American education faces challenges, they may stem from federal overreach and states that merely copy policies from other states. Tennessee receives $1.8 billion in Title I, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and other federal funding each year, supporting low-income students, students with disabilities, and school lunch programs. We cannot lose those dollars. The federal government should not regulate public education. We need to restore control of education to state and local agencies.
State education agencies should enhance local control by granting school districts more operational flexibility. The effectiveness of the Every Student Succeeds Act depends on state education leadership, yet many recent Commissioners of Education lacked familiarity with Tennessee.
We must also question what role we want our state education agency to play in public education. If the price of leadership is a responsibility, then let’s restore our local school districts and encourage them with adequate resources to accomplish the critical mission they have been charged with undertaking. State agencies must be more accountable to those they are supposed to serve, parents and taxpayers, not federal bureaucrats.
This doesn’t mean state or federal governments should neglect their roles in promoting an educated citizenry. Michael Greve noted, “Federalism requires confidence in the creative energies of a free society.” A centralized approach to public education is counterproductive.
Since 1965, a one-size-fits-all federal solution has led to unfunded mandates restricting local educators. We need leaders who embrace their responsibility to educate children, remembering that public education aims to develop moral, productive, and literate citizens, integrate diverse populations, and reduce class conflict. Public education funding is a state responsibility under our state constitution.
To meet the needs of students and parents, we must enhance transparency, allowing parents to participate actively in their children's education. Educators should be equipped with the necessary tools and support. Public education must be accountable to the community, not to a politically fluctuating bureaucracy in Washington, DC, or Nashville, Tennessee.
Increased transparency is essential to being more responsive to the needs of students and parents. Parents need access to essential information and to become active partners in their child’s education. Parent engagement is much more than the “feel good” initiatives that we undertake. In addition, we must provide our educators with the tools they need for their vocation.
We need to prioritize local control and flexibility in education funding. A block grant system from the federal government could facilitate essential changes if it offers a streamlined approach that allows states and communities to customize their spending based on their specific needs.
In return, states and districts must protect and enforce students' rights. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, and Title IX prohibits sex discrimination. Section 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, and the Age Discrimination Act protects against age discrimination; FERPA gives parents access to education records; PPRA provides parents’ rights regarding student data; and prohibits segregation based on race or national origin.
This system will drive innovation and accountability, as states must demonstrate academic improvement to access federal funds. There is a significant disparity in funding and resources across states and communities. However, careful implementation can create a more responsive and effective education system. Our state's educators can accomplish great things for students when they get the support they deserve and responsible leadership.
JC Bowman, executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville.