The SCS system is governed by nine (9) elected representatives from all districts within Shelby County. Those elected representative serve as Board members on the Shelby County Board of Education. The Mission, according the board members, is to prepare all students for success in learning, leadership, and life. Although elected and committed to serving, the board members must adhere to the Tennessee State legislature and its bills pertaining to education.
Political
The Tennessee State legislature appoints a committee to oversee education for the state of Tennessee. Within this committee, several bills are talked through and sought to be implemented. Most recently, there was a bill set to establish a new set of Tennessee English and Mathematics …show more content…
With schools falling within the bottom 5% of schools academically ranked, systems such as the Achievement School District (ASD) have proposed and implemented successful change. Although, ASD has proven beneficial to the schools it has taken control over, SCS has lost both students and per-pupil state funding as a result of this process. ASD now presides over 22 public schools and several charter schools throughout Memphis. As a result of the lost, SCS devised Innovation Zone (iZone) in an attempt to maintain the one-third of its district eligible for ASD intervention. While expensive, the program has proven to be beneficial to both SCS and its students. Despite the recent improvements and losses SCS has faced, Tennessee legislatures plan to vote on whether or not to implement school vouchers. These vouchers would allow for families who can’t afford to send their children to private schools, but want to the option to receive state-funded scholarships to do just that. If voted for, this would siphon more of SCS’s students out of the school system. SCS Superintendent, Dorsey Hopson stated “this is what competition looks like”, and if all goes as plans, Hopson will see the competition for what it …show more content…
Of these challenges, Superintended Hopson has been plagued with the job to cut an estimated $50 million from the 2015-16 school year budget. This cut has lead to the closing of several schools, dramatic negative changes in teacher and administration compensation, but more importantly student success. Reports show that two-thirds of 3rd graders and half of 8th graders are reading below their grade level. With these recent changes, the environment of the school system has dramatically changed. Despite the success of some of Hopson’s initiatives, parents, educators, and concerned citizens have questioned the outcomes of such
Political
The Tennessee State legislature appoints a committee to oversee education for the state of Tennessee. Within this committee, several bills are talked through and sought to be implemented. Most recently, there was a bill set to establish a new set of Tennessee English and Mathematics …show more content…
With schools falling within the bottom 5% of schools academically ranked, systems such as the Achievement School District (ASD) have proposed and implemented successful change. Although, ASD has proven beneficial to the schools it has taken control over, SCS has lost both students and per-pupil state funding as a result of this process. ASD now presides over 22 public schools and several charter schools throughout Memphis. As a result of the lost, SCS devised Innovation Zone (iZone) in an attempt to maintain the one-third of its district eligible for ASD intervention. While expensive, the program has proven to be beneficial to both SCS and its students. Despite the recent improvements and losses SCS has faced, Tennessee legislatures plan to vote on whether or not to implement school vouchers. These vouchers would allow for families who can’t afford to send their children to private schools, but want to the option to receive state-funded scholarships to do just that. If voted for, this would siphon more of SCS’s students out of the school system. SCS Superintendent, Dorsey Hopson stated “this is what competition looks like”, and if all goes as plans, Hopson will see the competition for what it …show more content…
Of these challenges, Superintended Hopson has been plagued with the job to cut an estimated $50 million from the 2015-16 school year budget. This cut has lead to the closing of several schools, dramatic negative changes in teacher and administration compensation, but more importantly student success. Reports show that two-thirds of 3rd graders and half of 8th graders are reading below their grade level. With these recent changes, the environment of the school system has dramatically changed. Despite the success of some of Hopson’s initiatives, parents, educators, and concerned citizens have questioned the outcomes of such