Knox County Board of Education

2022 Legislative Priorities

LOCAL CONTROL

Local Boards of Education are best equipped and informed to make decisions to address
the needs and challenges of their local schools.

• Urges State legislative bodies and regulatory agencies to seek input from local boards
and to determine the full impact on local school systems before taking action on
proposed legislation, regulations, and guidelines related to education
• Supports local flexibility to adopt instructional and supplemental materials in
partnership with teachers and families

IMPROVED FUNDING

Increased investment in public education is crucial to the future of Tennessee. State-

mandated programs and requirements must, without exception, be accompanied by 100%
state funding for all direct and indirect costs.

• Maintains that school districts experiencing reductions in average daily membership

(ADM) be held harmless such that 2022-2023 funding levels are not negatively
impacted as a result of a decrease in ADM and that pre-COVID 2020-2021 ADM levels
are used as the basis for comparison
• Maintains that funding for teacher positions align with the number of teachers each
school is required to employ to meet student teacher ratios.
• Supports full funding for RTI2 positions
• Supports increased funding for:
• School nurse positions (1 nurse per 750 students, based on the recommendation
of the BEP Review Committee, National Association of Nurses, the American
Association of Pediatrics, and the CDC)
• Guidance counselors (1 counselor per 250 students, based on the
recommendation of the American School Counselor Association)
• Social workers (1 social worker per 250 students, based on National Association
of Social Workers and the School Social Work Association of America
recommendations)
• Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners
• Other Mental health supports (e.g. school psychologists, behavioral specialists)
• Technology and related infrastructure
• Supports allowing LEAs to use TANF Funds for recurring costs related to positions that
support social services
TEACHER EVALUATION

Evaluations are a critical professional development and instructional improvement tool.

• Urges the Tennessee General Assembly and State Board to develop guidelines
and criteria for teacher evaluation models using local educator input and multiple
measures that adequately represent performance and course content
• Urges the Tennessee General Assembly to allow the use of benchmark assessments
as a component in teacher evaluations

STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Incentives for individuals to enter the teaching profession are needed to address teacher
and staff shortages.

• Supports funding Praxis tests for teacher candidates and for those adding
endorsements in high-need areas
• Supports increased teacher licensure flexibility and incentives for businesses and
LEAs to partner and expand options for career pathways through post-secondary
training and formal apprenticeships/pre-apprenticeships
• Supports streamlined and simplified (or eliminated, when possible) processes,
procedures, reporting, and burdensome data collection requirements to allow more
time for teaching and learning

ACADEMIC AND RETENTION DECISIONS

The retention of students should not be based solely on standardized tests results.

• Urges the Tennessee General Assembly to allow school districts to make retention
decisions for 3rd grade students based on district data which demonstrates an
understanding of ELA