Tennessee must spend COVID-19 recovery funds wisely for students
In recent weeks, Tennessee students excitedly returned to school, in person. Unfortunately, COVID cases surged taking thousands of students right back out of the classroom, due to either sickness or exposure.
This is a big reminder that now more than ever, we must focus on the unprecedented ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Funds flowing into the state for the direct benefit of our students.
Earlier this year, Tennesseecan made specific recommendations on how to best spend funds from the American Rescue Plan in order to ensure all Tennessee students have the supports they need to fully recover from the pandemic’s continued impact on public education.
This is a critical decision
With the deep and disturbing learning loss made clear from the recent release of state TCAP test results, it is painfully obvious the pandemic and extended school closures have had a massive impact on students, particularly on the economically disadvantaged and Black and brown students who were already most at risk of falling behind academically.
In Shelby County and Memphis, for instance, which opted for virtual learning for the majority of last year, we saw the most dramatic declines in state-level testing.
Shelby County Schools, SCS, students in grades three through five showed the biggest slide, according to the data. From 2019 to 2021, their English and math scores fell by 17 percentage points from 28% at or above grade level in those subjects to 11%.
That means only one out of every 10 SCS student is performing on grade level academically. We must do better.
It is quite possible our schools may never see this level of federal relief funding again. This is not the time to spend once in a lifetime money on buildings, deferred maintenance, and a district’s wishlist.
The devastating impact of the pandemic and the poor response and lack of urgency from some have only further exacerbated inequities statewide for students.
Business as usual is no longer acceptable
School districts now have a chance to prove to state lawmakers and policymakers that if they are given flexibility in spending based on student needs, they will maximize the impact on actual student achievement and growth.
The windfall of federal relief funds should go towards high dosage tutoring, extra instruction time, personalized learning, and in some cases direct payments to families for tutoring, socio-emotional or mental health supports or improved internet access.
Students need our help now. Going back to the way schools operated before the pandemic is not good enough.
We must move quickly to support ALL students. We must make sure families have as many educational options as possible to help their students succeed.
Let’s work together to seize this opportunity to make transformative changes for students and teachers.
Victor Evans is the executive director of Tennesseecan.