The Education Trust Tennessee: TN25 Mapping Our Future Together

Thank you for including your voice in our efforts to inform the future of equitable education in Tennessee. We are sorry you were not able to attend one of our TN25 Mapping Our Future Together sessions. We invite you to use this 8 minute survey as space to provide insight regarding recommendations for how TN should prioritize COVID-relief funding and efforts over the next several years.

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* 1. Before we ask you to give input on some specific issues and recommendations, please use the space below to tell us how you think education and schools should look in 2025 to best serve our students in Tennessee. How would you describe that ideal school?

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* 2. As we think about our schools in 2025, how should we prioritize spending of federal funding to increase increase equity in education? Please select the top 5 ways you recommend we PRIORITIZE SPENDING.

Offer more mental health resources

Expand access to high quality Pre-k

Hire more teachers and school staff

Improve curriculum and expand access to advanced courses (gifted, honors, AP, early college courses)

Offer tutoring or extra academic support for students

Offer summer school or after-school programs to more students

Provide additional resources for families (adult education, food, school supplies)

Upgrade technology for students and schools

Offer high quality college and career counseling

Update or renovate school buildings/facilities

Create early warning systems and better data infrastructure

Provide additional time and pay for teacher and staff training

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* 3. The TN Alliance for Equity in Education (TAEE) has identified four priority areas as we strive to address equity issues in education in Tennessee. The rest of this survey will ask you to help us prioritize actions within these priority areas AND give you the opportunity to add actions you feel would be impactful. First, please rank the four priority areas below in order of importance. A rating of 1 represents the highest rank.

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* 4. The TN Alliance for Equity in Education (TAEE) has identified specific actions that we believe will help to CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS. Which of the following should be priority actions? Select the 3 actions that you feel are major issues in closing the gaps.

Use high quality learning materials for all students

Conduct annual assessments that are tied to grade-level standards

Provide timely and disaggregated public reporting of student progress

Increase access to advanced courses, academic or gifted/talented programs

Increase access to college, especially for students of color and from low-income families

Provide summer and after-school opportunities for academic supports and acceleration

If you wish to recommend another action, please click here as one of your 3 selections and describe.

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* 5. What needs to be true about funding and resources in schools by 2025? The TN Alliance for Equity in Education (TAEE) has identified specific actions that we believe will IMPROVE FUNDING AND RESOURCE EQUITY. Select the 3 actions that you feel should be priority actions.

Increase state spending in K-12 and higher education

Close gaps between high wealth and low wealth districts

Improve the BEP by reducing complexity and increasing transparency

Build a new education funding formula that allocates funding according to student need

Report education spending so that comparisons can be made across schools and districts

If you wish to recommend another action, please click here as one of your 3 selections and describe.

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* 6. The TN Alliance for Equity in Education (TAEE) has identified specific actions that we believe will help to INCREASE EDUCATOR DIVERSITY AND QUALITY. Select the 3 actions below that that you feel can have the most impact.

Make educator diversity data visible and actionable to stakeholders

Set clear goals at the state and district levels to increase student access to strong and diverse educators

Ensure all students are taught by educators who are fully prepared and supported throughout their careers

Target resources to intentionally recruit, hire and retain a diverse teaching workforce

Increase teacher salaries to improve recruitment and retention

If you wish to recommend another action, please click here as one of your 3 selections and describe.

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* 7. The TN Alliance for Equity in Education (TAEE) has identified specific actions that we believe will address equity issues within the area of students’ SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT. Select the 3 actions below that you feel should be prioritized to achieve this.

Provide more counselors, social workers and other health professionals

Provide opportunities for student voice and leadership in decision-making

Use culturally affirming curriculum

Prohibit the use of suspensions and expulsions for minor offenses

Ban the use of corporal punishment

Engage parents, students, and communities as full partners

If you wish to recommend another action, please click here as one of your 3 selections and describe.

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* 8. I am confident The Education Trust in TN will keep our educational equity work moving forward.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neutral/Unsure

Agree

Strongly agree

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* 9. As we think about closing achievement and opportunity gaps for students and what our schools will look like in 2025, what DATA OR INFORMATION would you like to have access to as we monitor progress over the next few years? Select the 1 - 5 areas you feel are most important to monitor.

School climate student survey results

Family survey results

Results of standardized student assessments

Discipline / behavior data

Detailed student enrollment and demographic data

Detailed educator data: demographics, education, years teaching, retention

School-level funding and spending information

Student access to advanced classes and gifted programs

Student enrollment in gifted and talented programs

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* 10. Please select all descriptors below that you feel represent you and your voice.

West TN

Middle TN

East TN

Rural TN

Parent of a student

Student

Service provider

Community based organization

Faith based organization

Educator

Other (please specify)