“Education Policies Must Work in Classrooms”
August 17, 2018
Candace Hines, a kindergarten teacher in the Achievement School District in Memphis, writes in the Commercial Appeal that ESSA gives her state of Tennessee “more autonomy to design policies to meet the needs of our state’s students.” When thinking about improving student achievement, Hines believes we must consider a broad spectrum of factors, including those that are “unique to specific communities and populations.” ESSA “empowers Tennessee with the responsibility to decide how to close achievement gaps, improve schools and make sure that all our children succeed,” and these decisions “must be made collaboratively.” Hines encourages policymakers to visit more classrooms, meet teachers, students, and parents, and hear all their perspectives.