A 2016 law requiring the state apply A-F letter grades to every public school in the state is going to be implemented for the first time this fall, under the direction of new education commissioner Lizzette Reynolds. Reynolds asked for public comment on implementation of the law. TEA submitted a lengthy report, citing research and the experiences of other states with school letter grades. The conclusion: repeal the law. Just this year two states – Utah and Michigan – repealed their A-F school grading law saying it did more harm than good in understanding school quality and accountability.
These states follow a list of others who have repealed what was a failed idea of education reform groups in the early 2010s. Seven years ago, Tennessee was late to the school grading game. Now, many of those states we followed have since repealed their school grade laws. Tennessee should learn from their mistakes.
