Gov. Lee Pushes For Teacher Raises And Phonics

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee wants to give a pay raise to every teacher in Tennessee and is proposing to increase the salary component of the funding formula by 4%. In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Governor  Lee said, “it’s time to intervene for our kids who are staring down record learning losses, that in the short-term, mean an inability to read at their grade level or understand basic math.”  Governor Lee urged schools that are closed to “follow the science” and get pupils back in the classroom. Paired with a full return to the classroom, Governor Lee is proposing that  kindergarteners through third grade be taught phonics as the primary form of reading instruction. The Governor is also calling for a full-time tutoring corps, after school camps, learning loss bridge camps and summer learning camps.   Governor Lee said TCAP testing will remain in place for the 20/21 school year to assess student progress.  However, no teacher will be penalized due to test results this school year.   In wrapping up his remarks Governor Lee said, “These changes to our education system will actually educate our kids better in the future than we did before the pandemic.”