Senate committee backs making school turnaround pilot permanent and expanding slots to 15 priority schools

Senate Bill 901, a bill to make the school turnaround pilot permanent and expand it to allow up to 15 simultaneous priority (lowest-performing) schools, was presented by Speaker Hale and advanced by the committee to the Finance Committee.

Background and testimony: The pilot was enacted in 2021 and selected five priority schools to partner with external improvement vendors. Speakers from MGT described work at two pilot schools — Lincoln Elementary (Jackson) and Jerry Baxter Middle (Nashville) — and reported gains in Tennessee Value-Added Assessment (TVAS) and reductions in discipline incidents and chronic absenteeism. MGT’s senior vice president said Lincoln’s Tennessee Ready proficiency rates doubled in some subjects and the school’s TVAS rating improved from a 1 to a 5 and then a 3 in subsequent years; Jerry Baxter saw a 30% reduction in discipline referrals and proficiency gains.

Sponsor’s rationale: Speaker Hale said the pilot’s results justify a permanent program and a staggered expansion (five new schools each year into a three-year rolling cohort to reach 15). The bill preserves local control while allowing external partners to support rapid improvement in priority schools.

Committee action and outcome: Committee members questioned vendor accountability and payment terms; Speaker Hale noted vendors were paid fully only if schools met performance targets and that underperformance reduced vendor fees. The committee voted to report SB 901 to Finance. Proponents argued many pilot schools exited priority status after the pilot period, while critics raised concerns about cost and the long-term structure of external partnerships.

Next steps: The bill goes to Finance for the fiscal analysis and potential appropriation of funds to support expanded turnaround work.