State Board subcommittee recommends corrective action plans after day of accountability hearings across Tennessee districts and charters

A State Board of Education accountability subcommittee convened a series of public hearings April 27 to review underperforming schools and district turnaround plans, and it recommended corrective action plans for multiple districts and charter operators.

Daryl Cobins, the committee chair and vice chair of the State Board, opened the proceedings by saying the hearings are meant to be constructive and noted the panel has spent months reviewing prehearing materials and data. “A corrective action plan is not a punitive measure,” Cobins told district and school leaders, adding the plan would codify steps already under way and align district efforts with state supports.

Jackson Madison County Superintendent Marlon King and his leadership team told the panel three schools named for accountability review face overlapping challenges: out-of-school barriers for students, difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, and leadership disruptions tied to recent grade-band restructuring. King described a multi-pronged response that includes embedded professional development and job‑embedded coaching, a recruitment/retention bonus that pays $10,000 over three years for teachers who commit to high‑need campuses, and a staffing structure that adds deans for academics, operations and student engagement. King also told the committee the district has hired truancy counselors and is partnering with local juvenile court and the district attorney to enforce attendance expectations.

Haywood County Superintendent Amy Marsh described steps to support Haywood Middle, including use of CSI/STAR funds for intensive coaching, technology upgrades and teacher bonuses tied to evaluations. Marsh said the district is…