Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education

Federal & State Policy
2022-05-25 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Federal and state policies can have positive and negative influences over college and career success. As practitioners, we know certain policies need “edits” and others need to be created. Participants will be provided an overview of relevant policies that impact college access, affordability and success, and learn advocacy strategies.
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Know Your Rights: What You Need to Know about Tennessee's latest Censorship Bills
2022-05-18 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Join the Tennessee Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms in discussing the anti-truth/censorship bills that have passed through the Tennessee General Assembly this legislative session. The Legal Director of the ACLU of Tennessee, Stella Yarbrough will guide community members in understanding what they need to know regarding the content and legal implications of three new censorship bills impacting K-12 school library policies, changing Tennessee’s textbook commission’s authority, and restricting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in public higher education institutions.
We will also hear directly from students, educators, librarians, and school leaders across Tennessee about their advocacy efforts and perspective on the implications of these bills. We will be joined by Dr. Diarese George (TN Educator of Color Alliance), Trey Cunningham & Ivy Enyenihi (EmpowerEd), Milana Kumar & Salina Shamsuddin (TN Youth Coalition), Angela Favaloro (Moms for Social Justice), Revida Rahman (One WillCo), and Lindsey Kimery (TN Association of School Librarians).
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Improving Education Finance Equity for English Learners
2022-05-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Join the Education Trust and Bellwether Partners to learn more about how state school funding systems for English Learners have failed to adapt to learning their learning needs in the Southeast. Today, English Learners are the fastest growing student population and make up 15% of students in the region. Hear from experts on what transformational and equitable funding systems for EL students can look like, and how to advocate for change.
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Using Data to Inform College Access Decisions
2022-04-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Data-driven decisions can lead to dramatic changes, but what trustworthy data do we use? How do we find it? What does each piece of data reflect about my school/community? Participants will learn reliable data sources and how to analyze data points to inform practice.
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Why Does Having A Diverse Teacher Workforce Matter to Students?
2022-04-12 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Join The Education Trust in Tennessee’s EmpowerED student voice network as we discuss the importance of teacher diversity and the need for a diverse teacher workforce in Tennessee. Keynote speaker, Dr. Diarese George, will be interviewed in a fireside chat by League Leader, Dereke Townsend, a senior at the University Tennessee Knoxville and an aspiring history teacher.
About the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA): TECA is a statewide nonprofit organization committed to ensuring strong accountability systems that promote equitable outcomes and excellence in education. They believe more educators of color need a shared, elevated voice and stronger presence in public education. They do this by engaging and convening educators of color with opportunities to fellowship, developing layers of mentorship between preservice educators of color and in-service educators of color, and exposing educators of color to various leadership opportunities.
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How the CRT debate and the culture wars impact students in Tennessee
2022-03-31 16:00 - 17:00
Across the country, new laws targeting critical race theory and debated books are influencing the small but pivotal decisions educators make every day: how to answer a student’s question, what texts to read as a class, how to prepare for a lesson. Join Chalkbeat Tennessee and the Education Trust in Tennessee for a panel discussion with students and educators.
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The Real Cost of College - Thrive
2022-03-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The details of college costs can be overwhelming, and they are further complicated by confusing and complex aid and scholarship applications and programs. Join Bob Obrohta, Executive Director of the TN College Access and Success Network, as he walks through how to interpret the real costs of college and how to advocate for special circumstances for students
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EmpowerED Student Voice Presents: A Conversation About the Systemic Advancement of Young Women
2022-03-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Join The Education Trust in Tennessee’s EmpowerED student voice network as we explore systemic advancement for young women and girls as we celebrate Women’s History month. Featured presenters include students from Advocates for Women’s and Kids’ Equality (AWAKE) Tennessee advisory council to discuss the importance of equitable education and what is at stake with current anti-truth/complete history legislation.
About AWAKE TN: Advocates for Women’s and Kids’ Equality (AWAKE) is a grassroots nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for the advancement of women and kids in Tennessee. We seek to disrupt systems that reinforce gender inequality by focusing our efforts on youth-centered education initiatives and policy change.
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Analyzing TISA: A Dollars and Sense Guide to the Proposed Formula
2022-03-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The Tennessee General Assembly will take up the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) this session – the proposed funding formula for K-12 education that will replace the BEP. Join us to learn about the different components of the bill, see our analysis and learn about ways to share your perspective with policymakers.
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Helping Students Get Ready for College: The A-6 Framework
2022-02-23 14:00 - 15:00
In this first session of our Thrive College Access Seminar Series, attendees will learn about the research behind student success in getting to and through college. Dr. Jack Schmit from Indiana University will share the 6 components of student success, known as the A6 Framework, and strategies to help organizations, schools or programs identify, organize and mobilize to implement them.
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The Debate Over Critical Race Theory and What Students Can Do
2022-02-15 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The EmpowerED Network invites students from across Tennessee to a two-part series to learn about the raging national debate over Critical Race Theory in schools. Part 1 focused on equipping students with an understanding of the current and proposed laws that ban certain concepts in classrooms in Tennessee. Part 2 will now focus on how students can take action! Join us for an interactive advocacy workshop with RALLY, an issue-driven communications firm, who will lead a storytelling workshop that will equip students to connect their personal identity, stories and experiences to advocate on this issue in Tennessee. Join us and learn how to raise your voice for your school and community.
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The Debate Over Critical Race Theory and Why Should Students Care About It
2022-02-08 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The EmpowerED Network invites students from across Tennessee to a two-part series to learn about the raging national debate over Critical Race Theory in schools, and the current and proposed laws that ban certain concepts in classrooms in Tennessee. What is CRT? What is the root of the political movement against it? What are students’ and teachers’ rights under current law in Tennessee? Join us to hear from national experts and learn about how to raise your voice and advocate for your school and community.
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Exploring Race & Gender in Teacher Observation Scores
2022-01-27 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The Education Trust in Tennessee, The Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance, and the Tennessee Education Association invite you to a webinar to learn about new research by the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College that reveals that Black and male teachers in Tennessee have received lower observation scores than White and female teachers every year since the state’s evaluation system began in 2011. Even when comparing similarly qualified teachers who perform the same according to other metrics, such as their value-added to student achievement, gaps among race and gender remain.
Dr. Jason Grissom, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Public Policy and Education at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College and TERA’s faculty director, will present their findings, which will be followed by discussion of the implications of the report and possible policy and practice solutions with a diverse panel of experts.
Educators, administrators and education advocates are encouraged to attend.
Presentation by Dr. Jason Grissom
Practitioner Panel
Moderator: Dr. Diarese George, Founder and Executive Director, Tennessee Educators of Color
Dr. Sonia Stewart, Deputy Superintendent, Hamilton County Schools
Dr. Ricky Gibbs – Executive Principal, Warner Elementary, Metro Nashville Public Schools
Nikki Baker, Teacher, Knox County Schools
Policy Panel
Moderator: Gini Pupo-Walker, State Director, The Education Trust in Tennessee
Eric Duncan – Senior Analyst, Educator Diversity, The Education Trust
Laura Encalade – Co-President, NIET
Terrance Gibson – Executive Director, Tennessee Education Association
Dr. Jim McIntyre – Dean of the College of Education, Belmont University
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Coffee & Community: Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (Alliance Members Only)
2022-01-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
You are invited to the January installment of the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education’s Coffee & Community series with the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC).
The TPCSC was established in 2019 to serve as an authorizer for charter school operators who file for appeals for new start, revocation, and renewals, and to serve as an authorizer to any charter schools when appeals are granted. At this C&C event, we will have an intimate conversation with two of the Commission’s leaders to learn more about the composition, role, and authority of TPCSC, and what issues and priorities they will be taking on in their upcoming quarterly meeting and in 2022.
We will be joined by TPCSC Executive Director Tess Stovall, who previously served as the Director of Charter Schools for the Tennessee’s State Board of Education. We will also be joined by TPCSC Commission Member Wendy Tucker, who also currently serves as the Director of Policy at the National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools. The conversation will be moderated by our fellow Alliance partner, Venita Doggett, Director of Advocacy at the Memphis Education Fund.
We hope you can join us to learn more about TPCSC, ask questions, and discover how we can best advocate and engage for equitable access and outcomes for students in charter schools across Tennessee.
This event is for Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education members only. To become a member, visit https://thealliancetn.org/#join-the-alliance
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TN25: Mapping Our Future Together Report Release
2022-01-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Tennessee is at an important crossroads – with a momentous opportunity before us. The COVID-19 crisis disrupted education for all students, but has hit certain students the hardest — the same students who were chronically underserved in Tennessee even before the crisis took hold, due to race, socioeconomic status, or geography.
Join the TN Alliance for Equity in Education as we release our report, TN25: Mapping Our Future Together.
In the report, we examine the impact of COVID on students and schools in Tennessee and make recommendations for the over $4 billion dollars in federal and state aid aimed to help close the opportunity and achievement gaps that were only made worse by the pandemic.
It’s time to map our future together and ensure we make the most of this moment in our history.
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Tennessee School Funding Advocacy Bootcamp
2022-01-10 08:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
The Education Trust in Tennessee invites you to register for a School Funding Bootcamp for advocates prior to the reconvening of the 112th General Assembly. Attendees will learn from national and state experts about 1) the basics of school funding 2) Tennessee’s State Budget and the BEP formula 3) Equity-centered funding solutions and 4) How to advocate successfully on what is needed for Tennessee’s students. We will close with a discussion about the upcoming legislative session with Rep. Mark White, Chair of the Education Committee in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Attendees will receive pre-readings, and we expect attendees to attend for the duration of the session. Upon completion, attendees will receive a Tennessee School Funding Certificate and will be poised as funding advocacy leaders during the Tennessee General Assembly.
Registration is free and open to anyone.
RegisterAgendaPre-readingsSpeaker Bios

TN Education Advocacy Training 101
2021-12-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
What’s the difference between all of the state agencies dealing with education? When does the General Assembly meet each year? What legislative committees have jurisdiction over education issues? Where can I locate bill language? How can I get in touch with my state elected officials? Come explore these questions and more at The Education Trust in Tennessee’s Education Advocacy Training 101. As we gear up for a new year and a new legislative session kicking off in January, join us to learn helpful information and key skills to jumpstart your education advocacy in 2022.
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School Funding Town Hall
2021-12-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2708 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208
The Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education, is excited to invite you to a community town hall on school funding reform. Tennessee’s funding formula has become an engine of inequality and we have an opportunity to replace one of the nation’s most underfunded and inequitable education funding formulas in the country. Our school districts are incredibly diverse, from urban to rural, from fast-growth suburbs to small farming communities, and the challenges facing each are multifaceted and complex. But all of them will benefit from improving our funding so that our students are prepared for college and career.
Join us to provide feedback to The Tennessee Department of Education to ensure the state’s funding formula becomes an engine of opportunity for all students.
Walk-in registration will be available and masks are required. If you are unable to attend, a live stream of the Town Hall will be available here.

Coffee & Community: TN Board of Regents (Alliance Members Only)
2021-12-06 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
You are invited to the December installment of the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education’s Coffee & Community series with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR)! We will learn more about the composition, role, and authority of TBR, and what issues and priorities they will be taking on in their next quarterly meeting and into 2022. We will be joined by TBR’s Chancellor, Dr. Flora Tydings. We hope you can join us to learn more about TBR, ask questions, and discover how we can best advocate and engage for equitable access and outcomes at the postsecondary level.
This event is for Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education members only. To become a member, visit https://thealliancetn.org/#join-the-alliance
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Student Perspectives: A Discussion on Mental Health in Education Part 2
2021-11-15 17:00 - 18:30
Join the EdTrust TN’s EmpowerED Network for the second session of a two part series on mental health in education policy and advocacy. During this session, students will finalize the demands from session one on changes to mental health education policy and advocacy. This will be an interactive session where students will learn how to leverage policy windows and advocacy tactics to take collective action!
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Coffee & Community: TN Higher Education Commission (Alliance Members Only)
2021-11-15 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
You are invited to the November installment of the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education’s Coffee & Community series with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC)! We will learn more about the composition, role, and authority of THEC, and what issues and priorities they will be taking on in their next quarterly meeting and into 2022. We will be joined by THEC Executive Director Dr. Emily House, and the conversation will be moderated by our fellow Alliance partner Jennifer Novo, Executive Director of FUTURO, Inc. We hope you can join us to learn more about THEC, ask questions, and discover how we can best advocate and engage for equitable access and outcomes at the postsecondary level.
This event is for Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education members only. To become a member, visit https://thealliancetn.org/#join-the-alliance
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Making the Grade 2021: How Fair is School Funding in Tennessee?
2021-11-10 11:00 - 12:00
Join us for a presentation by Danielle Farrie from Education Law Center (ELC) on their 2021 Making the Grade report, an annual evaluation that rates state education funding formulas on three key measures. ELC and Ed Trust staff will examine Tennessee’s ratings, which will be followed by an expert panel discussion on the possible funding reform solutions.
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Student Perspectives: A Discussion on Mental Health in Education Part 1
2021-11-04 17:00 - 18:30 | Virtual
Join the EdTrust TN’s EmpowerEd Network on Thursday, November 4th for part one of a two part series on mental health advocacy! During the first session, we’ll hear from professionals on mental health in education policy, students from other states on their experiences with mental health advocacy, and one of our League Leaders about their experience in Tennessee. We’ll follow the panel with a group discussion about Tennessee’s Mental Health Trust Fund and identify the demands students and practitioners want to see addressed. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Coffee & Community: TN State Board of Education (Alliance Members Only)
2021-10-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
You are invited to Coffee & Community with the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education and the Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE). We will learn more about the composition, role, and authority of the SBE, and what issues they will be taking on in their next quarterly meeting and into 2022. We will be joined by SBE Executive Director Dr. Sara Heyburn Morrison and Mr. Darrell Cobbins, State Board Member from Congressional District 9 in Memphis. We hope you can join us to ask questions and learn more about how we can best advocate for our students and communities in the coming year.
This event is for Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education members only. To become a member, visit https://thealliancetn.org/#join-the-alliance
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EmpowerED Network Launch
2021-09-23 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Leaders have noted that education remains the greatest civil rights issue of our time. But when it comes to our K-12 education system, change does not come easy. There is still so much work to do to make our education system more just and equitable for all students especially for Black and Latino students, students with disabilities and students from low income backgrounds. However, as with most decisions, education reform has always been dominated by adult thoughts and recommendations, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Join student advocates with The Education Trust in Tennessee for the launch of the EmpowerED Network, a statewide network focused on amplifying the voices of historically underrepresented students in Tennessee. We’ll host monthly sessions to equip students with necessary tools to understand and advocate on education policy and justice issues. At our kick-off event, we’ll spend some time getting to know each other with engaging activities led by League Leaders, EmpowerED’s student advisory board. Then, we’ll dig in and learn about the historic achievement and opportunity gaps that persist in our schools across the nation and in our state. We’ll also feature an incredible line-up of adult allies who will help us learn about the challenges and opportunities we face when it comes to ensuring educational justice in Tennessee.
If you are a student, education advocate or practitioner, come learn with us and join our movement for education justice in Tennessee. We are building a movement, are you with us?
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Watch Party: Tennessee Education Joint Summer Study
2021-09-22 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join The Education Trust in Tennessee for a virtual Watch Party of the House Education Joint Summer Study. Our Watch Parties are a great way to learn about the legislative process in Tennessee and how education issues are framed and discussed.
Our agenda:
12-12:30 p.m CT – We’ll open with a brief presentation on the background of the Summer Study meeting, topics on the agenda, the members of the Committee, and the procedural aspects to expect.
12:30-1:30 p.m. CT – We will live stream the meeting beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT and provide live commentary and analysis from local leaders and experts throughout the Watch Party, and answer questions from attendees. We will also post pertinent research, articles and profiles of House members throughout the Watch Party.
This Summer Study Session is a two-day meeting, taking place on Sept. 22nd & 23rd. Our Watch Party will take place on the first day of the meeting.

Day 1 will feature House members discussing chronic absenteeism and a presentation from the Tennessee Department of Education on summer learning camps.
Day 2 will feature Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act and the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS).

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Leading From Your Seat: Advocacy Skill Building
2021-08-23 15:00 - 16:30
Dollars and Sense is a 7-part learning series designed to help Tennesseans understand how schools are funded in Tennessee, and what we can do to improve the adequacy and equity in our funding formula so that our schools and students have access to the resources that they need to succeed. We will feature expert speakers from Tennessee and across the country, and assign optional readings for each session.
Our final session will provide attendees with tangible skills to advocate and communicate on school finance and the funding reform necessary to create durable change in Tennessee. We’ll offer strategies in communications and messaging, storytelling, utilizing social media and data to make a compelling case for change. We’ll also offer strategies for meeting with policymakers and leaders who have the power to change our funding formula in our state.
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Day of Power and Prayer for Our Children
2021-08-15 14:00 - 16:00
Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (“NOAH”) is asking for your help and participation in an event that we know you will support. On Sunday, August 15, 2021, at 2:00 pm CST we will be hosting a state-wide Day of Power and Prayer for our Children, calling attention to the way that the State of Tennessee has failed our public-school children, and demanding legislative action to remedy this failure. This event will be both live and virtual, and will be take place simultaneously in Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga, where our sister organizations, MICAH and CALEB, will be hosting.
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TN25: Mapping Our Future Together - Students
2021-08-12 16:00 - 17:00
Join The Education Trust in Tennessee and the TN Alliance for Equity in Education at a focus group. We’re excited to launch a statewide listening tour to capture insights and reimagine what is possible for public education in Tennessee.
Tennessee is at an important crossroads – with a momentous opportunity before us. The COVID-19 crisis disrupted education for all students, but has hit certain students the hardest — the same students who were chronically underserved in Tennessee even before the crisis took hold, due to race, socioeconomic status, or geography. In response, Tennessee has seen an influx of over $2 billion dollars, which must be spent by 2025, from federal and state governments to address unfinished learning and students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. State and district leaders must now target these new resources to the students who need them most, leveraging these unprecedented investments to provide Tennessee with a chance to close opportunity gaps that existed prior to COVID-19.
After the listening tour concludes, we’ll compile what we hear in a final report to be shared with stakeholders including policymakers, district leaders and educators, offering recommendations and setting ambitious goals. It’s time to map our future together and ensure we make the most of this moment in time.
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TN25: Mapping Our Future Together - Teachers
2021-08-11 16:00 - 17:00
