About Our Work Chapters Committees Ge t Involved

Important Education Bills Will Be Heard This Week

Go to www.capitol.tn.gov to find contact information for your legislators or you can email them at the addresses below:

Senators: sen.firstname.lastname@capitol.tn.gov

Representatives: rep.firstname.lastname@capitol.tn.gov

1. For-Profit Charter Schools: Currently in Tennessee, for-profit charter school operation is not allowed. This bill would change that and allow publicly funded charter schools to hire for-profit operators. SOCM members oppose this bill and any other that would drain desperately needed resources from traditional public schools, which continue to serve the neediest children and families in our communities. We are also concerned about the re-segregation effects that charter schools have had. Read SOCM's factsheet on this bill here.

Action: This bill is on the agenda for the House Education Committee on March 18th. Please contact the committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 1693).

Note: We are also keeping an eye on the State Charter Authorizer (Senate Bill 830/House Bill 702) which would permit the state to overrule local elected school boards and demand a charter school be opened, whether the community wants it or not, at the city's or county's expense. This legislation damages communities by 1) taking away the power to direct the education of their children and 2) severely straining local budgets. It also provides an inside track to out-of-state charter schools corporations with close ties to those in power. (From Tennesseans Reclaiming Educational Excellence (treetn.org)) This bill is coming up for a vote in the Senate on March 17th. Please tell your senator to vote NO on this bill.

________________________________________________

2. Restructuring Textbook Commission: This bill would restructure the textbook commission and the textbook selection process. It would replace perceived bias with real bias, in what should be an unbiased process. Objectivity and expertise are needed on the commission, not politics and ideology. We support our state's attempts to promote an accurate education of all the rich and diverse people, faiths and civilizations that make up our history. SOCM members have serious concerns about the ultimate goal of the national groups backing this legislation.

Action: This bill will be up for a vote in the Senate on March 17th. Please tell your senator to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 1602). The House version of this bill is on the agenda for the Education Committee meeting on March 18th. Please contact Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 2249).

________________________________________________

3. Using Public Money for School Vouchers: This bill would establish a school voucher program in Tennessee. SOCM members want to stop the privatization of our schools and public education system, and stop the diversion of public funds to private schools and companies. Vouchers take essential resources away from public schools and give them to private and religious schools, while offering on real "choice" for the overwhelming majority of students. We are for equal choice for all Tennessee's students/parents. Read SOCM's factsheet on this bill here.

Action: This bill has been deferred THREE times in the Senate Education Committee and is now on the agenda for March 19th. Please contact the Education Committee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (Senate Bill 2025). It is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Subcommittee on March 18th. Please contact the Subcommittee members and tell them to vote NO on this bill (House Bill 1908).

For more information on the bills that SOCM members are following or lobbying on, please see our 2014 State Legislative page.

Input Needed on State Solid Waste Plan

Earlier this month, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced the beginning of the process that will lead to development of the 2015-2025 Statewide Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. This plan will determine how the state handles solid waste, including what it does with recycling and hazardous materials.

There is limited opportunity for public input so it is important for us to be involved from the very beginning. The Focus Meetings below are the first step in the public participation process, which has to conclude before the end of the year.

Memphis Focus Meeting

Monday, March 17th at 5 p.m. CT

Nashville Focus Meeting*

Tuesday, March 18th at 12:30 p.m. CT

* You can join this video conference from the TDEC Environmental Field Office locations in Columbia, Cookeville, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville or Memphis. You may want to call the office ahead of time to let them know you are coming.

Knoxville Focus Meeting

Thursday, March 20th at 10:30 a.m. ET

Chattanooga Focus Meeting

Thursday, March 20th at 5:30 p.m. ET

For more information on the plan, the public input process, and the locations of these meetings, go to the Solid Waste Plan website.

Your Community
Needs You

Join SOCM today!

You can join online by clicking the link above or filling out this membership form and sending it in to our office.

Tennessee Human Rights Commission Announcement

The Tennessee Human Rights Commission is seeking community leaders, researchers and others to bring testimony regarding human rights issues facing Tennessee communities at a series of hearings to be held in the spring of 2014. Presenters and attendees are requested at the following meetings. For more information, to submit testimony, or to register for the events go to www.tn.gov/humanrights

March 25

UT Extension Campus, Knoxville

March 26

Bank of Tennessee Board Room, Johnson City

May 12

Downtown Nashville Public Library, Nashville

Membe r of Community Share s Privacy Policy Site Map