We just received an official copy of the Hillsdale charter - dubbed "USA Classical Academy" - application to @WCSedu and there is a LOT to unwrap here. Short version: public school funding is being requested to fund what appears to be a Christian private school.
What does "training in the virtues" mean exactly? Whose virtues?
They're basing 2019 enrollment figures to pandemic-2021 enrollment? That makes sense. Also, nice pocketing of where "disadvantaged families" may live according to....pastors. Seems like solid research.
(and yes, the application really is 317 pages long if you caught that detail. This will be a multi-part overview when we have time to grab more water and snacks.)
Here's where they talk about finding teachers who are currently working in other schools. We'll get back to the "classical curriculum" part.
This curriculum is presumably Hillsdale's 1776 curriculum - why aren't they calling it that in the application, instead saying "classical curriuclum." Is it different or the same? k12.hillsdale.edu/Curriculum/The…
We are assuming Hillsdale Academy uses their own K-12 curriculum - but they provide a "classical Christian education."
We know @GovBillLee is a BIG FAN of the private, Christian Hillsdale college.....and a @WCSedu is now reviewing this charter application for what appears to be a religious school using public school funding. This seems problematic?
1/ One of the first tests of the new Tennessee state laws about CRT in public schools was decided by the courts this month, and the litigants, Moms for Liberty-remoras James and Trish Lucente, failed bigly.
2/ The lawsuit alleged the Wit & Wisdom elementary reading curriculum contained CRT and age-inappropriate material, and was dismissed.
3/ Reminder: The Lucentes and their Parents Choice TN group were allegedly the ones who organized the mass trespass on WCS elementary school grounds in December 2021: williamsonherald.com/features/educa…
Now up: Superintendent Golden's report....
thanks those who spoke at public comment. Had detailed discussion at work session about Epic app and curriculum content, encourages everyone to go listen to those discussions (it's available on the WCS board page.)
The @WCSedu board is now discussing the elementary curriculum review committee findings. Buckle up and refill those beverages.
Cleveland (D7) says parents are the mentors & teachers and kids look to them while teaching them to respect those who have different beliefs than they do. WCS teachers are experienced professionals. Disappointed in our community who have lost faith that our teachers....
...can't teach these matters. "I have listened." Someone will find something wrong with any state-mandated curriculum. There will always be something someone doesn't like, and we have a process that was followed.
The @WCSedu is now discussing a resolution in opposition to HB2833 re: #charter schools, which would shorten the timeline for approval and allows charters to use district facilities:
The #wcsb is asking with this resolution for local control. Sheila Cleveland who chairs the legislative committee on the Board, says this is on the TSBA "oppose" list which means the state board does *not* recommend this for Tennessee public school districts.
...notes it would allow charter schools to bypass local approval and go straight to the state for approval (and we know how @GovBillLee feels about sending public school taxpayer money to private charter schools.)