Videos

SOCM's statewide campaign to defend public education is going full speed ahead into the new school year! We sit down with Member Dustin Park, who has been a leader locally in Blount County as well as statewide, and Liv Cook, our newest organizer who joined SOCM this summer to help develop this important work. Dustin and Liv talk about threats to public education in Tennessee, how their involvement in SOCM has helped fuel their passion, and what they're hearing from folks across the state during their deep listening sessions. If you'd like to join the fight for public education in Tennessee, visit linktr.ee/socmpubliced for our most recent action alerts and sign up for our weekly newsletter at socm.org.

"Retention in and of itself is not a research-based strategy that helps [students]. I don't know that we need a state law to do that. I DO think that we need earlier intervention." Dr. Jon Rysewyk, Knox County Schools superintendent Knox County Board of Education discussed a resolution that would call on our state legislature to amend the disastrous 3rd Grade Retention Law. This law would hold back 3rd graders based on a single standardized test, removing any input of parents, teachers or other benchmark test. In Knox County, superintendent Rysewyk estimates that OVER 2600 3rd graders could likely be held back next year, if the laws goes unamended. Our teachers, parents and administrators like Dr. Rysewyk are very clear that this law, as written, does not serve our students. We need evidence-based solutions like early intervention that actually help our students.

Politicians shouldn't be flunking our 3rd graders. SOCM Members across Tennessee have been calling on our State Representatives to amend the disastrous 3rd Grade Retention Law in the 2023 legislative session. Here's what some of them (Republican and Democrat) are saying:

get involved in the fight for Public Education in YOUR community: linktr.ee/socmpubliced

We need to invest in our students, NOT more high stakes testing! Tennessee teachers spoke earlier this week about why the state's new 3rd Grade Retention Law harms students and weakens our school system. Check out this highlight reel to hear directly from educators about why we need to amend this law in the spring. After you hear from these teachers, we need YOU to take action: 1) Email your representatives using this easy link: bit.ly/morethanatest 2) Share this post on social media using the hashtag #morethanatest 3) Register here (bit.ly/socmpubliced) to join us virtually on November 17th to make plans with other folks in YOUR community to meet with state representatives, work with your local school boards and more.

Maureen O'Connell, SOCM's first director, shares about the power of organizing and the struggles of our early years.

SOCM members in Rutherford County have been fighting the expansion of the Middle Point Landfill.