Thursday evening, the House and Senate wrapped up debate on the Governor's higher education proposal and passed the bill with nearly unanimous support. With that bill complete, the General Assembly is expected to adjourn out of the special session on Monday. The delay is simply intended to make certain no corrections to the bills passed need to be made before the special session is concluded.
The special session saw the legislature pass significant K-12 education reforms in the first week and then major higher education reforms this week. Also in the mix was the passage of a bill that suspended implementation of a worker's compensation bill that took effect January 1 of this year. The new provisions had caused concern among certain employers. The new provisions were delayed until March 28, 2011. This gives the legislature time to review the proposed changes and modify them this session or early next year.
When the Senate and House return next week, the regular session will commence with no limit on the topics the General Assembly may take up and consider. It is still expected that budgetary issues will overshadow the session and limit the consideration of proposals that add any significant new costs to state government. Governor Bredesen is slated to give a state of the State address on February 1 and present his budget at that time.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tennessee's Race to the Top Application
The State of Tennessee submitted its proposal earlier this week in the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top competition, seeking a total of $501.8 million in federal resources to spur education innovation across the Volunteer State. Tennessee’s final request exceeded recent estimates by about $17 million, mainly due to additional resources that are being sought for turnaround schools. Tennessee’s complete Race to the Top proposal, totaling 1,111 pages with supporting documents, can be found on the state Department of Education Web site at www.tn.gov/education.
“We’re proud to put forward Tennessee’s very best proposal for meaningful reform in public education,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “Our application should be especially competitive following last week’s efforts by the General Assembly, the Tennessee Education Association and countless others who helped support and pass the Tennessee First to the Top Act of 2010.”
The Governor signed the newly minted law on Saturday. Under federal guidelines, half of any Race to the Top funds received by Tennessee — which, as requested, would total $250.9 million — would be distributed directly to local school districts under the federal government’s existing Title I formula. The other half would be used to seed a “State Innovation Fund” underwriting a series of new investments over a four year period. Major categories include:
• Turnaround schools: Approximately $108.8 million to help turn around struggling schools —including roughly a dozen consistently failing schools that may join the new state run “Achievement School District” as well as roughly 180 increasingly troubled schools that may be designated as “Renewal” or “Focus” schools.
• Great teachers and leaders: Approximately $62.2 million for a range of professional development and “human capital” initiatives — including the creation of a new educator leadership program; expansion of Tennessee’s existing SITESM program to improve math instruction in elementary schools; and training for teachers on higher academic standards.
• Technology and data: $54.5 million to improve public school teachers’ use of and access to Tennessee’s longitudinal data system used for tracking “student growth,” or a child’s improvement in the classroom over time.
• STEM programs: $22.5 million to invest in programs and schools focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math — the STEM disciplines.
• Oversight and implementation: $2.9 million to help the Department of Education implement Tennessee’s plan and to establish a “First to the Top Oversight Team” charged with ensuring that funds are deployed according to plan and properly utilized.
On Tuesday, President Obama and Secretary of Education Duncan announced plans to seek an additional $1.35 billion in funding for Race to the Top in anticipation of an “overwhelming response” from states seeking awards in the first round of the competition. Winning states in the first round are expected to be announced in April, to be followed by a second round of competition later in the year.
“We’re proud to put forward Tennessee’s very best proposal for meaningful reform in public education,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “Our application should be especially competitive following last week’s efforts by the General Assembly, the Tennessee Education Association and countless others who helped support and pass the Tennessee First to the Top Act of 2010.”
The Governor signed the newly minted law on Saturday. Under federal guidelines, half of any Race to the Top funds received by Tennessee — which, as requested, would total $250.9 million — would be distributed directly to local school districts under the federal government’s existing Title I formula. The other half would be used to seed a “State Innovation Fund” underwriting a series of new investments over a four year period. Major categories include:
• Turnaround schools: Approximately $108.8 million to help turn around struggling schools —including roughly a dozen consistently failing schools that may join the new state run “Achievement School District” as well as roughly 180 increasingly troubled schools that may be designated as “Renewal” or “Focus” schools.
• Great teachers and leaders: Approximately $62.2 million for a range of professional development and “human capital” initiatives — including the creation of a new educator leadership program; expansion of Tennessee’s existing SITESM program to improve math instruction in elementary schools; and training for teachers on higher academic standards.
• Technology and data: $54.5 million to improve public school teachers’ use of and access to Tennessee’s longitudinal data system used for tracking “student growth,” or a child’s improvement in the classroom over time.
• STEM programs: $22.5 million to invest in programs and schools focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math — the STEM disciplines.
• Oversight and implementation: $2.9 million to help the Department of Education implement Tennessee’s plan and to establish a “First to the Top Oversight Team” charged with ensuring that funds are deployed according to plan and properly utilized.
On Tuesday, President Obama and Secretary of Education Duncan announced plans to seek an additional $1.35 billion in funding for Race to the Top in anticipation of an “overwhelming response” from states seeking awards in the first round of the competition. Winning states in the first round are expected to be announced in April, to be followed by a second round of competition later in the year.
Primary Elections for County Commission
As we move closer to the 2010 county elections in Tennessee, I have been asked how many counties in Tennessee hold primary elections for the position of county commissioner. While municipal elections in Tennessee are by law non-partisan, the decision of whether or not to conduct primary elections for county offices is up to the individual county executive committees of the political parties. A clear majority of counties in Tennessee do not hold a primary election for the office of county commissioner. In 2006, 57 counties held no primary. For 2010, 58 counties are not holding a primary election for the office. There are 24 counties that hold both Democratic and Republican primaries for county commission. Six counties hold a Democratic primary only and seven hold a Republican primary only. From 2006, to 2010 there have been only marginal changes to this practice. For a larger view of the chart, click on the image.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Special Session on Education Continues – K-12 reforms Enacted
Last week, the General Assembly re-convened in regular session then quickly adjourned into a special session to focus primarily on education issues. The first week of the special session, the legislature spent most of its time on K-12 issues, as the state was facing a January 19 deadline for sending in a “Race to the Top” grant application to the Federal Government. Only those reforms enacted and in place by the 19th could be included in the application. According to Governor Bredesen, one principal area of weakness in Tennessee’s application related to use and availability of student performance data in the teacher evaluation process. To correct this weakness, Bredesen introduced legislation in the special session that comprehensively revised the teacher evaluation process and proposed other reforms related to persistently struggling schools. Tennessee is planning to request a grant of approximately $485 million to advance reforms around four specific areas:
•Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
•Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
•Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
•Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.
One theme that was repeated in speeches by the Governor and in testimony by the Department of Education before committees was that these additional federal dollars would not be used to create on-going liabilities that would continue after the grant period. In other words, the additional federal dollars would be spent on innovative short term reforms and fixes that do not require continued funding from the state or local governments after the program is over. The TCCA board heard information about the K-12 proposals and discussed them on January 13, the second day of the special session. After consideration, the board resolved to support the initiatives with the understanding that the legislation did not create new on-going costs for counties who are facing very challenging budgets.
Late Friday evening, the House and Senate passed the K-12 initiative and adjourned for the MLK Jr. holiday weekend. With that legislation in place, the state finalized its grant application. It is expected that finalists for Race to the Top grants will be announced in March, with the final awards coming in April.
•Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
•Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
•Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
•Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.
One theme that was repeated in speeches by the Governor and in testimony by the Department of Education before committees was that these additional federal dollars would not be used to create on-going liabilities that would continue after the grant period. In other words, the additional federal dollars would be spent on innovative short term reforms and fixes that do not require continued funding from the state or local governments after the program is over. The TCCA board heard information about the K-12 proposals and discussed them on January 13, the second day of the special session. After consideration, the board resolved to support the initiatives with the understanding that the legislation did not create new on-going costs for counties who are facing very challenging budgets.
Late Friday evening, the House and Senate passed the K-12 initiative and adjourned for the MLK Jr. holiday weekend. With that legislation in place, the state finalized its grant application. It is expected that finalists for Race to the Top grants will be announced in March, with the final awards coming in April.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Race to the Top Legislation Headed to the Senate Floor
Comprehensive legislation to enact reforms in K-12 legislation has been approved by the Government Operations, Education and Finance Committees in the Senate and is moving to the Senate floor for a vote tomorrow (Friday) morning. As of the time of this post, the House Education Committee was still considering the legislation. Also pending in this special session is legislation that would enact higher education reforms. The K-12 legislation has an important deadline of January 19, the date the state's Race to the Top application is due in Washington. Reforms must be enacted by that date in order to be legitimately included in the application. Other special session issues do not have a deadline. If no significant movement occurs on those bills, the legislature may decide to wrap up the special session next week and roll that legislation into the regular session.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Important Reminder: Statement of Disclosure of Conflict of Interest due January 31
All local public officeholders and all candidates for a local public office are required under the Comprehensive Governmental Ethics Reform Act of 2006 to file a “Statement of Disclosure of Interests” with the Tennessee Ethics Commission. Rules and deadlines are different for current office holders and candidates.
A “local public officeholder” is any state, county, municipal, school or other district or precinct office that is filled by voters (e.g., an elected office) as defined in T.C.A. § 2-10-102 (13)(A). A “newly-appointed local public officeholder” is an individual who was appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected local public office.
For local officials, the Statement of Disclosure of Conflict of Interest (form ss 8005) must be filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission by January 31, 2010. Even if your circumstances have not changed since last year, a new form must be filed annually. As a local official, you have the option to file electronically through this website: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/conflict/
or by mail by printing off the form and instructions found here.
The same form is used for candidates and for individuals who have been appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected local office; however, different deadlines apply. Candidates must file within 30 days after the last day to qualify to run for the office. Newly appointed local officials filling a vacancy in an elected office must file within 30 days of appointment.
A “local public officeholder” is any state, county, municipal, school or other district or precinct office that is filled by voters (e.g., an elected office) as defined in T.C.A. § 2-10-102 (13)(A). A “newly-appointed local public officeholder” is an individual who was appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected local public office.
For local officials, the Statement of Disclosure of Conflict of Interest (form ss 8005) must be filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission by January 31, 2010. Even if your circumstances have not changed since last year, a new form must be filed annually. As a local official, you have the option to file electronically through this website: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/conflict/
or by mail by printing off the form and instructions found here.
The same form is used for candidates and for individuals who have been appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected local office; however, different deadlines apply. Candidates must file within 30 days after the last day to qualify to run for the office. Newly appointed local officials filling a vacancy in an elected office must file within 30 days of appointment.
General Assembly Re-Convenes - Special Session Begins
On January 12th, the General Assembly returned to Nashville for the 2010 legislative session. Many legislators actually returned the previous day to House and Senate Education and Finance meetings related to a Special Session on education. Governor Bredesen called the legislature into a special session in order to rapidly consider the adoption of certain education reforms that would better position the state in its application for Federal Race to the Top education grants. The state's application is due on January 19th.
Before the special session began, the House and Senate held regular floor sessions at noon today. Of note to county governments, the Senate took up legislation to delay the implementation of the Voter Confidence Act to 2012. The House passed legislation to delay implementation last year, but the Senate fell one vote short on passing the bill on the last day of session. After lengthy discussion and debate and consideration of several amendments, the Senate voted 22-10 to delay implementation of the act to the 2012 election cycle. The legislation will now go to the Governor for his consideration.
Before the special session began, the House and Senate held regular floor sessions at noon today. Of note to county governments, the Senate took up legislation to delay the implementation of the Voter Confidence Act to 2012. The House passed legislation to delay implementation last year, but the Senate fell one vote short on passing the bill on the last day of session. After lengthy discussion and debate and consideration of several amendments, the Senate voted 22-10 to delay implementation of the act to the 2012 election cycle. The legislation will now go to the Governor for his consideration.
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Materials on Main TCCA Website
Two new information tabs have been added to the TCCA website, http://www.tncountycommissioners.org/.
One tab includes a basic office description for the office of county commissioner in Tennessee. It describes the qualifications, oath of office, compensation, duties and other aspects of the office of county commissioner. This material is adapted from information provided by the Univeristy of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service and is used with their permission.
The other new tab includes information about the 2010 County Election. For now, there are only basic calendars of important dates and deadlines. We plan to add additional information.
I should also note that the results of the county commission survey are available under the "Information and Resources" tab of the page, or you can link directly to the results here. This material is the same as was reported in the December issue of our newsletter.
If there are other resources or information that you would like to see on our website, please let us know and we will see what we can do.
One tab includes a basic office description for the office of county commissioner in Tennessee. It describes the qualifications, oath of office, compensation, duties and other aspects of the office of county commissioner. This material is adapted from information provided by the Univeristy of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service and is used with their permission.
The other new tab includes information about the 2010 County Election. For now, there are only basic calendars of important dates and deadlines. We plan to add additional information.
I should also note that the results of the county commission survey are available under the "Information and Resources" tab of the page, or you can link directly to the results here. This material is the same as was reported in the December issue of our newsletter.
If there are other resources or information that you would like to see on our website, please let us know and we will see what we can do.
Board Meeting Dates and Other Important Dates for 2010
The first TCCA board meeting of 2010 is scheduled for Wednesday January 13 at 11:00 a.m. central time in Nashville in the ground floor conference room of our office building at 226 Capitol Boulevard Building, Nashville, next door to the Hermitage Hotel. Municipal parking is available below the Nashville Public Library at the intersection of Church St. and Capitol Blvd. Additional parking is available at the Sheraton across the street from the Capitol Boulevard Building, with the entrance to the parking garage on 7th Avenue. This meeting is the only time the board is scheduled to meet this year that is not in conjunction with a larger Tennessee County Services Association event. The meeting is open to all members of the association and to the public, but there will be no speakers or program other than the board meeting itself. We will be conducting association business as well as discussing the proposals being considered in the special legislative session on education.
The next TCCA board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m., in conjunction with the joint TCSA/COAT County Government Day. It will also be held in the ground floor conference room at 226 Capitol Boulevard Building.
Additional board meetings for 2010 will be held in conjunction with the other major Tennessee County Services Association meetings and conferences.
June 8-9 TCSA Summer Legislative Conference, Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg
October 26-28 TCSA Fall Conference & Trade Show, Music Road Hotel & Convention Center, Pigeon Forge
Specific times and locations for these board meetings have not yet been set. Notice will be provided when the final schedule is known. While you are planning your calendar for 2010, you may also wish to keep in mind the annual National Association of Counties meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 16th through 20th.
The dates for TCCA regional meetings are not set for this year, but will all be planned for September in order to take place after the August county election and the start of the new term for county officials.
The next TCCA board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m., in conjunction with the joint TCSA/COAT County Government Day. It will also be held in the ground floor conference room at 226 Capitol Boulevard Building.
Additional board meetings for 2010 will be held in conjunction with the other major Tennessee County Services Association meetings and conferences.
June 8-9 TCSA Summer Legislative Conference, Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg
October 26-28 TCSA Fall Conference & Trade Show, Music Road Hotel & Convention Center, Pigeon Forge
Specific times and locations for these board meetings have not yet been set. Notice will be provided when the final schedule is known. While you are planning your calendar for 2010, you may also wish to keep in mind the annual National Association of Counties meeting in Reno, Nevada, July 16th through 20th.
The dates for TCCA regional meetings are not set for this year, but will all be planned for September in order to take place after the August county election and the start of the new term for county officials.
Updated Information on State Finances
The January 7, 2010, Investor Update for the State of Tennessee has been published on the Comptroller's Website. The Investor Update includes the following information:
• Revenue Report for the month of November 2009
• Tennessee Housing Market Brief for 2nd and 3rd Quarter 2009
• Economic Forecasts for the State of Tennessee
• Lottery Forecast for the State of Tennessee
• State Funding Board Letter to the Governor and Speakers
To access this information go to: http://www.tn.gov/comptroller/
Click on Investor Information in the blue box on the left hand side of the page.
Select "Investor Updates".
Select "Fiscal Year 7/1/09-6/30/10"
At the bottom of the next screen, agree to the disclaimer.
On the next screen, select Investor Update - 01/07/10.
We also keep links to older versions of these updates on our main TCCA webpage at www.tncountycommissioners.org under the tab for "Revenue Reports"
• Revenue Report for the month of November 2009
• Tennessee Housing Market Brief for 2nd and 3rd Quarter 2009
• Economic Forecasts for the State of Tennessee
• Lottery Forecast for the State of Tennessee
• State Funding Board Letter to the Governor and Speakers
To access this information go to: http://www.tn.gov/comptroller/
Click on Investor Information in the blue box on the left hand side of the page.
Select "Investor Updates".
Select "Fiscal Year 7/1/09-6/30/10"
At the bottom of the next screen, agree to the disclaimer.
On the next screen, select Investor Update - 01/07/10.
We also keep links to older versions of these updates on our main TCCA webpage at www.tncountycommissioners.org under the tab for "Revenue Reports"
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