we will defeat COVID-19 (aka coronavirus).
We take the issue of COVID-19 very seriously,
and we are monitoring the development daily.
We will undoubtedly have difficult days ahead.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed a
scaled-down version of the state budget. It is
important to highlight for our educators that
the proposed budget still contains a 2% raise
in the BEP instructional component for our
teachers. Should the crisis subside, we are
confident that this administration will revisit
and fulfill their commitment to teacher salaries.
In the meantime, everyone across the state is
tightening their belt.
Teacher salaries are one of the only increases
for wages that were not cut in the new, scaled-
down budget, and we thank Governor Lee for
continuing to prioritize our educators despite
the urgent need to reallocate significant
resources to prepare our state for the effects
of COVID-19.
Finally, we know the legislature has returned
to their home districts. Once they return to
Nashville and resume the legislative session,
predicted to be by June, we are hopeful that
we will have weathered the worst of this
outbreak, and that the Governor’s office and
legislature will revisit budget investments for
public education.
PENDING FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Public school enrollment is expected to be
slightly higher than the 50.7 million students
in 2019, and it is the highest enrollment ever
reported for public schools. Tennessee has
about 980,000 students. Nationally, including
post-secondary and other programs, more
than 76 million students are enrolled in
U.S. schools. This includes about 7 million
children, which consists of more than 2
million with specific learning disabilities. Many
of the Special Education students rely on
IDEA and Section 504 to receive necessary
special education support and services. In
Senate 3548, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (CARES Act) proposed
waivers will give states and school districts the
necessary time to implement proper protocols
given the COVID-19 pandemic to better serve
all our students, including the guarantee of
equity for special education students and
ESL students. It is important that this remains
included in the legislation.
Many public schools are not equipped to
provide equity for all students at this time,
such as special education students or those
who speak English as a second language.
Without a waiver, unless a district provides
services exactly as written in the IEP in terms
of frequency, duration, and location, they are
likely in violation. Districts are already being
inundated with due process requests, OCR
complaints, and even federal lawsuits. Without
a waiver, costly litigation could most certainly
occur against states and districts who operate
in good faith to provide services. States and
districts cannot afford unnecessary legal
action during a crisis. The CARES Act directs
Secretary DeVos to report back to Congress
within 30 days on the waivers needed. We
expect and support giving the Secretary of
Education some waiver authority, and we
would hope it is very brief. We would oppose
any permanent extension.
The Tennessee Department of Health has
launched a Tennessee Coronavirus Public
Information Line in partnership with the
Tennessee Poison Center. The hotline number
is 877-857-2945 and will be available from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily. Additional resources
for the education community regarding
COVID-19 can be found at:
• https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
• https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-
safety/update-on-coronavirus.html
Collaboration and open communication
between administrators, educators, school
staff, parents, and students will be the best
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