MMSD Committed to Improvement in 2023-24
The Tennessee Department of Education announced TVAAS results for all districts in the state on Wednesday, August 23rd. This is the state’s measurement for student growth, so we want our families and community to have a good understanding of our results, as well as the actions we are taking to keep moving Millington forward.
Our district TVAAS rating for the 2022-23 school year is a Level 2, with a Level 3 rating in Literacy and Level 1 rating in Math. Coming off of last year’s Level 5 rating, we certainly recognize the need to do more to strengthen instruction and improve student performance.
Every year, our goal is to exceed the state’s expectations for student growth. Yet, we knew, to some degree, that it would be difficult to earn a Level 5 rating for a second consecutive year. Our 2021-22 rating came after the first full year back in schools following the disruptions of COVID, so the significant growth we saw so quickly was expected with a year of consistent, in-person instruction. That said, some leveling off was inevitable this year. However, with another year of in-person instruction and close work between our Academics team and school administration, we’ve been able to identify which strategies are most effective, as well as the areas of opportunity for increased support and growth in the year ahead.
I want to be very clear that while we are not content by any means with the Level 2 rating, it is important to note that this does not indicate a total lack of progress for our district. It also doesn’t reflect the hard work of our teachers, administrators, and students.
For instance, we are meeting the state’s expectations for Literacy growth as a district, but it was a very challenging year for Math, particularly in the middle grades, which impacted our overall rating. The clearest reason for optimism that we can rebound is that we now have evidence of sustaining progress in multiple areas over the past couple of years, such as:
- Encouraging growth in 4th grade ELA and Math
- Overall ACT growth, including a Level 5 for composite score
- Strong 10th grade English growth
- Chronic absenteeism reduced by nearly 4 percentage points
Prior to 2021-22, we often had Level 1 ratings across the board, even before COVID, which made it very difficult to address everything strategically year over year.
Like all of Tennessee’s districts, we are still awaiting verified TCAP and End of Course results from last year, so without knowing precisely what our Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) are, we can’t provide a fully accurate and comprehensive analysis of student achievement. That said, we feel confident that more encouraging progress will be confirmed in multiple grades and subjects when that data is returned to us.
In the meantime, our collective focus must remain on the work needed to improve in 2023-24. The Academics team and school administration took a hard look at last year’s data and proactively developed strategic plans for this year to address the areas where we underperformed and continue building on areas where we’ve made progress. Some of these key strategies are:
- All Memphis Expansion: Based on the success of this partnership, which aligned our literacy curriculum and brought more consistency to how we use data to drive instruction, we’re expanding intervention support to all of K-8.
- New Math Curriculum & Instructional Partners Collaboration:We've invested in the state’s new curriculum, which involved an intensive textbook review, professional development for teachers over the summer, and unified strategies for data-driven decision making and instructional practices across all grades. These efforts will be supported through the continued partnership with Instruction Partners, which will strengthen capacity for school administrators and support instruction as we roll out the new curriculum.
- Strategic Staffing: A number of strategic staffing decisions were made, both at the central office and school levels, to ensure we’re well equipped to meet the needs of our students. This includes the addition of a new literacy advisor to support all schools, a new principal at the Primary school, and several new highly qualified educators who were successfully recruited to MMSD for high-priority subjects.
- Data Tracking System: We’re currently in the process of implementing a new innovative data tracking system, a key investment in our 2022-23 budget, which will allow teachers and school administrators to progress-monitor data in real time throughout the year and modify instruction and intervention strategies based on individual student needs.
- Wraparound Supports: Understanding the impact of social-emotional issues on academics, the 4-Year $3.9 million Shelby County Community Schools Partnership begins this year, including a partnership with Communities In Schools of Memphis to connect students with much-needed community resources, social worker positions, after-school programs, and more ACT prep.
Again, I want to reiterate that our Level 2 rating is not a reason to be discouraged, but rather a challenge to us all to dig and let our #OneMillington spirit and determination drive our efforts to support our students this school year. I’ve witnessed the great work that is already happening in our buildings this year, and I have confidence in our teachers, staff, school administrators, and students to do what it takes to improve.