KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Board of Education voted to approve an agreement with East Tennessee Freedom Schools on Thursday, after tweaking the original Memorandum of Understanding.
The original Memorandum of Understanding says that the program is a "non-profit organization that offers no-cost summer programming that leverages literacy with a diverse community of children to reduce summer learning loss, increase their love of learning, and develop thoughtful and engaged citizens one neighborhood at a time."
Two motions were made regarding the agreement's sections on data-sharing and transportation. The separate data-sharing agreement was provided by Gary Dupler, the board's legal counsel. It passed by a vote of 6-3.
Daniel Watson proposed changes to the transportation agreement with the nonprofit, in order to better comply with state requirements, specifically during a period when KCS students may use buses to attend summer school. Buses would only be available for the nonprofit's program if resources are available and the buses are already going to the schools.
The Memorandum of Understanding passed in a 5-4 vote.
The nonprofit would implement summer learning at Green Magnet Academy, Sarah Moore Greene Magnet School, Spring Hill Elementary School, and other schools. They will provide a site coordinator during summer programming as well as trained staff who will use a curriculum from the Children's Defense Fund. Staff would also provide STEM, financial literacy, fitness, music, self-care other lessons along with field trips and family engagement workshops.
"The curriculum is structured around the theme of, 'I can make a difference,'" said one speaker who worked on the nonprofit's curriculum. "For each book, when I would write that curriculum, I would read each book that was selected multiple times, and I would read the state standard multiple times ... They focus on reading comprehension, and instructors are instructed to ask about key details about the text."
She also vouched that it was within the language of the law on prohibited concepts and divisive concepts that the Tennessee legislature passed. Many of those concepts focus on teaching about the impact of racism. A list of those concepts is available below.
- That one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex
- That a person, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist or oppressive — whether consciously or subconsciously
- That a person should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of their race or sex
- That a person's moral character is determined by their race or sex
- That a person, by virtue of their race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex
- That a person should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or another form of psychological distress because of their race or sex
- That a meritocracy is inherently racist, sexist or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex
- That Tennessee or the U.S. is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist
- Promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government
- Promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class or class of people
- Ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges or beliefs to a race or sex, or to a person because of their race or sex
- That the rule of law does not exist but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups
- That "all Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
- That governments should deny to any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the law
The Children's Defense Fund is a nonprofit that aims to make sure children have stable homes, quality health care, nutritious food, good schools, safe neighborhoods and access to resources.
John Butler said that he believed their program would benefit schools in East Knoxville and in Region Five. Watson also urged the board not to conflate the national nonprofit's full body of work with the curriculum that would be presented during the nonprofit's summer programming.
"Yes, we had some people who came and expressed legitimate concern. They were in the minority," Watson said. "I would encourage us not to get confused about making an indictment about a national organization, about their full body of thought that they put out in the world, but that we would honor an organization that's honored our kids for at least the last six years."