Knox County Schools sets new goals and expectations for some of its most challenged schools

Finding a fix for Knox County's most challenged schools starts with creating a path of high achievement and engagement for all kids from kindergarten through graduation, KCS leaders say.

Knox County Schools administrators are rolling out big changes and specific goals for the new Region 5 cluster of schools in downtown and adjacent communities to the east, north and northwest, including the East Knoxville, Lonsdale, Old North Knoxville and Whittle Springs neighborhoods. Four schools in the region were among the lowest-performing in the state, the state announced in 2022.

Administrators are holding listening sessions this week with families, students, teachers and community members to hear about the district's cohesive set of new programs tailored to the region's needs.

Superintendent Jon Rysewyk told Knox News the district has been inconsistent in correcting low proficiency scores in the region, and leaders asked staffers to take a hard look at what was missing.

He and other administrators know there will be skepticism from those who say they've heard lip service in the past on how to improve outcomes for kids. But Rysewyk said this plan is different in several ways.

One facet is a set of shared goals with regular progress reports. Administrators and school leaders will ramp up communication on all levels, and data will be a part of it.

"We're going to have to show people. We're going to have to show the data. We're going to be transparent in how we track it," he said.

"Some of it will have to be earned trust as we move about it, and we're not going to try to hide from that."

Those shared Region 5 goals for 2028 are:

• Three times the number of third graders at or above grade level in reading.

• Four times the number of students graduating high school ready for college or a career.

• Six times the number of eighth graders at or above grade level in math.

Each of the four steps has its own metrics and goals, such as improving the daily attendance average to 93% and an 80% year-over-year retention rate for Region 5 teachers with "highly effective" ratings.

"That's what's different for me this time. We're saying, this is it. Are there going to be days we take two steps backwards? Yes. Are there days when we accelerate faster and say, whoa, we didn't see that coming? Yes," Rysewyk said.

"But we have a plan of where to go. We have everyone rowing in the same direction. And we're going to ask for grace while we join hands."

Here are the Region 5 action steps the district will take starting now and continuing into the coming years:

Maintaining high academic expectations for all students

This track sets a standard of excellence across schools in the region in tangible ways and defines a consistent school culture that can be maintained between schools and through leadership changes.

"Too many times as a principal, I'm just going to be honest, I would see the expectations would be lower because those kids may be experiencing certain levels of trauma or barriers," said Dexter Murphy, the Region 5 director. "But it's a 'yes and' approach. Yes, they do experience those barriers and trauma points, but we need to make sure that they have that grit and make sure we keep the bar high across all schools."

New initiatives, for example, aim to get 60% of eighth graders approaching grade-level standards or above in math and 80% of third graders approaching grade-level or above in English language arts.

EARLY LITERACY: The district will expand preK opportunities so kids start reading at an earlier age.

IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES IN MATH: Roll out a new curriculum starting this fall based on best practices. Additional training is coming for teachers.

Retaining and recruiting elite teachers

The district's plan for teachers is twofold: recruit teachers who want to make a difference in Region 5 and find ways to keep the best ones in place for years to come, whether in the same role or in a leadership position within the region.

Higher teacher turnover puts kids at a disadvantage. When they connect with a staffer who isn't there the next year, it can set kids back. This plan is designed to change that.

HIGHER PAY THROUGH EXTENDED CONTRACTS: Administrators have the opportunity to offer different contracts to Region 5 teachers. They will pay teachers for 205 or 216 days of work each year instead of the standard 200 days.

The extra hours will be used for new tasks such as individual reading and math goals for each student. The extra contract days equate to a pay bump. Extra hours also will be spent on professional development to redefine the school's culture.

A FOCUS ON RECRUITING: Consistency starts with recruiting teachers who want to be there for the long haul instead of those who are willing to work in Region 5 for only a few years and then move on.

The district has set a goal of 25% of new hires who are bilingual or teachers of color so kids make meaningful connections with mentors who look or sound like them.

Providing career and college pathways

Administrators are laying the groundwork now for ambitious goals, including bringing the International Baccalaureate and additional Advanced Placement programs to Region 5. The work they're starting now will take years to come to fruition, but they're sharing their goals so the community can track progress.

STARTING EARLY: Administrators know it's too late to address graduation rates at the high school level. Those pathways to success can even start before kindergarten, they say. They plan to bring AP and IB prep classes to the region, even at the elementary level.

CONSISTENT PATHWAYS: There's a disconnect between Region 5 schools in the types of specialties they offer. Schools for younger students might focus on STEM or engineering, but the high school those students are assigned to could specialize in performing arts. Changes would bring a clear focus on career-ready paths.

HIGH-LEVEL ACADEMICS FOR ALL: District officials are beginning work now to bring the International Baccalaureate and additional Advanced Placement programs to Region 5 high schools. They're offered elsewhere in the district but Region 5 students don't have those opportunities in their home schools.

Establishing systems to meet whole child needs for academic success

These goals put the onus on students to reach their personal potential. The extra days of work in teachers' contracts will allow teachers to connect with each student regularly to meet their goals.

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLANS: Starting this fall with reading goals for kindergartners and third graders, plus math goals for sixth and ninth graders, each student will hear from their teacher on how they can hit a level tailored to their skills. Eighty-five percent of students should meet their goals, administrators say.

BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SYSTEMS: Communication and consistently applying behavior expectations will be key for this goal. In the past, expectations and punishments would have been between schools or even between school leaders. This new expectation brings those into alignment.

Murphy said this goal was based on student feedback.

Learn more about the Region 5 plan

The district has two meetings planned this week so community members can hear more about the changes.

Date: 5:30 p.m. May 16Location: Lonsdale Elementary, 1505 Louisiana Ave.*Presentation in Spanish Available

Date: 5:30 p.m. May 18Location: Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy, 3001 Brooks Ave.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Schools sets new goals and expectations for Region 5