Sign the Petition
As a collective of concerned citizens, we are demanding real and lasting change within Memphis Shelby County Schools. For years, families have been asked to rely on a system that has not shown results. This is not about politics. This is about our children. Right now, too many are being left behind because of chronic mismanagement.
Recent state legislation has provided a moment for our community to address long-standing challenges for our public schools:
ACADEMICS:
Only 25% of students are meeting academic benchmarks
INSTABILITY:
5 superintendents over the last 6 years
SCHOOL CULTURE:
High teacher turnover, unfilled classrooms, and high rates of student absenteeism
SCHOOL QUALITY:
2/3rds of students attend lower quality schools rated C, D, or F in performance, with some schools remaining in poor rankings for multiple years.
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES:
As our community’s biggest investment, a recent audit shows deep management, cybersecurity, and control issues - this audit remains ongoing due to the lack of effective record-keeping and contract management.
In light of the imminent passing of SB714, we call on all local policy makers and education leaders to work together to improve student outcomes and address identified challenges in the public school system. The situation is too urgent, the issues too pervasive, and the impact too significant not to work together and take bold steps towards improvement.
This affects every single person in our community. This issue goes beyond the school district. It affects workforce readiness, economic growth, public safety, and, ultimately, the future of Memphis.