Johnson City Schools to review TISA report, challenged book

The Johnson City Board of Education will review its 2025-26 TISA accountability report and consider the continued availability of a challenged graphic novel during its regular meeting Monday. The TISA accountability report is presented to the public for review and comment before being submitted to the Tennessee Department of Education. One of the district's goals is for at least 70% of third-grade students to score "met expectations" or "exceeded expectations" on the English language arts portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program by 2028. According to the report, the district has increased its overall scores since 2023 but has not yet reached the target. The district reported 65.3% of third-grade students met or exceeded expectations in ELA during the 2025-26 school year. The report also outlines action plans and planned TISA expenditures for each goal. For the third-grade ELA goal, about $132,500 in TISA funds will support a grades 3-5 ELA instructional coach, district-developed checkpoints through Renaissance DnA to identify students for additional tutoring and additional instructional assignments for teachers to provide ELA tutoring beyond their regular contracts. The district's second goal is for 54% of students in designated subgroups in grades 3-11 to score proficient on math TCAP and end-of-course exams by 2028. The third goal is for 54% of students in designated subgroups in grades 3-10 to score "met expectations" or "exceeded expectations" on ELA TCAP and end-of-course exams by 2028. For the 2025-26 school year, the district reported the math rate remained at 45%, while the ELA rate was 44%. The district plans to support the math goal through four full-time math instructional coaches, tutoring and summer school opportunities, with about $749,000 allocated for those efforts. About $1 million is allocated toward the ELA goal through similar instructional coaching and tutoring efforts in Goal 1. The district's fourth goal is for 70% of graduating students to meet the college and career readiness indicator by 2028. End-of-year data for the 2025-26 school year was not available when the report was prepared. The previous year's rate was 64%. About $552,000 was allocated toward the goal. The district employed a full-time graduation specialist, a full-time counselor focused on college and career readiness and a work-based learning and industry certification specialist. The district also paid Advanced Placement exam fees for students enrolled in AP courses. According to the report, the Board of Education will pay for industry certification credentials for all qualifying students. During the upcoming meeting, the board will also consider a request concerning "The Baby-Sitters Club: Boy-Crazy Stacy," a graphic novel that was flagged for review by an elementary school parent. Under district policy, the school convened an ad hoc materials review committee to evaluate the book. The committee reviewed the book's content, intended age range, educational value and professional reviews before recommending that it remain available in classroom and school library collections. Public comment on the book is expected during Monday's meeting, according to the agenda. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Johnson City Schools central office, 100 E. Maple St.