By Associated Press
Nashville, TN – An Associated Press analysis of student testing data shows Tennessee school systems without teachers' collective bargaining rights performed slightly better than those with negotiated contracts. But they posted weaker gains. According to the Tennessee Education Association, 38 of the state's 135 local school districts did not engage in collective bargaining with their teachers before a new law eliminated those rights this year. Those districts averaged a higher percentage of students earning proficient or advanced scores in the four categories tested. But the districts that allowed collective bargaining - which included the state's four largest cities - averaged larger gains in all four categories compared with last year's scores. The mostly Republican supporters of the new law argued that the move put a priority on teacher performance.