3.7 - I’m tempted to say that this was a “fun” book - but all of the characters’ frustration (based on way too much reality) took some of the fun out of it; still, an entertaining satire that comments on the state of public education and its’ absurdities.

Though the tone of this book is light, what these Texas high school teachers are put through is decidedly bleak. I have empathy for teachers in real life and had a lot of empathy for these fictional characters. They’re being put through the ringer by a business man/minor celebrity Nick Wallabee who is trying to turn teaching into a business through charter schools (who don’t have to follow the standards of public schools and can essentially function as a way for con artists to make money). Also, Wallabee and his cronies try to make money by encouraging kids to get their education online, which costs almost nothing for providers—and, as usual, you get what you pay for.

I loved this cast of cThough the tone of this book is light, what these Texas high school teachers are put through is decidedly bleak. I have empathy for teachers in real life and had a lot of empathy for these fictional characters. They’re being put through the ringer by a business man/minor celebrity Nick Wallabee who is trying to turn teaching into a business through charter schools (who don’t have to follow the standards of public schools and can essentially function as a way for con artists to make money). Also, Wallabee and his cronies try to make money by encouraging kids to get their education online, which costs almost nothing for providers—and, as usual, you get what you pay for.

I loved this cast of characters: Lena, an English teacher by day and a spoken word poet by night. Hernan, the biology teacher who can’t seem to get his friendship with Lena to turn into something more. Kaytee, a white Teach Corps teacher who is forever challenging her vocabulary and thoughts to ensure she’s not stereotyping her predominately black and brown students. Coach Ray, who didn’t make it to the NFL but did make it out of Huntsville, where nearly everyone works for one of the nine prisons there.

This book won't help districts recruit new teachers, but it's entertaining and well done.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 11, 2020.

As a teacher, I expected to love this book because I knew it would be relatable to me-and in some ways, it was. However, it seems to me that the author went off track into espousing her political leanings instead of sticking to shedding light on the plight of US educators. I find it hard to read books where the author spends part of the book explaining that we shouldn’t stereotype and should be tolerant, and spends the next section stereotyping a race and showing religious intolerance. If you’re against stereotyping, it should apply to all. If you’re crying out for tolerance, you should BE tolerant. Disappointed, because the premise of this book has great potential.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After starting this and reading other negative reviews, I’ve decided to skip this one and move on to other books that appeal to me more.

Completely accurate depiction of American public schools . . . educators will nod their head at the stereotypical colleagues who populate the teaching field. And teachers will shake their head in disgust with the way the profession has changed. Strongly developed characters help to reveal the flaws in the new "business of school" model. Educators will love this story, but people outside of the field may find themselves in disbelief. Sorry, nonbelievers, this is the reality.

This is a MUST-READ for all teachers. It is a perfect representation of the dumpster fire that public education has become., but it is also a laugh-out-loud celebration of the educators who keep trying. I am beginning year 18 in public schools, and this book speaks to my soul.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As a middle school teacher, Adequate Yearly Progress was a fun read for me. It hits many universal truths about teaching, as well as the yearly headaches we all face with testing data, administration, and student home life.
Told from the perspective of several teachers and a principal, Yearly Adequate Progress is a quick, funny and possibly eye-opening read for those not familiar with teaching in the public school system.