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The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to provide this first monthly update designed to keep you informed about Tennessee's First to the Top progress.
In this newsletter you'll receive updates on programs and initiatives, as well as important meeting dates and opportunities for participation. We look forward to working with you during this exciting time for education in Tennessee. |
| Education News Briefs |
July 29, 2010
Bredesen Signs Executive Order Establishing STEM Innovation Network
Governor Phil Bredesen signed Executive Order No. 68 establishing the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. The Network is charged with promoting and expanding the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in K-12 public schools across Tennessee. More.
July 28, 2010
U.S. Department of Education Approves Tennessee Race to the Top Budget
Governor Phil Bredesen announced Tennessee's nearly $501 million Race to the Top budget has been approved by the U. S. Department of Education, allowing the state and all 136 school districts to move forward in implementing comprehensive school reform plans over the next four years. More.
July 20, 2010
Bredesen, Webb, Frist Kick Off Education Coalition, Group's First Project: Campaign to Raise Standards Awareness
Governor Phil Bredesen, Education Commissioner Tim Webb and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist have launched the First to the Top Coalition, a statewide alliance of more than 30 business, community and education groups joining together to support public education reform in Tennessee. More. |
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Tennessee: First to the Top!
Tennessee was one of just two states selected on Mar. 29, 2010, to receive millions of dollars for education in the first round of the federal government's Race to the Top competition. These funds will allow Tennessee to implement a comprehensive set of school reform plans over the next four years.
This week the U.S. Department of Education approved Tennessee's budget of nearly $501 million dollars, allowing the state and all 136 school districts to move forward in implementing dramatic improvements in the classroom.
Over the coming months, school districts will begin to put into operation sound plans designed to bolster the reform efforts underway at the state level around increasing teacher effectiveness, better use of data in the classroom, turning around low-achieving schools and implementing new standards. |
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Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee
TEAC Progress Report
One of the most robust initiatives of Tennessee's First to the Top plan, the Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee, was created by the General Assembly in January through the First to the Top Act. The Committee is charged with developing recommendations and guidelines for the new annual teacher and principal evaluations that will include 50 percent student achievement data, 35 percent of which will be Tennessee Value Added Assessment System data.
The committee, comprised of teachers, principals, business leaders and legislators, has been working diligently since March to make decisions that will shape the model for Tennessee's new evaluations. The purpose of these new evaluations is to ultimately improve instruction and collaboration at the school level, serve as a communications tool and help in decisions of tenure or effectiveness.
Several top priorities for the committee include determining what data to use for teachers in non-tested subjects and grade areas, as well as what criteria to use for the other 50 percent of the evaluations. Field testing for several pilot evaluations is set to begin this school year and the committee will develop official recommendations in Fall 2010. The State Board of Education will review them on first reading in November.
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Scopes of Work Update
Just as the Tennessee Department of Education was required to outline a plan for spending its portion of Race to the Top funds, each individual school district submitted a "Scope of Work," or individual budget plan spanning the four years of the grant outlining in detail reform efforts for all schools.
These plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, meaning school district administration can move forward with their proposals.
The plans are considered working documents and will be reviewed again following the release of TCAP test results this fall. The state Department of Education will provide technical assistance to each school district to revise the plan to reflect new student performance goals.
The focus of each plan should be implementation of strategies to meet First to the Top student performance goals such as improving elementary English/Language Arts performance, middle school Math performance and increasing graduate rates.
The plans will be monitored on an annual basis. Learn more about Scopes of Work. |
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First to the Top Advisory Council Formed
Tennessee's First to the Top Advisory Council was established by Governor Phil Bredesen to provide high-level oversight and ensure the state is effectively implementing, evaluating and learning from Race to the Top. The Council held its inaugural meeting on July 13, 2010. Members discussed the role of the Council and communications strategies for reaching out to all stakeholders regarding First to the Top efforts.
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State Board of Education Actions
As the state begins the exciting process of implementing First to the Top, some very important decisions are being made by the State Board of Education today.
In the culmination of three years of hard work by stakeholders across the state, the State Board of Education will adopt new cut scores, or proficiency levels, for students that set them on an aggressive path to college or a career at all stages of their academic experience.
In 2007, the state began by increasing curriculum standards with the Tennessee Diploma Project. Students completed their first year of learning and testing on those standards this year. Following the State Board meeting today, a new definition of proficiency will be established redefining proficiency as mastery of a subject rather than minimal knowledge.
As part of the state's Race to the Top plan, the State Board of Education will also adopt Common Core State Standards, preparing for implementation in 2014-15. The Common Core standards are a set of standards developed by a state-led consortium, aligned with college and work expectations and based on current education research and evidence. Recent studies have shown Tennessee's standards already closely align with Common Core standards and adoption alignment will be minimal. |
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First to the Top is Tennessee's initiative to improve education through the federal Race to the Top program.
For more information, contact:
Amanda Anderson, Director of Communications
Tennessee Department of Education
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