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Expect More, Achieve More Coalition Launched

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More than 100 business, community, and education organizations across Tennessee today launched an effort to support high academic standards in K-12 public education. This group, the Expect More, Achieve More coalition, seeks to build statewide and local awareness of Tennessee’s ongoing effort to raise expectations in the classroom through the Common Core State Standards.

“One of the most important things we have done to improve public education in Tennessee is to raise our expectations,” said former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Chairman of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) a coalition member. “Far too many students are graduating from high school unprepared for further education or for the workforce. By raising the bar through higher academic standards we help ensure that every student in Tennessee graduates ready for the future.”

Standards are the knowledge and skills that students are expected to learn in each grade and subject. In 2010, Tennessee took an important step in raising the bar by adopting the Common Core State Standards. These standards focus on more critical thinking and problem solving skills and students learn important concepts in earlier grades, building on those concepts each year. These higher standards were implemented in grades K-2 (math and English/language arts) in the 2011-12 school year, and are being implemented in 3-8th grade math this school year.

“A good education means better job prospects,” said Miles Burdine, President and CEO at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, a coalition member. “In today’s economy, competition for jobs comes not just from across town but from around the world. The skills and knowledge students will learn with these new standards are those needed for success in today’s workforce.”

Seven of the 10 fastest growing jobs in Tennessee require education beyond high school. Currently, only 16 percent of students in Tennessee meet college readiness benchmarks on the ACT in English, math, reading, and science.

Over the next year, the Expect More, Achieve More coalition will focus on arming parents, educators, students, and community members with the tools they need to ensure all students graduate ready for success. Numerous resources are available, including:

  • A Common Cause, a five-minute video narrated by education stakeholders in Tennessee, which explains what the Common Core State Standards are and how they fit in with Tennessee’s other education reform efforts
  • ExpectMoreTN.org, an online resource that includes specific information for parents, teachers, and community members
  • A brochure, which is being distributed across the state, to provide parents and community members with clear information on the new standards

“As an educator, I know that parental involvement is an important part of helping a child achieve more,” said Pennye Thurmond, Principal at Ripley Elementary, part of Lauderdale County Schools which is a coalition member. “Engaging and educating parents and communities about academic standards is critical.”

“Raising the bar and expecting more is hard work, particularly for students and teachers,” said Karen Davis, President of the Tennessee PTA, a coalition member. “New standards mean new ways of teaching and learning in classrooms, and ultimately harder tests. But in Tennessee, we are up to the challenge.”

A full list of coalition members, as of September 11, is available here. The coalition includes school districts, leaders in state government, businesses, philanthropic and civic organizations, and institutions of higher education. The coalition will continue to add members throughout the Fall of 2012.

 


Live Stream of the SCORE Prize starts Monday, October 8, at 6 pm CT

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If you are not able to attend the SCORE Prize event in person, live streaming of the entire SCORE Prize event will be available below. Check back at 6 PM CT when the event starts. In the meantime, follow SCORE’s Twitter page for updates on the LEAD Conference and the run up to the SCORE Prize event.

SCORE announces second annual SCORE Prize winners

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(Nashville) – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) tonight announced the four winners of the 2012 SCORE Prize during an event at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The winners – three schools and one school district – were recognized for dramatically improving student achievement. The prize event, attended by educators, parents, students, and other stakeholders, included remarks from Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, SCORE Chairman and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman, SCORE President and CEO Jamie Woodson, and video remarks from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The evening concluded with a performance by award-winning singer/songwriter Phil Vassar.

“Our ultimate goal is that every student graduates from high school prepared for college and the workforce,” SCORE Chairman Bill Frist said. “These schools and districts are proof points for what works in making progress towards that goal. This is a night to celebrate the success of teachers, principals, administrators, parents, and most importantly, students.”

The 2012 SCORE Prize winners are:

• Elementary: John Sevier Elementary, Maryville City Schools

• Middle: Rose Park Math and Science Magnet, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

• High: Covington High School, Tipton County Schools

• District: Hamblen County Schools

“The stories of these schools and districts are inspiring,” said SCORE President and CEO Jamie Woodson. “These winners represent diverse areas across Tennessee, and all are faced with different and unique challenges. The SCORE Prize is an opportunity for all of us to share their stories of success.”

The SCORE Prize awards $10,000 to the elementary, middle, and high school and $25,000 to one district in Tennessee that have most dramatically improved student achievement. Winners were chosen in a two-step process. The first stage identified finalists through a weighted criteria selection process that took into account TVAAS growth and TCAP improvement. This process also factored in attendance rates and socioeconomic status. College-readiness data, such as ACT and college-going rates, were considered for high schools and districts. The second stage consisted of site visits to the finalists to document the policies and practices that have enabled them to make significant gains in student achievement.

About the Winners

  • John Sevier Elementary, part of Maryville City Schools, serves 548 students in grades PK through 3. Fifty-five percent of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged. The school’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 9.1 in math and 7.6 in reading, meaning John Sevier is helping its students make significant gains in these subjects. Between 2010 and 2012, the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students has narrowed by 7.1 percentage points in reading and 22.9 points in math.
  • Rose Park Math and Science Magnet, a non-selective magnet in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, serves 395 students in Nashville in grades 5 through 8. The school is 61 percent economically disadvantaged. The school’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 5.7 in math and 2.0 in reading. The school has made significant progress in narrowing achievement gaps between various racial and economic subgroups. Most significantly, the achievement gap between black and white students narrowed by 11.4 percentage points in reading and 16.2 percentage points in math between 2010 and 2012.
  • Covington High School, part of Tipton County Schools, serves 790 students in grades 9 through 12. Seventy-two percent of the school’s student population is economically disadvantaged. The school has significantly contributed to its students’ performance on the Algebra I End of Course exam, posting a three-year average TVAAS SCORE of 50.7. Between 2009 and 2010, the school’s college going rate increased 10 percentage points to 63 percent.
  • Hamblen County Schools serves 9,615 students in East Tennessee. Sixty-two percent of the district’s students are economically disadvantaged. The district’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 13.9 in Algebra I, meaning the district is helping its students make great gains in this area. Thirty-nine percent of the district’s high school students are enrolled in AP or IB courses, and the district has a 61 percent pass rate on AP exams.

In addition to the SCORE Prize winners, Rolanda Mack, a junior at Covington High School, was chosen as the “Students Rise to the Challenge” winner. The competition invited students from across Tennessee to write essays about the innovation happening in their classrooms. Finalists were selected through a Facebook poll. Mack, who read her essay during the Prize event, wrote about Deborah Walker, her dance and drama instructor, saying that, “a teacher who doesn’t give up or lose faith in you, but instead guides you, motivates you, then watches as you grow, is what every student should find in every teacher.”

In the coming weeks, SCORE will release videos and in-depth case studies of all 12 SCORE Prize finalists. This work will be used throughout the year to highlight best practices in improving public education in Tennessee.

To learn more about the 2012 winners and finalists or the Prize selection process, visit www.tnscore.org/scoreprize.

 

Statement from SCORE on the report card on the effectiveness of teacher training programs

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(Nashville) – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) released the following statement from Jamie Woodson, president and CEO, on the 2012 Report Card on the Effectiveness of Teacher Training Programs:

“The importance of today’s report is clear – Tennesseans need to know whether our state’s teacher training programs are preparing graduates for the classroom. Because effective teaching is the number one school-based factor in improving student achievement, this report is one of the most important sets of data regarding public education in our state.

In looking at both traditionally and alternatively licensed graduates, there are four programs that stand out: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the Memphis Teacher Residency, Teach For America Memphis, and Teach for America Nashville produced teachers who had higher student achievement gains in two or more subject areas, when compared to veteran teachers. In addition, graduates from Lipscomb University had higher student achievement gains than other beginning teachers when examining composite SCOREs in grades 4-8 and high school. This is good news.

But there is significant work to be done as well. There are preparation programs in Tennessee that are graduating teachers who are not performing as well as other beginning teachers. In addition, some programs are admitting students with low ACT SCOREs, a concern given that new academic standards require teaching and learning that focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

It is imperative that we continue to strengthen teacher training institutions as well as recruitment efforts in our state. We are encouraged by the progress being made, but more can be done to ensure that future teachers are well-trained and prepared for the demands of the classroom.”

On November 1, 2012, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission released the 2012 Tennessee Report Card on the Effectiveness of Teacher Training Programs. The report can be found here: http://www.tn.gov/thec/Divisions/fttt/report_card.shtml

2012 SCORE prize highlight video

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The highlight video of the 2012 SCORE Prize event has launched on the SCORE Prize website. The video includes remarks from the October 8 event featuring Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and SCORE Chairman Bill Frist and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, as well as clips of the winners and our musical guest, Phil Vassar. Please watch this video and visit the SCORE Prize website to learn more about the best practices used by the finalists and winners.

WATCH LIVE: A candid conversation with Governors Bill Haslam and Jeb Bush

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On Monday, January 14, SCORE is hosting a candid conversation between Governors Bill Haslam and Jeb Bush to discuss what transformational education reform needs to look like to improve outcomes for students. If you are not able to attend this SCORE Institute event in person, live streaming of the entire event will be available below. Please check back at 12:45 PM CT when the event starts. In the meantime, follow SCORE’s Twitter page for updates on the run up to the SCORE Institute.

Live broadcasting by Ustream

WATCH LIVE: 2012-13 State of Education in Tennessee Report Release

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On Tuesday, February 5 at 11 AM Central, please join us online as former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, SCORE’s Founder and Chairman, presents the 2012-13 Report and moderates a panel of education stakeholders to reflect on priorities for the year ahead. Click below at 11 am on Tuesday, February 5 to watch the report release live. In the meantime, follow SCORE’s Twitter page for updates on the run up to the SCORE Institute.


Streaming video by Ustream

Education and journalism leaders join SCORE team

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced today that Dr. Jared Bigham will join the organization as Director of College and Career Readiness and Teresa Wasson will join the organization as Deputy Director of Communications. Bigham and Wasson will enhance the organization’s college and career-readiness work, communicating about and advocating for Tennessee’s efforts to ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary education and the workforce.

“Jared and Teresa are leaders in the field of education and journalism respectively,” said Jamie Woodson, President and CEO of SCORE. “Jared is recognized as one of Tennessee rising stars in public education, and his experience as a teacher, school leader, and advocate will significantly advance SCORE’s efforts to engage and inform citizens about our state’s work to raise academic expectations for students. Teresa is one of Tennessee’s most respected journalists. Her vast experience as a writer, journalist, and editor will benefit not only SCORE and the entire education reform community, but most importantly, students throughout our great state.”

Dr. Jared Bigham is currently Supervising Principal of Copper Basin High School and Copper Basin Elementary School in Copperhill, Tennessee, and is Executive Director of the Tennessee Rural Education Association. Previously, Bigham served as a system-wide guidance counselor for Polk County Schools, a middle school science teacher, and a 5th grade social studies and language arts teacher. Bigham also serves on Tennessee’s Common Core Leadership Council and is an assistant professor at the College of Education at Liberty University. Bigham received a bachelor’s degree in education from Lee University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a Doctorate of Education at Liberty University.

As Director of College and Career Readiness, Bigham will play a critical role in ensuring successful implementation of Tennessee’s sweeping reforms focused on preparing students for success beyond high school, specifically through Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards. Bigham will begin his role at SCORE on May 20, 2013.

Teresa Wasson most recently served as News Editor covering Tennessee and Kentucky for the Associated Press. In that role she directed and coordinated a team of a dozen journalists covering national and state news with an emphasis on beat coverage of state government and politics, courts and legal affairs, military issues, religion, and entertainment. Wasson was previously the Executive Editor at the Pensacola News Journal and a corporate news executive at Gannett Co., Inc. Wasson has also worked at The Tennessean, The Jackson Sun, and The Knoxville Journal.

As Deputy Director of Communications, Wasson will be responsible for driving the day-to-day communications work of the organization, focusing on both supporting SCORE’s communications strategy and planning, as well as implementing and managing SCORE’s daily communications efforts. Wasson began her role at SCORE on May 13, 2013.


Statewide Survey Shows Tennesseans Support Higher Academic Standards

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) released today the results from a statewide public opinion poll focused on voter perceptions of Tennessee’s work to raise academic expectations through the Common Core State Standards. The survey, commissioned by SCORE and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research, was conducted on May 6-7 & 9, 2013. Trend data from the survey build on a similar statewide survey released by SCORE in the fall of 2012.

“High academic standards are a critical piece of Tennessee’s work to improve student achievement,” said Jamie Woodson, President and CEO of SCORE. “These results show that citizen awareness of Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards is increasing and that there is solid support for the implementation of these higher standards across the partisan and ideological spectrum.”

Key findings from the survey include:

  • There is strong support for implementing Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards. After hearing a brief description of the CCSS, more than three-quarters of voters support implementation, with more than four-in-ten saying they “strongly” favor it. That finding is similar to last year’s survey.
  • The standards garner majority support regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, education level, parental status, region of the state, or political affiliation.
  • There is strong support for the Common Core State Standards across the partisan and ideological spectrum.
  • Voter awareness about Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards has grown since last September, and initial impressions are more positive than negative.
  • Roughly one-third of voters (34%) now say they have heard “a lot” or “some” about the Common Core State Standards.
  • Fully half (50%) of those who are at least aware of Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards say they have a favorable impression of them based on what they have seen, read, or heard — consistent with last year’s forty-nine percent (49%).

A detailed memo on the survey and the numbers it reports is available here: http://www.tnscore.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TNScoreMemoFin-May-2013.pdf

Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards are a set of higher expectations in math and English Language Arts that were developed by state leaders to ensure that every student graduates high school prepared for postsecondary education or the workforce. These new standards are replacing Tennessee’s old set of expectations for students in math and English Language Arts. For more information about the Common Core State Standards visit www.expectmoretn.org.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) collaboratively supports Tennessee’s work to prepare students for college and the workforce. We are an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan advocacy and research institution, founded by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Students Rise to the Challenge Video Competition Semi-finalists

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Ten semi-finalists are competing in SCORE’s 2013 Students Rise to the Challenge scholarship competition.

They have produced videos to tell their stories about innovative things happening in their classrooms and schools that make them excited about learning and better prepared for their futures. Their videos make it clear there are some pretty interesting things going on in Tennessee schools, from spending a class in a freezer, to reading and studying in a media center, to running an online video network, to attending math academy.

Tennessee public school students in grades three through twelve submitted dozens of entries for Students Rising to the Challenge, and now we need your help to pick the best. The three finalists will come to Nashville on October 28 for the SCORE Prize event, where they will meet country music star Jo Dee Messina and find out who wins the competition and a $500 scholarship.

The semi-finalists are listed below in alphabetical order. Watch the videos, pick your favorite, and then cast your vote by going to SCORE’s Facebook page. Hurry! We must have your vote by 5 p.m. Central, October 11.

 

 

1. Ruben Ball, fifth grade, Meigs Magnet, Metro Nashville Schools


 

2. Erika Barragan, South Side High, Jackson-Madison County Schools


3. Alexis Bradby, Maryville High, Maryville City Schools


4. Catherine Bright, sixth grade, Philadelphia Elementary, Loudon County Schools


5. Lindsey Callis, senior, South Side High, Jackson-Madison County Schools


 

6. Taylor Jones, sixth grade, Rose Park Magnet, Metro Nashville Schools


7. Gabe Mann, seventh grade, Ocoee Middle, Bradley County Schools

 

8. Sarah Martin, senior, Hillwood High, Metro Nashville Schools


9. Taylor Parker and Camaryn Upshaw, seniors, John Overton Comprehensive High, Metro Nashville Schools.


10. Jo-Nyla Walker, fifth grade, Germanshire Elementary, Shelby County Schools

‘Teach Today. Change Tomorrow.’ Recruitment Campaign Launches

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has announced a statewide campaign – Teach Today. Change Tomorrow. – to recruit millennials to become teachers in Tennessee.

Tennessee needs high-quality teachers across the state, and Teach Today. Change Tomorrow. is committed to helping place a great teacher in front of every student. With more than 20,000 anticipated job openings in education by 2024 in Tennessee, Teach Today. Change Tomorrow. seeks to motivate passionate young people to pursue a career in teaching and ensure future teachers are prepared.

Teach Today. Change Tomorrow. will look to empower millennials to go into the teaching profession. Tennessee has many high-needs schools in rural and urban districts and needs to recruit more STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) teachers, an area where the state faces a critical shortage. Teach Today. Change Tomorrow. will also address the need for more diversity in Tennessee’s teacher ranks. Students of color make up 35 percent of the public school population, yet just 15 percent of teachers in the state identify as persons of color.

The campaign includes a website, TeachTodayTN.org, and presences on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, supported with statewide radio advertising. The website contains information about the path to an education career, testimonials from current teachers and links to all Tennessee educator preparation programs.

From mentorship through its Ambassador program, made up of teachers and education professionals throughout the state, to providing the tools and information necessary to become a teacher in Tennessee, Teach Today. Change Tomorrow. will be an essential resource for millennials who want to make a difference through teaching.

“Kids all across Tennessee deserve adults who will support them, cheer for them, and are champions for them,” said Cicely Woodard, a teacher at West End Middle Prep. “Our students need more educators who will listen to them and who want them to be successful in the future.”

More information can be found at TeachTodayTN.org.

Partners in this work include the Hyde Family Foundations, Nashville Public Education Foundation, Memphis Education Fund, Public Education Foundation Chattanooga, Conexión Américas, Lipscomb University, Teach for America Nashville, Crisp Communications, Tennessee Charter School Center and the Tennessee Department of Education.

 

Tennessee Voters Show Wide Support For Education Reform Issues In Statewide Survey

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A survey of likely voters in Tennessee’s 2018 gubernatorial primaries shows that education reform measures have broad support among Republicans and Democrats and that voters rank improving the quality of education as one of the top issues for the next governor.

Results from the poll were released today by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, which commissioned a statewide survey of 500 likely voters in the 2018 Republican primary and 500 likely voters in the Democratic primary. The telephone poll was conducted July 12-16 by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Benenson Strategy Group.

“One year from now, Tennessee will be holding primary elections for governor and most seats in the General Assembly. It’s clear from this poll that education is a priority for likely voters, and that voters think the improvement efforts of the past 10 years are worth continuing,” SCORE Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson said. “This includes higher standards, statewide assessment, and teacher evaluations based on multiple measures.”

Voters of both parties ranked education among the top three issues for the next governor, and among parents who vote it was the No. 1 issue for Democrats and the No. 2 issue for Republicans.

Voters were given a number of proposed education reforms and asked whether they would be more or less likely to support a candidate for governor who backed these proposals. For every potential reform, a majority of voters from both parties said they would be more likely to support such a candidate by a margin of 25 points or greater, according to a memo written jointly by pollsters Tony Fabrizio of Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Shira Angert of Benenson Strategy Group. The list of reforms included:

  • • Expansion of early workforce training, 79 percent of Republican voters and 88 percent of Democratic voters
  • • Higher academic standards, 79 percent of Republican voters and 85 percent of Democratic voters
  • • Improved early learning opportunities, 71 percent of Republican voters and 90 percent of Democratic voters
  • • Increased teacher pay, 71 percent of Republican voters and 88 percent of Democratic voters
  • • Multiple-measure teacher evaluations, 65 percent of Republican voters and 73 percent of Democratic voters
  • • Tougher statewide testing that mirrors what is taught in class, 52 percent of Republican voters and 56 percent of Democratic voters

 

“We’ve conducted similar surveys for the past 10 years, and Tennessee voters have consistently stood by policies that are focused on improving academic achievement for our students,” SCORE President David Mansouri said. “As we move into an important election cycle, this poll shows us that Tennessee voters continue to support the innovations that have been introduced to help students learn at higher levels.”

The pollsters said there were notable areas of agreement among the voters despite some partisan differences. “Republicans and Democrats not surprisingly have very different views on the current political environment in Tennessee, but they both have positive views of Governor Haslam and his education reforms and policies,” the joint memo said. Among those surveyed, 75 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats said they approved of the job Haslam has done.

The survey also indicated that Tennesseans are not aware of objective measures, like the Nation’s Report Card, that indicate academic achievement is improving faster in Tennessee than in other states. More voters said they think K-12 education in Tennessee is getting worse than getting better, though a plurality believe it is staying the same. Parents are less positive about the state’s direction on education, the poll showed.

“While Tennessee’s recent progress in education is not known among likely voters, there are a number of ideas for improving education in the state that voters on both sides of the aisle strongly agree with,” Fabrizio and Angert wrote. “Support for education reforms has the potential to generate more support for candidates in both parties.”

Both Angert and Fabrizio have experience conducting surveys for presidential campaigns. Angert was part of Benenson’s team working for then-Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and conducted polling for the White House in 2009, while Fabrizio has served as the chief pollster on four presidential campaigns, most notably and recently Donald Trump’s 2016 upset victory.

POLL METHODOLOGY: The surveys of likely voters in the August 2018 Tennessee primaries were conducted via landline and cell phone by Benenson Strategy Group and Fabrizio, Lee & Associates. Landline interviews accounted for 60 percent of the sample and cell phone interviews 40 percent.  Geography by county and media market were matched to previous statewide primary elections. Gender and age were matched to the population of likely voters according to a state-provided voter file. Respondents were randomly selected from lists of known registered voters who had previously voted in a primary election. The margin of error at the 95% confidence interval for 500 voters is ±4.38%.

Download joint media memo from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Benenson Strategy Group

Download toplines of Democratic voters

Download toplines of Republican voters

Jamie Woodson: Approved Tennessee Succeeds Plan Advances Tennessee-Specific Solutions For Students

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released the following statement from Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson about approval from the U.S. Department of Education for Tennessee’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan.

Tennessee Succeeds, the state’s plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act, applies state-specific solutions for meeting the needs of Tennessee students. Stakeholders from across the state provided input to the Tennessee Department of Education as the proposal was developed so that it met the needs of all Tennessee students, particularly historically underserved students.

Three key parts of the plan will be vital to helping students achieve more. First, there now will be success measures for every school so parents, educators, and community members can understand whether all students are being served well. In particular, more schools will receive data about the academic success of students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, and English learners. Second, the plan creates an innovative “ready graduate” measure that should increase opportunities for high school students to earn college credit or industry certification. Finally, it establishes a clearer and more comprehensive approach to turning around low-performing schools in collaborative ways.

It is now important for SCORE, the Tennessee Department of Education, and all partners to support our educators as they put this plan to work for students.

SCORE Report Sets 5 New Priorities For Improving Student Achievement Through 2025

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released a new report with five strategic priorities for continuing Tennessee’s unprecedented progress in student achievement through the year 2025.

The report, Excellence For All: How Tennessee Can Lift Our Students To Best In The Nation, outlines priorities for public education that are grounded in goals set by SCORE to remain among the fastest-improving states for student achievement, to close all student achievement gaps, and to prepare all students for postsecondary education and the workforce.

SCORE, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education research and advocacy organization founded by Senator Bill Frist, MD, engaged and listened to almost 1,700 Tennesseans from diverse backgrounds and reviewed education research to identify the priorities that will help drive greater student achievement.

“Tennesseans are proud that Tennessee became the fastest-improving state for academic achievement, and now they want our students to rank among the best in the nation,” said SCORE Chairman and Founder Senator Bill Frist, MD. “A shared vision and collaborative approach helped Tennessee deliver greater success for students over the past 10 years. The Excellence For All report provides an updated vision for continued collaboration and progress over the next eight years.”

The Excellence For All report identifies the top K-12 priorities as:

Make Tennessee The Best State To Live, Work, And Grow As A Teacher. The report recommends the state focus on recruiting the best and brightest for the teaching profession, preparing them well, and supporting them intensively through the first few years in the classroom. It also calls for the state to make it professionally and personally rewarding for teachers to stay in the classroom.

Support Every Student To Become A Strong Reader And Writer. The report says Tennessee students should become the fastest-improving in reading. It recommends expanding access to high-quality, affordable instructional materials aligned to Tennessee’s standards, strengthening the training and support of teachers to help students become stronger readers and writers, and building leader knowledge of literacy standards to support effective teaching.

Develop School Leaders Who Are Ready To Lead Learning And People. In order to develop strong school leaders, the report recommends that Tennessee principal preparation programs emphasize the work of leading instruction and a high-performing team of educators. It also calls on the state to invest in building high-quality, sustainable principal preparation programs.

Ensure High School Is The On-Ramp To Postsecondary Studies And Jobs. The report recommends Tennessee introduce redesigned high school models with a focus on postsecondary readiness. It says the state’s high schools should give all students access to the coursework that prepares them to succeed after graduation and develop strong partnerships between high schools, higher education, and employers.

Provide Tennessee Students With The Greatest Needs A High-Quality Education. To ensure that students of color, low-income students, English learners, and students with disabilities receive a high-quality education, the report calls for equitable distribution of highly effective teachers, strong school leadership, and innovative supports that are proven to help students learn at their highest levels.

“Next year, Tennesseans will elect a new governor and at least 23 new members of the Tennessee General Assembly,” said SCORE Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Woodson. “Tennessee voters rank K-12 education among the top issues in the state, so there is no better time for those of us who care deeply about Tennessee students to put forth a new vision to achieve even greater academic success. This report aims to ensure Tennessee leads our students to another decade of progress and success.”

SCORE presented the report findings to educators, policymakers, and community and civic leaders during an event in Nashville. Panelists included Dr. Nancy Dishner, President and CEO of the Niswonger Foundation; David Golden, Senior VP, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer at Eastman Chemical Company; Dorsey Hopson II, Superintendent of Shelby County Schools; Dr. Sharon Roberts, Chief Strategy Officer at SCORE; and Cicely Woodard, Tennessee Teacher of the Year from Metro Nashville Public Schools.

The collaborative approach to the Excellence For All report repeated the process SCORE used shortly after its founding in 2009 to develop a plan for raising the academic performance of students in Tennessee public schools. The report issued by SCORE eight years ago, A Roadmap To Success, helped provide a foundation for the education reforms that followed over two administrations, including higher academic standards, annual teacher evaluation, and strong school turnaround efforts.

The Tennessee Educator Fellowship

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The Tennessee Educator Fellowship brings together a diverse group of educators from across the state who are passionate about their profession and student-focused education policy. Applications are now being accepted for the 2018-19 cohort. 


Survey: Tennessee Voters Name Education As Decisive Issue In Governor’s Race

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NASHVILLE – Tennesseans who are likely to vote in this year’s gubernatorial primaries identify education as their top issue in casting a ballot for governor, according to a statewide survey.

Results from the poll were released today by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), which commissioned a statewide survey of 500 likely voters for the 2018 Republican primary and 501 likely voters in the Democratic primary. The telephone poll was conducted December 14-17 by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Benenson Strategy Group.

The Republicans and Democrats surveyed were most likely to name education as the single issue that will be most important in deciding their vote for governor, with about a fifth giving that answer to an open-ended question. About one in four parent voters named education as the top issue. Education has risen in importance with voters compared with a similar survey conducted by the same polling firms for SCORE in July, which found education among the top three issues.

“In an era of intense political polarization, Democratic and Republican 2018 primary voters in Tennessee show remarkable agreement regarding the importance of education and the substantial role they want education to play in this year’s gubernatorial campaign,” pollsters Tony Fabrizio of Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Shira Angert of Benenson Strategy Group said in a jointly written memo.

The survey also found that most voters in either party believe Tennessee high school graduates are not properly prepared for college or a job. Among Republicans, 61 percent think students are not prepared, while 56 percent of Democrats feel that way. These results are about 10 points higher for both parties since the July survey.

 “SCORE regularly conducts surveys about voter views on education issues, and it is clear from the latest results that Tennessee voters understand the importance of public education, especially as providing a foundation for success after high school,” SCORE President David Mansouri said. “Voters also are eager to hear candidates for governor talk about the policies they favor for improving education in Tennessee.”

Two other issues – expanding pre-kindergarten opportunities and school choice – showed party splits, but both were favored by the majority of those polled.

There was strong agreement among a majority of Democrats and Republicans that they would be more likely to support a candidate for governor who favors:

  • • Increasing teacher pay, with 91 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Republicans.
  • • Expanding efforts to ensure more Tennesseans have some education beyond high school, with 90 percent of Democrats and 74 percent of Republicans.
  • • Making early grade literacy the state’s top priority, with 83 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Republicans.
  • • Improving training for school principals, with 88 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Republicans.

The poll also found that about nine of ten Republicans and Democrats support annual statewide assessment. While about four in ten voters in either party say students are given too many tests, a third of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans think students take about the right amount of tests.

The release of the poll follows a gubernatorial forum on education held Tuesday with five leading candidates from both parties and co-hosted by SCORE, Belmont University, NewsChannel 5, and the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee. More than 1,200 people attended the forum, which also was televised and livestreamed.

POLL METHODOLOGY: Benenson Strategy Group conducted 501 telephone interviews with likely 2018 Democratic primary voters in Tennessee on behalf of Tennessee SCORE. Fabrizio, Lee & Associates conducted 500 telephone interviews with likely 2018 Republican primary voters in Tennessee on behalf of Tennessee SCORE. All interviews were conducted from December 14, 2017, to December 17, 2017, and 40 percent of interviews were conducted by cell phone. The margin of error for both datasets is +/- 4.3%. It is higher among subgroups.

Download joint memo from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Benenson Strategy Group

Download topline results from poll of Democrats

Download topline results from poll of Republicans

 

Report Shows Urgent Need For Southern States To Improve K-12 Schools For Every Child

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In a new report, seven nonpartisan organizations in the South — including the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) — call for their states to take swifter action to improve K-12 public education for every child with an emphasis on support for students with the greatest needs.

Accelerating The Pace: The Future Of Education In The American South recommends greater urgency in efforts by Southern states to raise the overall quality of education. The report shows that while the South has made major advances in education in recent decades, some “achievement gaps” between more affluent students and historically underserved classmates widened between 2005 and 2015.   

The report and the accompanying results of The Education Poll of the South are from the Columbia Group, an informal network of organizations that work to improve education in their respective states. The Columbia Group’s members are:

  • • A+ Education Partnership in Alabama
  • • Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
  • • Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence in Kentucky
  • • Education’s Next Horizon in Louisiana
  • • Mississippi First
  • • Public School Forum of North Carolina
  • • SCORE

 
Accelerating the Pace calls for state leaders and educators to focus on four main priority areas for improvement:

  • Make the South the best place to teach in the nation. Teachers and principals who have the talent, preparation and continued support they need to help students succeed.
  • Provide new types of academic—and nonacademic—support for today’s students. Students need an array of support systems to help them deal with physical and emotional health issues that can impact their learning.
  • Clear all students’ path from high school to their next steps in education and work. Build a much stronger bridge from high school into college, career training or a good job.
  • Ensure resources are adequate and targeted. Invest in education to meet the needs of every child, and consider additional support for students who need the most help to catch up.

 
“In November, SCORE outlined five priorities for Tennessee to focus on for the next eight years to help lift Tennessee students to among the best in the nation for academic achievement, and there are common threads between that report, Excellence For All, and the findings in Accelerating The Pace,” SCORE President David Mansouri said. “Both reports zero in on teaching, postsecondary readiness, and more support for children with the greatest needs as key levers to drive greater student achievement.”

The accompanying results of The Education Poll of the South show that most Southern voters of all political views and backgrounds support better educational opportunities for every child, no matter students’ background or where they live. The poll surveyed 2,200 registered voters in 12 states, from Virginia to Louisiana, and shows strong consensus for the need to improve education and on key issues that states need to address. Among the key findings:

  • • 74 percent of voters in the South see differences across their states in how well students are educated. Only 13 percent said all schools do an adequate job across their state. Another 13 percent didn’t know.
  • • 85 percent of voters in the South support “improving public schools by addressing differences in the quality of education across all schools in the state.” Only 6 percent—about one in 17 voters—opposed this idea, and 7 percent did not know.
  • • 84 percent support their “state improving public schools by addressing differences in funding across all public schools.” Only 8 percent oppose the idea, and 7 percent did not know.

 
The poll findings are from voters across the South that roughly match the political affiliation, gender, income levels, and racial/ethnic backgrounds of registered voters in each state. Nearly three out of four voters in the survey were parents, although 40 percent had children older than school age.

Many other partner nonprofit organizations provided data and expertise for the Accelerating the Pace report, spanning different political and ideological viewpoints. These include the Southern Regional Education Board, the PIE Network, and the Southern Education Foundation.

For more information, visit www.acceleratingthepace.org.

The 2018 Gubernatorial Forum On Education

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Belmont University, 2018

Tennessee voters think education is one of the most important issues the next governor will face and this year’s election comes at a critical time in the statewide efforts to improve the academic performance of students in Tennessee’s public schools. To highlight the importance of education in the state, and in partnership with Belmont University, The USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee, and NewsChannel 5, SCORE hosted the 2018 Gubernatorial Forum on Education. If you missed the forum on January 23, you can watch the hour-long forum to hear from gubernatorial candidates specifically about their visions for education.

SCORE To Invest In Tennessee School Leadership Initiative

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NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released the following statement from SCORE Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson about Governor Haslam’s school leadership initiative. Through the Tennessee Educational Innovation Fund, a philanthropic endeavor launched in 2017, SCORE is joining a public-private effort to increase fellowships for new school leaders:

School leaders who can skillfully lead learning and people are essential for driving bigger and faster academic gains for Tennessee students. The Tennessee new leader fellowships SCORE will be investing in will expand access to high-quality preparation and opportunities to learn on the job in schools with strong support systems like residencies and mentor relationships.

Today’s announcement is an important start to ensuring every Tennessee student and teacher has a great school leader. To foster continued principal development efforts in Tennessee, SCORE is reviewing research and collaborating with stakeholders to issue additional policy and practice recommendations later this year.

SCORE Statement On 2017 NAEP Results

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NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released this statement from Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson on the results of the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress released today:

Tennessee has sustained most of the state’s previous academic gains on the new Nation’s Report Card. While Tennessee remains among the states that have made the most progress since 2011, our students are not yet performing at the high levels Tennesseans want.

The NAEP results support SCORE recommendations to make every student a strong reader and writer and give students with the greatest needs more support to learn at their highest levels. Other priorities confirmed by NAEP focus on providing strong leadership in every school, especially low-performing schools, and effective teaching in every classroom, especially in the core subjects of English and math.

The previous unprecedented gains Tennessee made on NAEP followed the introduction of far-reaching, student-focused policies eight years ago. That experience provides guidance as Tennessee enters a statewide leadership transition: Keep what’s working, be bold enough to innovate, and implement well in every school across Tennessee.

Given past performance, SCORE expects the policymakers and educators of Tennessee will rise to the challenge and use the information released today to make wise decisions to help Tennessee students achieve at higher levels and continue rising until they rank among the best in the nation.

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