For the first time, the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) will participate in The Big Payback, an annual day of giving to nonprofits based in Middle Tennessee, to encourage community support and engagement in the SCORE Prize.

The SCORE Prize identifies and honors the Tennessee public schools and school districts that are rising to the challenge of improving student achievement and student outcomes. The SCORE Prize will celebrate these leaders in learning at an event later this year that will be attended by educators and education stakeholders from across Tennessee.

Donations of $10 or more to SCORE during The Big Payback will go directly to supporting this celebration, where SCORE will award $35,000 total to the SCORE Prize winning district and schools.

“The Big Payback is an opportunity for SCORE to engage in a major initiative of the Middle Tennessee nonprofit community and to raise awareness of the important work nonprofits carry out thanks to charitable giving,” SCORE Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson said. “We also hope to foster greater community interest and support for the schools and districts honored by the SCORE Prize.”

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The Big Payback is a 24-hour, online giving event created to help Middle Tennessee nonprofits raise funds to continue their work and directly improve the community around them.

How does the Big Payback work? The day of giving is Wednesday, May 2, from midnight to midnight. Once the clock starts, anyone can visit TheBigPayback.org/score and support SCORE and other participating nonprofits.

During the past four years of giving days, The Big Payback has made a tremendous impact on the Middle Tennessee community helping raise more than $9.3 million for nearly 1,000 area organizations. Since 2011, the SCORE Prize has impacted 162,880 students by honoring and awarding 10 outstanding school districts and 32 exceptional schools with $275,000 in SCORE Prize Awards and nearly $5,000 in student scholarships.

NASHVILLE – Thirty-eight educators have been selected for the 2018-19 class of the Tennessee Educator Fellowship, the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced today.

 “The Tennessee Educator Fellowship has brought together dynamic and talented educators who are passionate advocates for education policies and practices that can improve student achievement,” SCORE Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson said. “The fellows’ diverse perspectives and experiences are invaluable as they work both inside and outside the classroom and participate in state conversations on preparing all students for postsecondary and workforce success.”

The Tennessee Educator Fellowship is a yearlong program that helps teachers, school counselors, and librarians learn about education policy and equips them to advocate for their students and their profession. The educators chosen this year work in a variety of settings: traditional public schools, public magnet schools, public charter schools, public Montessori schools, an alternative academy within a public school and a school dedicated to serving children with multiple disabilities.

Since 2014, the fellowship has supported nearly 150 teachers to engage in the discussion about education policy by speaking at public events, inviting policymakers into their classrooms, writing about their experiences in state and national publications, creating regional professional networks and serving on state-level policy committees.

“The 38 fellows bring unique perspectives to the table—from different backgrounds, grade levels, subjects and regions of the state—to focus on ensuring greater academic achievement and growth for all Tennessee students,” SCORE Educator Engagement Associate Leigh Cooksey said.

This is the fifth year of the Tennessee Educator Fellowship. The fellows chosen for the 2018-19 cohort have a combined teaching experience of 479 years and represent elementary, middle and high schools in 24 districts across East, Middle and West Tennessee. The members of this cohort teach English language arts, math, science, social studies, information technology and special education in urban, suburban and rural schools. The cohort also includes a librarian and several educators who serve as school counselors. Additionally, 42 percent of this year’s fellows identify as educators of color, better representing the diversity of Tennessee’s student body.

The 2018-19 Tennessee Educator Fellows are:

Nathan Bailey teaches career technical education at Sullivan North High School in Sullivan County Schools. Bailey has been teaching for nine years.

Kalisha Bingham-Marshall teaches seventh-grade math at Bolivar Middle School in Hardeman County Schools. Bingham-Marshall has been teaching for seven years.

Sam Brobeck teaches eighth-grade math at Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter Middle School in Shelby County Schools. Brobeck has been teaching for three years.

Monica Brown teaches fourth-grade English language arts and social studies at Oakshire Elementary School in Shelby County Schools. Brown has been teaching for 11 years.

Dr. Nick Brown is a school counselor at Westmoreland Elementary School in Sumner County Schools. Brown has worked in education for eight years.

Dr. Sherwanda Y. Chism teaches grades 3-5 English language arts and gifted education at Winridge Elementary School in Shelby County Schools. Chism has been teaching for 20 years.

Richard J. Church teaches grades 7-8 at Liberty Bell Middle School in Johnson City Schools. Church has been teaching for 19 years.

Ada Collins teaches third grade at J.E. Moss Elementary School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Collins has been teaching for eight years.

Lynn Cooper is a school counselor at South Pittsburg High School in Marion County Schools. Cooper has worked in education for 17 years.

Colletta M. Daniels teaches grades 2-4 special education at Shrine School in Shelby County Schools. Daniels has been teaching for six years.

Brandy Eason is a school counselor at Scotts Hill Elementary School in Henderson County Schools. Eason has worked in education for 4½ years.

Heather Eskridge is a school counselor at Walter Hill Elementary School in Rutherford County Schools. Eskridge has worked in education for 20 years.

Klavish Faraj teaches third-grade math and science at Paragon Mills Elementary School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Faraj has been teaching for five years.

Mavis Clark Foster teaches fifth-grade English language arts and science at Green Magnet Academy in Knox County Schools. Clark Foster has been teaching for 16 years.

Ranita Glenn teaches grades 2-5 reading at Hardy Elementary School in Hamilton County Department of Education. Glenn has been teaching for 11 years.

Telena Haneline teaches first grade at Eaton Elementary School in Loudon County Schools. Haneline has been teaching for 19 years.

Dr. Tenesha Hardin teaches first grade at West Creek Elementary School in Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools. Hardin has been teaching for 17 years.

Thaddeus Higgins teaches grades 9-12 social studies at Unicoi County High School in Unicoi County Schools. Higgins has been teaching for 3½ years.

Neven Holland teaches fourth-grade math at Treadwell Elementary School in Shelby County Schools. Holland has been teaching for three years.

Alicia Hunker teaches sixth-grade math at Valor Flagship Academy in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Hunker has been teaching for 10 years.

Alex Juneau teaches third grade at John Pittard Elementary School in Murfreesboro City Schools. Juneau has been teaching for 11 years.

Lyndi King teaches fifth-grade English language arts at Decatur County Middle School in Decatur County Schools. King has been teaching for six years.

Rebecca Ledebuhr teaches eighth-grade math at STEM Preparatory Academy in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Ledebuhr has been teaching for eight years.

Dr. Aleisha McCallie teaches fourth-grade math and science at East Brainerd Elementary School in Hamilton County Department of Education. McCallie has been teaching for 12 years.

Brian McLaughlin teaches grades 10-12 math at Morristown-Hamblen High School West in Hamblen County Schools. McLaughlin has been teaching for 10 years.

Caitlin Nowell teaches seventh-grade English language arts at South Doyle Middle School in Knox County Schools. Nowell has been teaching for six years.

Dr. Paula Pendergrass teaches advanced academics resources at Granbery Elementary School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Pendergrass has been teaching for 23 years.

Julie Pepperman teaches eighth-grade science at Heritage Middle School in Blount County Schools. Pepperman has been teaching for 23 years.

Kelly Piatt is a school counselor at Crockett County High School in Crockett County Schools. Piatt has worked in education for 18 years.

Ontoni Reedy teaches grades 1-3 at Community Montessori in Jackson-Madison County Schools. Reedy has been teaching for eight years.

Tiffany Roberts teaches algebra and geometry at Lincoln County Ninth Grade Academy in Lincoln County Schools. Roberts has been teaching for 26 years.

Craig Robinson teaches grades 3-5 science at Georgian Hills Achievement Elementary in the Achievement School District. Robinson has been teaching for four years.

Jen Semanco teaches 10th- and 11th-grade English language arts at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy in Hamilton County Department of Education. Semanco has been teaching for 16 years.

Amanda Smithfield is a librarian at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Smithfield has worked in education for 23 years.

Cyndi Snapp teaches fourth-grade math at Carter’s Valley Elementary School in Hawkins County Schools. Snapp has been teaching for 21 years.

David Sneed teaches 12th-grade English at Soddy Daisy High School in Hamilton County Department of Education. Sneed has been teaching for 21 years.

Yolanda Parker Williams teaches fifth-grade math at Karns Elementary School in Knox County Schools. Parker Williams has been teaching for 18 years.

Maury Wood II teaches grades 4-6 technology at Westhills Elementary School in Marshall County Schools. Wood has been teaching for eight years.

Past fellows have led new education initiatives and worked to improve outcomes for all students. Their work has included starting a teacher-nominated leadership academy for students to explore a career in teaching; bringing community leaders into classrooms to discuss the importance of literacy in their careers; advocating for the use of high-quality instructional materials; expanding access to early postsecondary opportunities for students; amplifying the voice, presence, and support for educators of color; and much more. Fellows also have engaged in education conversations at the local, state, and national level and written op-eds and blog posts for news and education outlets like The Tennessean, Education Post, and Hechinger Report.

Throughout the upcoming year, the fellows will learn through in-person and online seminars and will serve as liaisons between their colleagues, their communities, and policymakers as Tennessee continues the work of improving and lifting academic achievement for all students.

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released this statement from SCORE Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Samantha Gutter about today’s announcement that Tennessee Pathways is aligning with the Drive to 55 to accelerate work across the state:

Ensuring that high schools propel students toward successful postsecondary studies and careers is one of the top priorities for Tennessee education for the next eight years. Parents and employers tell SCORE they are concerned that too many students graduate from high school underprepared for the demands of higher education and the workforce. Education and business leaders have identified better coordination of the state’s existing programs as one need, so aligning Tennessee Pathways with Drive to 55 and providing coordinators for all regions are sensible next steps. It will take a clear vision, greater collaboration and coordination, and innovative and focused solutions to fully prepare students to maximize the opportunities that will lead to fulfilling and prosperous work-lives.

Education ranks among the most important issues for Tennesseans who are likely to vote in the November election for governor, according to a statewide poll.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), a nonpartisan education policy and advocacy nonprofit that focuses on improving student achievement, today released the results of the survey of 600 likely Tennessee voters. The poll was conducted by telephone August 27-30 by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and Benenson Strategy Group.

One-third of voters said education is an important issue in deciding their vote for governor. When asked to be more specific, 25 percent of education-focused voters zeroed in on providing a high-quality education for students.

Besides education, the top issues identified in the race for governor were the economy and jobs (34 percent of likely voters) and health care (32 percent).

This survey is the third SCORE has released since August 2017, and voters have consistently identified education as one of the top three issues in the gubernatorial race.

“Tennessee as a state has been working to improve education for more than 10 years, and this survey indicates voters see a need for the next governor to continue to focus on education,” SCORE President David Mansouri said. “Over the next 58 days, voters are going to be thinking about how Tennessee can continue to advance the state’s historic gains in student achievement as they decide their vote for governor.”

Voters expressed doubt that Tennessee students are graduating ready for the next steps after high school, with 59 percent of survey respondents saying students are not properly prepared for the workforce. A plurality of voters polled, 47 percent, said students are inadequately prepared for college.

Nearly three out of four voters surveyed said they would be more likely to support candidates who favor policies that would better prepare students for postsecondary education and careers. The survey found a majority of voters support five readiness policies:

• • Expanding efforts to ensure Tennesseans have greater access to post-high school education, 73 percent
• • Providing more opportunities for workforce certificates for high school students, 72 percent
• •State grants to local communities to improve workforce and college readiness, 73 percent
• • A work-based learning experience for every high school student, 65 percent
• • Personalized college and career counseling for every high school student, 58 percent

 
“One of the biggest problems facing Tennessee education is voters do not think the state’s high school graduates are properly prepared for the next stages of life, whether that is college or a job. In response to this concern, views of programs that can benefit high school graduates are very positive,” according to a joint memo from the two polling firms.

Other education policies supported by a majority of voters surveyed include making early grade literacy the state’s top priority (64 percent), giving parents more choices for where to send their child to school (63 percent), and expanding quality pre-kindergarten opportunities (59 percent).

Since 2012, SCORE polls have found consistently strong support for annual statewide assessment that measures whether students are meeting Tennessee’s academic standards. This year 88 percent agreed the testing was important, with 54 percent calling it very important. When it comes to TNReady, the current statewide assessment that has faced implementation challenges, 61 percent said the test should be fixed while 27 percent said it cannot become a good measure of student progress.

“Once voters learn what TNReady is – a test designed to measure problem solving, critical thinking, and other skills needed for 21st century careers – a 2-to-1 majority favor its use to measure Tennessee students’ progress,” the polling memo said.

METHODOLOGY STATEMENT: Fabrizio, Lee & Associates conducted a Tennessee statewide survey of 600 likely 2018 election voters via landline and cell phone on August 27-30, 2018. 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 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 general election. The margin of error at the 95 percent confidence interval for 600 voters is ±4.00 percent.

More poll results

Polling firm memo

Every student deserves to find in high school a route that will lead to success in the future. The Future Ready Summit on October 18 in Nashville will explore how Tennessee can adopt innovative practices and use policy levers to prepare every student to make the most of postsecondary opportunities that lead to a successful future.

The 21st century workforce is rapidly changing, and Tennessee students will need to attain the certifications and degrees required for a high-quality job and economic prosperity. While Tennessee has seen some of the fastest growth in the nation in K-12 student achievement and has significantly increased the college-going rate, challenges remain in seamlessly linking K-12 education to postsecondary education and the workforce.

SCORE is convening Future Ready Summit: Helping Students Discover Successful Routes to College, Career & Opportunity following thoughtful collaboration by economic, K-12, and higher education leaders over the past six months.

The Future Ready Summit will bring in national and state experts to talk about approaches that will deliver the alignment needed to fully prepare all students for success after high school graduation. Breakout sessions at the summit will dig deeper into examples of progress in Tennessee and elsewhere, covering topics as diverse as community collaboration, apprenticeships, successful advising programs, and high school redesign efforts.

Registration is now open for this one-day summit. Seating is limited, so please reserve your space soon.

Every student deserves to find in high school a route that will lead to success in the future. The Future Ready Summit on October 18 in Nashville will explore how Tennessee can adopt innovative practices and use policy levers to prepare every student to make the most of postsecondary opportunities that lead to a successful future.

The 21st century workforce is rapidly changing, and Tennessee students will need to attain the certifications and degrees required for a high-quality job and economic prosperity. While Tennessee has seen some of the fastest growth in the nation in K-12 student achievement and has significantly increased the college-going rate, challenges remain in seamlessly linking K-12 education to postsecondary education and the workforce.

SCORE is convening Future Ready Summit: Helping Students Discover Successful Routes to College, Career & Opportunity following thoughtful collaboration by economic, K-12, and higher education leaders over the past six months.

The Future Ready Summit will bring in national and state experts to talk about approaches that will deliver the alignment needed to fully prepare all students for success after high school graduation. Breakout sessions at the summit will dig deeper into examples of progress in Tennessee and elsewhere, covering topics as diverse as community collaboration, apprenticeships, successful advising programs, and high school redesign efforts.

Registration is now open for this one-day summit. Seating is limited, so please reserve your space soon.

The post Future Ready Summit: Helping Students Discover Successful Routes to College, Career & Opportunity appeared first on SCORE.

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released this statement from Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson about the announcement that Tennessee Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen will leave office in January:

Tennessee students have been served very well by the steady and strong leadership of Commissioner McQueen. Her priorities have been the right ones for our children: improving student achievement, with a specific focus on reading skills; advocating for great teaching and supporting teachers to deliver high-quality instruction; and emphasizing that students and schools with the greatest needs must receive targeted focus and support in order to improve.

Commissioner McQueen has worked tirelessly to support the Tennessee way – insisting on high academic standards, measuring progress with assessment, and requiring accountability for student success. At the same time, she has elevated educators by creating more opportunities for them to share their perspectives and counsel with state leaders.

Dr. McQueen will continue to have an impact on public education and teachers by leading the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. We at SCORE wish her the best and look forward to the opportunity to continue partnering with her on improving outcomes for students.

The post Woodson: Commissioner McQueen Has Provided Steady, Strong, Student-Focused Leadership appeared first on SCORE.

David Mansouri Promoted To CEO As Jamie Woodson Becomes Senior Adviser

NASHVILLE – Senator Bill Frist, chairman and founder of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), announced today a leadership transition at the nonprofit advocacy organization to ensure a decade of progress in Tennessee student achievement is supported and extended far into the future.

Beginning January 1, 2019, Executive Chair and CEO Jamie Woodson, who has led the organization since 2011 and during the state’s historic gains in student achievement, will at her request move into a role as senior adviser to SCORE. Current SCORE President David Mansouri will succeed her as president and CEO.

“Since our founding, SCORE has always functioned as a highly collaborative team of committed leaders and educators who lean into the challenging but critical work of supporting the continued growth and achievement of all Tennessee students,” Senator Frist said. “For the past eight years, Jamie Woodson has been a remarkable and innovative leader, not only for our organization but for a broad network of stakeholders in helping create the environment for unprecedented student and school success all across our state.”

During Woodson’s leadership at SCORE, Tennessee became the fastest-improving state for student achievement, and the organization has been considered a national leader in student-focused policy and advocacy. SCORE dramatically increased its initiatives and projects, launching the SCORE Prize, which has celebrated and elevated high-performing schools and districts, creating the Tennessee Educator Fellowship, which has served more than 185 teacher-leaders, supporting the LIFT Education network of student-centered district leaders, and convening stakeholders to explore how to continue advancing student achievement.

“Throughout this period, David Mansouri has served as Jamie’s right hand and has led much of that work, so our board unanimously selected David to succeed Jamie,” Frist said. “No one is better prepared than David to lead the organization going forward and to help accelerate the work in making Tennessee’s students the very best in the nation. And in the best of both worlds – we are blessed that Jamie will continue to support the organization as senior adviser.”

“In 2011, it was the right time for me to transition my public service responsibilities in the Tennessee State Senate and my role of Senate Speaker Pro Tempore to a new type of service at SCORE totally focused on advancing education and student success in our great state,” Woodson said. “And these past eight years have been such a pleasure and so rewarding. Now the timing is right for a new leader who will build on all we have worked so hard to create together and to continue to further SCORE’s mission. David Mansouri is the best possible choice as SCORE’s next leader.”

Mansouri first joined SCORE in 2010 and has since served in multiple roles leading advocacy, communications, and outreach efforts, as well as policy and research. Since 2014, he has served on SCORE’s executive team, where he led the implementation of SCORE’s strategic plan, directing all programs and initiatives, as well as overseeing the organization’s financial and operational efforts.

“I am so grateful to Senator Frist, Jamie Woodson, and our board of directors for this opportunity to continue to serve Tennessee’s students,” Mansouri said. “Jamie has been my mentor in this work for the last eight years, and I look forward  to sustaining the tremendous impact she has led at SCORE. With the many changes in state leadership, this is a great time to take stock of how far we’ve come, how much work there is still left to do, and to assess how we can accelerate our momentum in education as a state. I am excited to work with our team, and thousands of educators and partners all across our state, in continuing to serve Tennessee’s students and families.”

Mansouri previously worked in political consulting and public relations, providing clients and candidates with public affairs consulting, issue advocacy support, and campaign and communications strategy. Earlier, he worked for the late U.S. Senator Fred Thompson. After attending public schools in Tennessee, Mansouri earned a BA from Rice University, and later received an MBA with honors from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. He is a founding board member of Nashville Classical Charter School, was a member of the Class IV cohort of Leadership Tennessee, and is currently a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, a fellowship which seeks to strengthen and sustain diverse, high potential leaders who are reimagining public education.

The post Frist Announces Leadership Transition At SCORE appeared first on SCORE.

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released this statement from President and CEO David Mansouri about the selection of Dr. Penny Schwinn as Tennessee’s next commissioner of education.

Penny Schwinn has a track record of making decisions based on what’s best for students and innovatively tackling the kinds of challenges facing our state.

Tennessee educators need deep support, and Dr. Schwinn has walked in their shoes as a teacher and leader at the school, district, and state levels and in traditional, public charter, and state-led turnaround schools. Tennessee must give students with the greatest needs a great education, and Dr. Schwinn has passionately and effectively championed these students throughout her career. Assessment delivery must become first in class, and Dr. Schwinn has experience administering assessment programs in two states.

Dr. Schwinn has spent her career in the trenches working for kids, showing through words and actions that she is driven to prepare all students to find their routes to success after high school. We welcome her to Tennessee.

The post Mansouri: Dr. Schwinn’s Track Record Shows Focus On What’s Best For Students appeared first on SCORE.

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released priorities and action steps for improving student achievement in Tennessee in a new report, Priorities For Progress: 2018-19 State of Education in Tennessee.

SCORE, a nonpartisan education policy and advocacy nonprofit founded by Senator Bill Frist, MD, each year conducts a series of discussions with educators, policymakers, and partners to compile a report that examines recent successes in K-12 public education and identifies research-supported opportunities to continue Tennessee’s recent record-setting progress in academic achievement. The state has been among the fastest-improving on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, although the report notes the pace of growth has slowed since 2015.

“Tennessee can have fast student achievement improvement again,” Frist said. “To do that we must work collaboratively toward preparing all students for success after high school by addressing the priorities in the State of Education report. We must be innovative, and we must be bold to help our students be the best in the nation.”

The State Of Education In Tennessee report identifies these priority areas for 2019:

1. Reimagine College And Career Readiness. Every Tennessee student should discover successful routes to college, career, and opportunity in high school, the report says. It calls for better coordination between K-12, higher education, and workforce development at the state and local levels and more options for career exploration and work-based learning across the state. The report also recommends redesigning high school with more rigorous college and career preparation courses and a personalized approach to career and college advising.
2. Tennessee’s Foundations For Student Success. After a decade of student achievement progress, Tennessee should continue to champion and maintain student-focused policies and practices that have driven student achievement, with more emphasis on equity for all students, the report says. That begins with demanding the best in assessment delivery while continuing the multiple-measure accountability system for schools and educators.
3. Teachers, Teaching, And School Leaders. All Tennessee schools should offer excellent teaching, learning opportunities, and leadership, the report says. It recommends providing teachers high-quality instructional materials, meaningful professional development, more teacher leadership opportunities, and better compensation. The report identifies better preparation for school leaders, both in higher education programs and on the job, as a key strategy to adopt. The report emphasizes that these steps and others are needed to address another critical need, recruiting and retaining more educators of color.
4. Innovate For Improvement. Tennessee should foster innovation to accelerate student achievement and address long-standing disparities, the report says. It specifically recommends expanded access to high-quality schools that support innovation to drive school improvement, particularly public charter schools, and continuous improvement of school turnaround efforts. It also calls for innovation in school funding, including increasing transparency for education funding and spending to identify opportunities for streamlining, expanding, and improving school finance.

The priorities were developed in collaboration with the SCORE Steering Committee and after feedback from teachers, school and district leaders, policymakers, students, and community and education advocates from across the state.

“These priorities come from the people of Tennessee and are for the benefit of the students of Tennessee,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “Our state’s educators and new leaders will be integral to addressing these priorities, but we call on all Tennesseans to add their support in helping students be ready to achieve the American Dream after they graduate.”

SCORE presented the report findings and priorities to educators, policymakers, and community and civic leaders during a Nashville event. A panel of Deputy to the Governor Lang Wiseman, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Millard House II, and Hamilton County Schools teacher Carrie Bishop discussed the importance of the priorities to stakeholders and students across the state.

Download the report

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) works collaboratively with state, local, and national partners to advance policies and practices for greater student success across Tennessee. We are an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan advocacy and research institution, founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader. SCORE measures success by the academic growth and achievement of Tennessee’s students.

The post SCORE Sets Four Priorities For Greater Student Achievement In Tennessee appeared first on SCORE.

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released priorities and action steps for improving student achievement in Tennessee in a new report, Priorities For Progress: 2018-19 State of Education in Tennessee.

SCORE, a nonpartisan education policy and advocacy nonprofit founded by Senator Bill Frist, M.D., each year conducts a series of discussions with educators, policymakers, and partners to compile a report that examines recent successes in K-12 public education and identifies research-supported opportunities to continue Tennessee’s recent record-setting progress in academic achievement. The state has been among the fastest-improving on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, although the report notes the pace of growth has slowed since 2015.

“Tennessee can have fast student achievement improvement again,” Frist said. “To do that we must work collaboratively toward preparing all students for success after high school by addressing the priorities in the State of Education report. We must be innovative, and we must be bold to help our students be the best in the nation.”

The State Of Education In Tennessee report identifies these priority areas for 2019:

1. Reimagine College And Career Readiness. Every Tennessee student should discover successful routes to college, career, and opportunity in high school, the report says. It calls for better coordination between K-12, higher education, and workforce development at the state and local levels and more options for career exploration and work-based learning across the state. The report also recommends redesigning high school with more rigorous college and career preparation courses and a personalized approach to career and college advising.
2. Tennessee’s Foundations For Student Success. After a decade of student achievement progress, Tennessee should continue to champion and maintain student-focused policies and practices that have driven student achievement, with more emphasis on equity for all students, the report says. That begins with demanding the best in assessment delivery while continuing the multiple-measure accountability system for schools and educators.
3. Teachers, Teaching, And School Leaders. All Tennessee schools should offer excellent teaching, learning opportunities, and leadership, the report says. It recommends providing teachers high-quality instructional materials, meaningful professional development, more teacher leadership opportunities, and better compensation. The report identifies better preparation for school leaders, both in higher education programs and on the job, as a key strategy to adopt. The report emphasizes that these steps and others are needed to address another critical need, recruiting and retaining more educators of color.
4. Innovate For Improvement. Tennessee should foster innovation to accelerate student achievement and address long-standing disparities, the report says. It specifically recommends expanded access to high-quality schools that support innovation to drive school improvement, particularly public charter schools, and continuous improvement of school turnaround efforts. It also calls for innovation in school funding, including increasing transparency for education funding and spending to identify opportunities for streamlining, expanding, and improving school finance.

The priorities were developed in collaboration with the SCORE Steering Committee and after feedback from teachers, school and district leaders, policymakers, students, and community and education advocates from across the state.

“These priorities come from the people of Tennessee and are for the benefit of the students of Tennessee,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “Our state’s educators and new leaders will be integral to addressing these priorities, but we call on all Tennesseans to add their support in helping students be ready to achieve the American Dream after they graduate.”

SCORE presented the report findings and priorities to educators, policymakers, and community and civic leaders during a Nashville event. A panel of Deputy to the Governor Lang Wiseman, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Millard House II, and Hamilton County Schools teacher Carrie Bishop discussed the importance of the priorities to stakeholders and students across the state.

Download the report

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) works collaboratively with state, local, and national partners to advance policies and practices for greater student success across Tennessee. We are an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan advocacy and research institution, founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader. SCORE measures success by the academic growth and achievement of Tennessee’s students.

The post SCORE Sets Four Priorities For Greater Student Achievement In Tennessee appeared first on SCORE.

(This column was written for The Tennessean and published on March 11, 2019.)

A decade ago, the nonprofit State Collaborative for Reforming Education, or SCORE, began collaborating with Tennessee’s leaders, educators, and community and education advocates to make Tennessee one of the fastest-improving states in the nation.

Children in Tennessee today have better opportunities for success in college and career than any Tennesseans in history, and we are proud of the state’s unprecedented progress in student achievement. But as SCORE enters its second decade of service and releases our newest State Of Education In Tennessee report, we want to see our students climb higher and faster.

From 2011 to 2017, Tennessee students made historic gains in national math and reading achievement, reaching as high as 34th or 35th in the nation. A few years earlier, we had been as low as 46th. Students in urban, suburban, and rural areas all saw improvements.

Our students were even more impressive in science: Fourth-graders’ achievement rose to 19th highest in the country and eighth-graders 21st highest.

But in the last couple of years, some of Tennessee’s progress has slowed. State test scores declined a bit, and students of color, students with disabilities, English learners, and low-income students are not seeing the success of better advantaged students.

New Tennessee Higher Education Commission data show that nearly half of the freshmen at public colleges are not ready for college-level classes, with 46 percent taking remedial math and 33 percent taking remedial reading. Some Tennessee high schools did not graduate even one college-ready student.

Now is the time to re-ignite the spirit of urgency and innovation that led to a decade of academic progress. Our new report urges the state to take even bigger steps forward in specific ways.

Read the rest of the column at The Tennessean

Senator Bill Frist MD is SCORE’s founder and chairman, and David Mansouri is president and CEO.

The post What Tennessee Must Do To See Student Achievement Climb Higher, Faster appeared first on SCORE.

NASHVILLE – Thirty-one educators have been selected for the 2019-20 class of the Tennessee Educator Fellowship through a competitive admissions process, the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced today.

“The Tennessee Educator Fellowship convenes talented and driven educators who are relentless advocates for improving student achievement through student-focused policies and practices,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “The fellows bring unique and diverse perspectives and experiences that are invaluable as they participate in local and state-level conversations about preparing all students for success in college, career, and life.”

The Tennessee Educator Fellowship is a yearlong program that equips teachers, school counselors, interventionists, and librarians to learn about education policy and advocate for their students and their profession. The educators chosen this year work in a variety of settings: traditional public schools, public magnet schools, and public charter schools.

Since 2014, the fellowship has supported more than 180 educators to engage in critical discussions about education policy by speaking at public events, inviting policymakers into their classrooms, writing about their experiences in state and national publications, creating regional professional networks, and serving on state-level policy committees.

“The 31 fellows—from different backgrounds, grade levels, subjects, and regions of the state— bring diverse perspectives to policy and practice conversations with a clear focus on greater academic growth and opportunities for all Tennessee students,” SCORE Educator Engagement Associate Leigh Cooksey said.

This is the sixth year of the Tennessee Educator Fellowship. The fellows chosen for the 2019-20 cohort have a combined teaching experience of 358 years and represent elementary, middle, and high schools in 26 districts across East, Middle, and West Tennessee. The members of this cohort teach English language arts, math, science, social studies, STEM, construction trades, and special education in urban, suburban, and rural schools. The cohort also includes educators who serve as school counselors, a librarian, and an educator who teaches English language learners.

The 2019-20 Tennessee Educator Fellows are:

Lize Bailey teaches first grade at Rock Springs Elementary in Sullivan County Schools. Bailey has been teaching for seven years.

Linda Biggers teaches eighth-grade English language arts at Milan Middle School in Milan Special School District. Biggers has been teaching for 15 years.

Lauren Binkley teaches English language learners at Cole Elementary in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Binkley has been teaching for 11 years.

Stephanie Boyd teaches sixth-grade English language arts at Algood Middle School in Putnam County Schools. Boyd has been teaching for 19 years.

Crystal Brooks teaches second-grade English language arts and math at Thelma Barker Elementary School in Jackson-Madison County Schools. Brooks has been teaching for three years.

Marsha Buck teaches eighth-grade science at Ross N. Robinson Middle School in Kingsport City Schools. Buck has been teaching for 19 years.

Dr. Allie Dempsey teaches sixth-grade English language arts at Farragut Middle School in Knox County Schools. Dempsey has been teaching for eight years.

Billie Goldston is a reading interventionist for grades K-5 at Raymond S. Bowers Elementary School in Roane County Schools. Goldston has been teaching for 18 years.

John Graham teaches high school construction and wellness at Union City High School in Union City Schools. Graham has been teaching for seven years.

Dr. Amanda Hargis teaches English language arts for grades 9-12 at Warren County High School in Warren County Schools. Hargis has been teaching for 12 years.

Melody Hawkins teaches eighth-grade science at Vine Middle Magnet School in Knox County Schools. Hawkins has been teaching for four years.

Ashley James teaches kindergarten at W.G. Rhea Elementary School in Paris Special School District. James has been teaching for 13 years.

Bob Kirkland teaches STEM at Sam Houston Elementary in Maryville City Schools. Kirkland has been teaching for 13 years.

Haley Lee teaches 10th-grade English language arts at Claiborne High School in Claiborne County Schools. Lee has been teaching for six years.

Tameka H. Marshall teaches third grade at Norman Binkley Elementary School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Marshall has been teaching for 13 years.

Dr. Tekeysha McCown teaches eighth-grade English language arts at Munford Middle School in Tipton County Schools. McCown has been teaching for seven years.

Carlin McGlown teaches seventh-grade English language arts at Munford Middle School in Tipton County Schools. McGlown has been teaching for seven years.

Jeff McMurray teaches construction trades at Halls High School and North Knox Career and Technical Education Center in Knox County Schools. McMurray has been teaching for 14 years.

April Moore teaches eighth-grade English language arts at Stone Elementary School in Cumberland County Schools. Moore has been teaching for 21 years.

Carol Nanney is a librarian at McKenzie High School in the McKenzie Special School District. Nanney has been in education for 26 years.

Marie Papini is a school counselor at KIPP Collegiate High School in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Papini has been in education for 13 years.

Sara Perry teaches fifth-grade English language arts at Westhills Elementary School in Marshall County Schools. Perry has been teaching for nine years.

Jacob Puckett teaches seventh-grade social studies at William James Middle School in Dickson County Schools. Puckett has been teaching for seven years.

Caroline Souza teaches third grade at McConnell Elementary School in Hamilton County Schools. Souza has been teaching for six years.

Terrence Surles teaches grades K-5 special education at Roy Waldron Elementary School in Rutherford County.Surles has been teaching for 17 years.

Kenya Turner is a school counselor at Humboldt Junior and Senior High School in Humboldt City Schools. Turner has been in education for 15 years.

Liza Vaughn teaches fifth grade at Kenrose Elementary School in Williamson County Schools. Vaughn has been teaching for 18 years.

Katherine Watkins teaches 12th-grade English language arts at Millington Central High School in Millington Municipal Schools. Watkins has been teaching for eight years.

Vandy Watt teaches high school social studies at Central High School in McMinn County Schools. Watt has been teaching for seven years.

Tatiyana Webb teaches eighth-grade math at The Soulsville Charter School in Shelby County Schools. Webb has been teaching for six years.

Deb Wimberley teaches seventh-grade English language arts at Coffee County Middle School in Coffee County Schools. Wimberley has been teaching for nine years.

Past fellows have led new education initiatives and worked to improve outcomes for all students. Their work has included advocating for the use of high-quality instructional materials; starting a leadership academy for students to explore a career in teaching; bringing community leaders into classrooms to discuss the importance of literacy in their careers; expanding access to early postsecondary opportunities for students; amplifying the voice, presence, and support for educators of color; and much more. Fellows also have engaged in education conversations at the local, state, and national levels and written op-eds and blog posts for news and education outlets, including The Tennessean, Education Post, and Hechinger Report.

Throughout the upcoming year, the fellows will learn through in-person and online convenings and will serve as liaisons between their colleagues, their communities, and policymakers as Tennessee continues the work of improving academic achievement for all students.

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NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released this statement from President and CEO David Mansouri about the 2018-19 TNReady statewide assessment results:

There is reason for optimism in the latest statewide assessment results, including historic academic growth for many districts across Tennessee. It’s encouraging to see that 41 percent of schools produced the two highest possible levels of student learning growth, and we applaud their success.

However, the results also show the need for greater urgency and more innovation to deliver faster growth for students who are below grade level and increased support to help our teachers and students meet the state’s high expectations. This is especially true in English language arts, where only a third of students are meeting grade-level expectations in reading and writing. For black, Hispanic, and Native American students, literacy proficiency is an alarming 18.4 percent.

Student learning in K-12 sets the stage for their chance to succeed in college, career, and life. TNReady is a critical measurement tool to take the pulse of how well our state is serving all students.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) drives for changes that transform education in Tennessee – from kindergarten through postsecondary education. We work to ensure all students receive an excellent K-12 public education, earn a credential or postsecondary degree, and are prepared for a career that enables economic independence. An independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan institution, SCORE was founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader.

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MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University announced today a first-of-its-kind partnership focused on bringing research-supported innovations to how the university prepares students to become K-12 teachers.

MTSU and the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, also known as SCORE, have signed a three-year renewable agreement to develop an innovative strategy for the MTSU College of Education to continue to improve and evolve the program to ensure graduates from the college receive excellent teacher preparation.

A signing ceremony was held Wednesday at Homer Pittard Campus School, a K-5 teaching laboratory school owned by MTSU and operated by Rutherford County Schools. MTSU was founded in 1911 as a normal school to train classroom teachers and remains one of the top programs in the state.

“I truly believe a partnership such as this will move us closer to our goal of making MTSU’s teacher preparation program the best in the nation,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said. “The commitment to this project extends from the university’s top leadership to faculty and staff in the College of Education and reaffirms our commitment to a key mission grounded in this university’s founding.”

MTSU offers one of Tennessee’s largest teacher preparation programs, preparing almost 10 percent of the state’s teacher prep completers annually. The university is committed to continuous improvement and has set the bold goal of becoming the leading teacher preparation provider in the nation.

SCORE is a Tennessee education research and advocacy nonprofit working to drive transformative change in education so all students can succeed in school, college, career and life. For the partnership with MTSU, SCORE has partnered with Education First, a professional services firm focused on impacting education systems, teachers, and students to achieve more equitable and effective public education for all.

“Teachers have the greatest in-school impact on student learning, and we know that effective educator preparation is connected to effective teaching,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “MTSU is seizing the opportunity to improve teacher preparation, helping Tennessee to become a national leader in this important work. The outcome will be teachers who begin their careers ready to help our students learn at their highest levels.”

Senator Bill Frist, SCORE founder and chairman, applauded the partnership’s potential and MTSU’s commitment to “continuous ongoing improvement” in teacher instruction.

“More change happens more quickly when leaders … from across the state work together for your success, for student success,” Frist told the dozens of Homer Pittard students in attendance. “Our goal at SCORE is really very simple, it’s to serve as an innovative catalyst for reform and improvement … We know from years of research that teachers are the most impactful people when it comes to how students learn and how well they learn. Today’s announcement honors that impact.”

SCORE recently expanded its mission to include postsecondary education and is excited to partner with MTSU in one of its first endeavors into the postsecondary space. By supporting this strategic planning process with MTSU, SCORE hopes to surface innovative strategies that can be scaled and spread across the state to ensure that Tennessee is a national leader in preparing effective teachers to lead our classrooms.

“Better-prepared teachers means better outcomes for students,” said Susan Bodary, managing partner at Education First. “We’re excited to bring what we’ve learned from our work with teacher preparation programs across the country to support MTSU and SCORE in this important endeavor.”

Throughout the strategic planning process, Education First will analyze data, access cutting-edge research on best practices, and work with MTSU leadership and faculty to develop innovative ideas to inform MTSU’s continuous improvement process. Together, Education First and SCORE will leverage relationships with national experts to assist MTSU in developing a strategic plan aimed at leading the way in transforming the development of effective educators. “We are excited to partner with SCORE as we take our teacher preparation to the next level and establish the MTSU College of Education as a national exemplar,” said Lana Seivers, dean of the College of Education. “Working with and learning from Education First, we will build on MTSU’s rich history and success in teacher preparation to ensure that every student has the best possible experience in classrooms and schools across Tennessee and beyond.”

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) drives for changes that transform education in Tennessee – from kindergarten through postsecondary education. We work to ensure all students receive an excellent K-12 public education, earn a credential or postsecondary degree, and are prepared for a career that enables economic independence. An independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan institution, SCORE was founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader.

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The Hunt Institute, SCORE Partner To Support Learning Experience

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has selected 29 leaders from higher education, K-12 education, government, business and industry, and nonprofits for the next cohort of the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute (CTLI).

Since 2016, the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute has been strengthening leadership capacity to increase higher education completion rates, fostering partnerships to build actionable coalitions, and exploring innovative solutions to local and statewide collaboration and student success. SCORE, which recently merged with nonprofit Complete Tennessee and expanded its mission to focus on driving the transformation needed in education to deliver success for all students in school, college, career, and life, is continuing CTLI for the 2019-20 academic year.

To build on the foundation of the program, SCORE will partner with The Hunt Institute. The Hunt Institute, recognized as a national leader in the movement to transform public education, will assist in designing learning opportunities, facilitating sessions as an expert out-of-state voice and developing strategies to help participants translate their learning into action.

“The Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute is focused on educating and engaging Tennessee leaders about education opportunities and challenges in Tennessee postsecondary education,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “SCORE is excited to build on the program’s foundation and explore with the new cohort how we can push for quality and equity in education so all Tennessee students are able to earn the postsecondary credentials and degrees needed for successful careers.”

The leaders in the fourth cohort represent their regions, communities, and industries while learning from national and statewide experts and developing a richer understanding of higher education access, persistence, and success and the effect on the Tennessee workforce. Over the course of a year, they will explore higher education and economic issues at the local level, witness best practices and policies to tackle real challenges, and build professional relationships with a group of strong leaders advocating for change across Tennessee. The Tennesseans selected for CTLI are:

• Julie Allen Burke, Executive Director, Milan Chamber of Commerce
• Jake Bynum, Weakley County Mayor
• Linda W. Calvert, Assistant Vice President, Grant Development, and Chief Diversity Officer, Northeast State Community College
• Vrondelia Chandler, Executive Director and CEO, Project GRAD Knoxville
• Juandale Cooper, FastTrack Program Director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
• Bobby Cox, Director of Schools, Warren County Schools
• Aleah Guthrie, Director of Policy, Tennessee Department of Education
• Dr. Allana (Lana) R. Hamilton, President, Jackson State Community College
• Ginger Hausser, Vice President of Economic and Community Development, Nashville State Community College
• Katie Hazelwood, Program Associate, Scarlett Family Foundation
• Candy C. Johnson, Senior Advisor to the Mayor, City of Chattanooga
• Youlanda Jones, President, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Covington/Ripley/Newbern
• Dr. Nancy KingSanders, Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, Austin Peay State University
• Kris Krautkremer, Advanced Placement biology teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport City Schools
• Mary Laphen, Navigate Reconnect Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
• Dr. Angela Marshall, Scholars Program College Access Counselor, The Ayers Foundation
• Natalie J. McKinney, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Whole Child Strategies, Inc.
• Dr. Amy Moreland, Director of Policy, TBR – The College System of Tennessee
• Dr. Sherica Nelms, Advise TN Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
• Dr. Samantha Perez, Vice President of Education Initiatives, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Pat Sheehy, President, Tennessee Business Roundtable
• Ben Sterling, Director of Outreach, tnAchieves
• Tiffany Bellafant Steward, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Tennessee State University
• Ashley Warrington, Tennessee Manager, Save the Children Action Network
• Cliff Wightman, President, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crossville
• Joseph Williams, Director of External Affairs, Office of Governor Bill Lee
• Scott Wilson, Director of Community Relations and BlueCross Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
• Gen. Kurt Winstead, Assistant Adjutant General, Army, Tennessee National Guard
• Joe T. Wood, Special Projects Coordinator, Collierville Schools

“The Hunt Institute is honored to partner with SCORE to elevate the work of CTLI,” said The Hunt Institute President and CEO Dr. Javaid Siddiqi. “We need leaders from all sectors to understand the unique challenges we all face in ensuring every student has access to and graduates from postsecondary institutions. That is exactly what CTLI will accomplish and we are excited to get to work.”

SCORE Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Samantha Gutter is leading CTLI for SCORE and previously participated in the program. “We will move forward with the values that the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute has developed over the past three years,” Gutter said. “We ask leaders to remember that students come first and to view challenges through the lens of what is best for students. We also ask them to take ownership of addressing challenges with a sense of urgency and an openness to innovation. Finally, we emphasize the importance of developing and maintaining a network of like-minded leaders to address educational equity issues at the local, regional, and state levels.”

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) believes all Tennessee students deserve success in college, career, and life. SCORE supports a unified and coordinated approach to education – from kindergarten through postsecondary – focused on helping all students complete high school and postsecondary education, earning the diplomas and credentials needed for a rewarding career. An independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan advocacy and research institution, SCORE was founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader. SCORE measures success by the academic growth and achievement of Tennessee’s students.

An affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, The Hunt Institute is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since it was established in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: www.hunt-institute.org.

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NASHVILLE – Tennessee voters overwhelmingly agree that earning a postsecondary degree or technical certificate is essential for economic success, according to survey results released today by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE).

The poll asked 500 registered Tennessee voters a series of questions about K-12 and postsecondary education in the state. As has been true in SCORE surveys since 2015, voters identified education as one of the top issues facing state government, ranking below health care but above jobs and the economy.

Continuing another trend from previous SCORE polls, a large majority of voters say it is important to conduct annual statewide assessment of students and to use the assessment’s student achievement and growth measures to hold K-12 schools accountable and in teacher evaluations. Nearly eight out of ten of those surveyed support increased school accountability, and a majority would be less likely to support a legislator who voted against more accountability.

“Not only is student testing viewed as very important, but Tennessee voters are strongly supportive of using year-to-year academic growth of students as part of evaluating teacher and school performance,” pollster Robert Blizzard of Public Opinion Strategies said.

When asked their views of the highest level of education needed to be successful in today’s economy, a total of 72 percent responded with either a four-year degree (29 percent), a technical certificate (27 percent) or a two-year degree (16 percent). Less than a quarter of those surveyed felt a high school diploma was enough for economic success. The poll also found strong approval of vocational training, community college, and career and technical education.

“Tennesseans understand that a rewarding career now requires education beyond high school, and they support a wide range of options, from Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to state community colleges and four-year universities,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “SCORE has recently expanded its mission to encompass student success from the time they start kindergarten until they begin their careers, and this survey confirms that Tennesseans want our students to have multiple paths to adult success.”

More than 80 percent of survey respondents said they were more likely to support state legislators who voted to make a college education more affordable and accessible, and the four-year-old Tennessee Promise program, which enables recent high school graduates to attend community college tuition-free, was viewed favorably by 46 percent and unfavorably by only 6 percent.

When asked to define the purpose of postsecondary education, 52 percent of those surveyed said it was to prepare students for a career, while 21 percent said it was for students to expand their horizons and learn new things, 18 percent cited preparing students to be civically engaged and productive citizens, and 7 percent said it was all of the above.

“It’s clear that Tennesseans agree that it is essential to prepare all students to succeed in college, career, and life,” Mansouri said. “To achieve that goal, SCORE is working to drive the needed changes that will better align K-12 and postsecondary education and better prepare students to thrive economically, civically, and personally.”

Other key findings from the survey include:

• 58 percent of voters think things in Tennessee are headed in the right direction. Gov. Bill Lee’s approval rating was 61 percent and the General Assembly’s approval rating was 53 percent.
• 69 percent support continuing to use TNReady in Tennessee schools. Following a successful spring administration of the assessment, support for TNReady has risen 10 points since the SCORE poll of September 2018.
• When voters were asked to choose one priority for education funding, 37 percent chose a pay raise for teachers, 31 percent selected improving workforce readiness, 23 percent cited improving Tennessee’s literacy rate, and 8 percent named giving parents more choices of where to send their children to school.
• 75 percent favor increasing choice in public schools with charter or magnet schools.
• 32 percent of those surveyed were not familiar with the four-year-old Tennessee Promise program, indicating a need to build understanding of Tennessee’s signature initiative to improve access to postsecondary education and raise degree attainment.

POLL METHODOLOGY: On behalf of SCORE, Public Opinion Strategies conducted a Tennessee statewide survey of 500 registered voters September 23-25, 2019. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points. Landline interviews accounted for 50 percent of the sample and cell phone interviews 50 percent. Geography by county and media market were matched to previous statewide elections. Participating voters in the survey are representative of registered voters in Tennessee. Respondents were randomly selected from lists of known registered voters who had previously voted in a general election.

Download poll results

Download pollster memo

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released this statement from President and CEO David Mansouri about Tennessee’s results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 

Tennessee students performed slightly better on the Nation’s Report Card while much of the rest of the country saw declines. Tennessee students improved or held steady in every subject with a significant gain in fourth-grade math that has returned Tennessee to the top 25 states in this subject. Tennessee education has never ranked higher in the nation. Clearly, much of the work by Tennessee teachers and policymakers is helping students achieve more. 

But improvement is slower than we want, and we are not yet serving all students well. It is clear that more needs to be done – from the state level to the local level – to provide the support every student needs to learn. It’s time to show a high sense of urgency for the nearly two-thirds of students not reading on grade-level and for the students from low-income households, learning English, or with disabilities who are trying to catch up academically with their classmates. 

Tennessee has made faster gains in the past, and faster gains should be the goal for the future. To get there, Tennessee can build on the standards, statewide assessment, and accountability system that have produced significant gains since 2011, while pushing for bolder, bigger actions including in educator supports, rigorous instruction – especially in literacy – and the lowest performing schools.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) believes all Tennessee students deserve success in college, career, and life. SCORE supports a unified and coordinated approach to education – from kindergarten through postsecondary – focused on helping all students complete high school and postsecondary education, earning the diplomas and credentials needed for a rewarding career. An independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan advocacy and research institution, SCORE was founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader. SCORE measures success by the academic growth and achievement of Tennessee’s students.

The post Mansouri: Tennessee Shows Gains On Nation’s Report Card. Now Faster Progress Needed For Students appeared first on SCORE.

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released this statement from President and CEO David Mansouri after Governor Bill Lee’s State of the State address:

Governor Lee has shown a strong commitment to public education and to our students tonight. We are encouraged by his proposals to improve and heavily invest in literacy instruction, postsecondary attainment, improving educator pay and support, and innovative approaches to recruiting and preparing the teachers of tomorrow. These are critical policy areas that need focus from Tennessee leaders.

While Tennessee has made tremendous gains in the past several years, persistent challenges in third-grade literacy, postsecondary completion, competitive pay for teachers, and workforce readiness remain. Governor Lee has shown a commitment to tackling these challenges, and we look forward to working with leaders across Tennessee to continue improving public education for all Tennessee students.

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NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has released priorities and action steps for improving student outcomes in Tennessee in a new report, Expanding Student Success: 2020 State Of Education In Tennessee.

SCORE, a nonpartisan education policy and advocacy nonprofit founded by Senator Bill Frist, M.D., this year broadened its annual State of Education report to examine how well Tennessee students are served across K-12 and postsecondary education. SCORE last year expanded its mission, encompassing the education spectrum from kindergarten to postsecondary completion, to ensure students are ready to succeed in college, career, and life.

“We are hopeful about the state of education in Tennessee,” Frist said. “Tennessee has never ranked higher on the Nation’s Report Card, yet it is also clear that our state is not delivering enough success to all students. Currently a little more than a quarter of Tennessee students graduate from high school and go on to earn a bachelor’s or associate degree, but more than half of jobs in 2025 will require a postsecondary credential. We are encouraged by the commitment Governor Lee and the General Assembly have made to public education and look forward to partnering with state leaders to ensure our education system is working for students from the moment they enter their kindergarten classroom until the day they start their careers.” The State Of Education In Tennessee report identifies these priority areas for 2020:

• Create equitable opportunities for college and career success. The report recommends expanding support for students to complete their postsecondary programs, removing financial barriers beyond tuition, and driving for greater innovation in high school design.
• Address Tennessee’s literacy crisis. Emphasizing that only a third of Tennessee third-graders are proficient in reading, the report calls for urgent action to improve early literacy. With selection of new English language arts textbooks this spring, the state should support districts to select high-quality materials and provide their educators professional development for excellent implementation. Other action steps focus on better preparation of teacher candidates in literacy instruction and supporting current teachers to learn about instructional practices grounded in the science of reading.
• Strengthen teacher preparation and improve teacher pay. The report recommends pursuing innovation in teacher preparation and refreshing the state’s strategies for supporting teachers’ professional growth. Noting that Tennessee teacher compensation ranks fifth among nine Southeastern states, the report endorses making Tennessee No. 1 in the region for teacher pay.
• Demand, support, and expand strong schools. The report calls for rethinking Tennessee’s school improvement strategies. It recommends providing more support for schools nearing priority status, continuing the Achievement School District as an intervention of last resort, and defining the school improvement role of the new Charter School Commission. The state can widen access to quality education by incentivizing high-performing charter schools to expand and removing barriers that stifle school district efforts to create innovative schools. The report also recommends data-driven efforts to better align K-12, postsecondary education, and the workforce.

“Tennessee has the opportunity to break ground by creating a coherent education system that is focused first and foremost on students and helping each of them experience success in school, college, career, and life,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “The State of Education priorities can guide educators, policymakers, and education advocates to action that truly benefits Tennessee students and our entire state.”

SCORE presented the report findings and priorities to educators, policymakers, and community and civic leaders during a Nashville event. Speaking during the program were SCORE Chief K-12 Impact Officer Dr. Sharon Roberts, SCORE Chief Postsecondary Impact Officer Dr. Russ Wigginton, Nashville State President Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, Lenoir City Schools educator Shannon Tufts, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Director Millard House, and Memphis Education Fund CEO Terence Patterson.

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