One of the most important goals of Tennessee’s public education system, and one of the many changes and improvements that have surrounded this system over the past several years, is to ensure that our students graduate from high school ready for college and career. Does that mean that students who opt not to attend college…
One of the key components of Tennessee’s academic standards is asking the question “why.” Students are no longer required to simply select the correct answer to a straight-forward problem, but must also explain and justify their reasoning. For example, it is important that math students know that 5 to the negative fifth power is 1/25,…
As a former classroom teacher, I know how powerful student data can be when making day-to-day decisions that support student achievement. From assessment results to attendance records to basic demographics, information about our students, when used effectively and strategically, is a crucial part of improving education at the local, state, and federal levels. It is…
After graduating from college, I spent two years teaching math at a high school in rural Mississippi. The experience was a rewarding one that invested me deeply in education, but it was also immensely frustrating, exhausting, and humbling. It wasn’t until I moved back to Nashville and began learning about policies and reforms taking place…
Every year, SCORE releases a comprehensive report on the state of education in Tennessee that reviews progress and sets priorities for approaching challenges in the coming year. For example, this year’s report highlighted rigorous standards and assessments, effective school leadership, access to great teaching, using technology to enhance instruction, and supporting students from kindergarten through…