Tennessee's federal school accountability system monitors a wider array of indicators of student performance and provides support for schools that consistently do not improve student outcomes. In parallel, Tennessee's A-F school letter grade system is designed to transparently report school performance to families and the public using fewer metrics.
Tennessee’s methodology for the federal accountability system measures school improvement using a comprehensive set of indicators to identify schools in need of additional support. Indicators include: student proficiency, growth, graduation, chronic absenteeism, postsecondary readiness, and English language proficiency for all students and specific student groups.
Tennessee’s A–F school letter grade system, enacted in state law, gives families an accessible snapshot of school quality based on a list of fewer, prioritized indicators.
Key Takeaways
The memo highlights:
- Two systems, two purposes: Federal accountability directs resources to underperforming schools; A–F school letter grades focus on transparency for families.
- Different measures and weights: Federal accountability emphasizes a range of indicators, subgroup performance, and improvement; A–F school letter grades emphasize academic proficiency.
- Distinct supports and interventions: Federal designations trigger school improvement funding, capacity building, and other interventions, while D and F school letter grades can result in hearings and corrective actions under state law.
Examining how Tennessee’s federal and state accountability systems operate offers important insights for guiding Tennessee’s path forward, ensuring that accountability continues to drive both improvement and transparency.
