As part of an effort to learn more about the implementation of Tennessee’s First to the Top plan to improve student achievement, my colleague Laura Moore and I have been talking with educators across the state and gaining an incredibly valuable perspective on what is changing in classrooms, schools, and school districts. While policymakers can…
A student’s address should not determine the quality of his or her education. But often it does. As an undergraduate at Rhodes College in Memphis, I have become acutely aware of the unfortunate relationship between the economic situation of a community and the academic achievement of its schools. Only 20 minutes of driving time separates…
Last month, the Rural Education Network held its first in-person meeting in Nashville. During the meeting, more than 70 participants learned more about Common Core implementation efforts in partner states and had the opportunity to identify challenges to implementation efforts as well as innovative approaches, regional collaborations, and possible resources to advance implementation in rural…
Over 30 years of research studies tell us that when parents are engaged in a child’s learning, the child does better in school and the schools get better. The Tennessee State Board of Education committed to ensuring that each school and school district implements a viable family engagement policy and plan by adopting the Six…
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) would like to invite its higher education, teacher preparation, non-profit, education advocacy organization, and private school partners to attend training sessions on the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics for grades 3-8. Although the training is intended for math teachers, school administrators and school personnel, the TDOE would like…