(Nashville) – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today announced details of a statewide feedback process on Tennessee’s new teacher evaluation system at a meeting of the State Board of Education. The process, which is designed to gather input from a wide range of voices, particularly from educators, follows a charge by Governor Bill Haslam to conduct a formal feedback process, independent of state government.

“Great teaching is the number one school-based factor in improving student achievement,” SCORE President and CEO Jamie Woodson said. “Our state is now in the first year of implementing a teacher evaluation system to identify and foster great teaching. Critical to the success of this implementation work is robust and extensive feedback from educators and community leaders to identify what is working and what can be improved. Over the next four months, SCORE’s role will be to listen.”

From February through May 2012, SCORE will gather feedback and input in four ways:

• Regional Roundtables: SCORE will facilitate eight public regional roundtables across the state. Roundtable participants will include teachers, principals, superintendents, parents, and community and business leaders.
• Online Survey: Beginning March 1, SCORE will launch an online survey to gather feedback on current teacher evaluation practices and policies from educators.
• Discussions with existing groups and networks: SCORE will gather feedback from existing groups, such as superintendent, principal, and supervisor study councils, as well as leaders and educators from each of the four evaluation models.
• Educator Work Team: SCORE will convene a representative group of teachers and principals from across the state to provide ongoing feedback.

Seven organizations have partnered with SCORE to gather feedback from educators and community leaders. They include: Tennessee Education Association (TEA), Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA), Tennessee Business Roundtable, Tennessee PTA, Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS), Professional Educators of Tennessee (PET), and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

More details on the regional roundtables and educator survey are available at www.tnscore.org/feedback.

Following the feedback process, SCORE will produce a report to the Tennessee State Board of Education and Department of Education. The report, which will be completed by June 1, will provide a catalogue of feedback from across the state on the four approved evaluation models and will propose a range of policy considerations for teacher evaluation moving forward. SCORE’s work will be led by Dr. Sharon Roberts, who has served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in Tennessee, and now works as the Chief Operating Officer at SCORE.

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.

By Jamie Woodson

Earlier this month, the Tennessee Department of Education released our state’s 2011 results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Tennessee students scored about the same as two years ago.

But by standing still, we dropped in the national rankings — from 45th to 46th in the nation in fourth-grade math, and 34th to 41st in eighth-grade reading. These results remind us that our work has just begun to ensure every child graduates from high school prepared for post-secondary education and the workforce.

Still, it has been encouraging to see the growing sense of urgency among Tennesseans to make meaningful improvements in public education for our state’s highest-need students. We know that to create a truly effective system it will require hard work, collaboration, sound policies, and most certainly the energy of strong leaders in our classrooms.

In 2009, SCORE issued its “Roadmap to Success.” Based on the consensus of state education, political, business and community leaders, it detailed more than 60 policy recommendations aimed at embracing high academic standards, cultivating strong school and district leaders, ensuring excellent teachers are in every classroom, and using data to enhance student learning.

One of the key recommendations in SCORE’s report was a charge to ensure that teacher training programs in our state are producing high-quality teacher candidates who meet the needs of local school districts. We proposed revising the “teacher training report card” to measure the success and effectiveness of teachers in the classroom after they have completed teacher training programs.

The 2011 Tennessee Higher Education Commission Teacher Training Program Report Card, also released this month, provides vital information on teachers who graduate from a range of training programs. Of the state’s 43 programs, three stand out: Teach For America Memphis, Teach For America Nashville and Lipscomb University.

The report says these programs “tend to produce teachers with higher student achievement gains than veteran teachers.” For example, 52 percent of Teach For America Nashville teachers ranked above the 80th percentile in effectiveness, and 64 percent of Teach For America Nashville algebra teachers ranked in the 80th percentile or higher.

While the Report Card is only one source of information regarding teacher preparation programs, the information should not be ignored. Research shows that effective teaching is the top school-based factor in improving student achievement. Learning what works and what doesn’t to successfully prepare teachers for the classroom can improve the quality of instruction for more of our students.

Ultimately, Tennessee must continue seeking robust approaches to bring in new talent, and support teachers and administrators to meet the educational challenges our state faces. Innovative traditional preparation programs, as well as alternative pathways to teaching and leadership, are both important pieces of this complex puzzle.

(Nashville) – Jamie Woodson, President and CEO of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), announced today that Dr. Sharon Roberts will join the organization as Chief Operating Officer. Roberts, who currently serves as Director of the Lebanon Special School District, will begin her new role at SCORE on January 2, 2012.

“Sharon Roberts is recognized as one of Tennessee’s most outstanding educators, having spent over 30 years as a teacher, school administrator, and district leader,” Woodson said. “SCORE is focused on the successful implementation of our state’s education reform efforts, and Sharon’s leadership will be critical to supporting this work. We are thrilled she will be joining our team, and are excited about the perspective and background she brings as an experienced practitioner.”

In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Roberts will lead SCORE’s outreach program, targeting and engaging stakeholders across the state. Her work will include driving statewide reform efforts through information and guidance, maintaining and deepening relationships with education partners, and identifying successes and challenges in implementation. Roberts will also have a leadership role in SCORE’s organizational operations, working with the CEO and staff to further SCORE’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.

Dr. Roberts is a native of Knoxville, and received her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She began her career in education in 1981 as a special education teacher in the Grainger County School System. She also worked for more than 21 years in the Knox County School System where she served as a special education teacher, middle school science and reading teacher, instructional coach, principal, Assistant Superintendent for Supplementary Student Services, and Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services. Roberts was appointed Director of Schools for the Lebanon Special School District in 2005 and is President of the Association of Independent and Municipal Schools (AIMS) Evaluation System of Tennessee, where she has overseen the implementation of one of the state’s three alternative teacher evaluation models. Dr. Roberts currently serves as a member of the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Advisory Council on Teacher Education and Certification, and the Tennessee Board of Regents Teacher Education Redesign Director of Schools Advisory Board.

“SCORE has a clear goal – for Tennessee to become the fastest improving state in the nation in terms of student achievement,” Roberts said. “I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with educators, administrators, parents, and community members throughout the state to make that goal a reality. I will certainly miss the Lebanon Special School District community, but look forward to working with Lebanon and many other school districts across Tennessee in this new role.”

Dr. Roberts will leave her role as Director of the Lebanon Special School District on January 1, 2012.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with state and local governments to encourage sound policy decisions in public education and advance innovative reform on a statewide basis.

(Nashville) – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today launched a website to highlight best practices in public education in Tennessee. The site, which can be accessed at www.tnscore.org/scoreprize, highlights the work of the eight finalists and four winners of the 2011 SCORE Prize, which was awarded to the elementary, middle, and high school in Tennessee, along with one school district, that most dramatically improved student achievement in spite of the many challenges they face. The site also features a highlight video of the 2011 SCORE Prize event, held in late September, which includes remarks from SCORE Chairman Bill Frist and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, as well as a musical performance by country music star Josh Turner.

“Our aim is to identify and share the steps that have been taken to improve student achievement,” SCORE President and CEO Jamie Woodson said. “This website showcases the incredible work being done by teachers, principals, and district leaders across Tennessee.”

The website provides detailed data, including attendance rates and progress in narrowing achievement gaps, on the SCORE Prize winners and finalists, and video interviews that document the path the schools and districts have taken to improve student achievement. Information on the annual SCORE Prize selection process is also included.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with state and local governments to encourage sound policy decisions in public education and advance innovative reform on a statewide basis.

(Nashville) – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) tonight announced the four winners of the first annual SCORE Prize Award at an event at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The winners, three schools and one school district, were recognized for dramatically improving student achievement in spite of the challenges they face. The awards show featured remarks from Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, SCORE Chairman and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman, and SCORE CEO Jamie Woodson. The evening concluded with a performance by Grammy-nominated country music artist Josh Turner.

The 2011 SCORE Prize winners are:

• Elementary
  Fairview Elementary, Anderson County
• Middle
  Power Center Academy, Memphis
• High
  Mt. Juliet High School, Wilson County
• District
  Maryville City Schools

“Tonight is a celebration of excellence in public education,” said SCORE Chairman Bill Frist. “The SCORE Prize winners are truly examples of success, and prove that even in the face of challenges it is possible to improve learning outcomes for all students. We recognize and commend their accomplishments in preparing more and more students for college and the workforce.”

The SCORE Prize school winners received $10,000, and the district winner received $25,000. Winners were chosen in a two-step process; the first stage identified finalists through a multi-staged criteria selection process that set benchmarks for attendance rate, TVAAS growth, and TCAP improvement, and awarded bonus points for ACT college-readiness benchmark rates and college-going rates, among others; the second stage consisted of site visits of the finalists to document the policies and practices that have enabled schools and districts to make significant gains in student achievement.

About the Winners

• Fairview Elementary serves 278 students in Anderson County. 60.6 percent of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged. In the last year, the school has increased its number of students who are proficient or advanced on the math TCAP from the 30th decile to the 50th decile. Fairview’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 14.01 in math and 8.99 in reading.
• Power Center Academy serves 191 students in Memphis. The school is a charter school, and 85 percent of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged. In the last year, the school has increased its number of students who are proficient or advanced on the math TCAP from the 20th to the 30th decile. Power Center Academy’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 9.72 in math and 6.93 in reading. Over the last year, the school has narrowed the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 9.82 points in reading and 18.66 points in math.
• Mt. Juliet High School serves 1,775 students in Wilson County. The school’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 8.38 in Algebra I and 5.72 in English II. Over the last year, the school has narrowed the achievement gap between Hispanic and white students by 16.41 points in math. The school’s three-year ACT average is 21.
• Maryville City Schools serves 4,890 students in East Tennessee. 33.1 percent of the district’s students are economically disadvantaged. The district’s three-year TVAAS growth average is 14.3 in math, 3.8 in reading, 5.0 in Algebra I, and 4.0 in English II. The district’s three-year ACT average is 23.8. Over the last year, the district has narrowed the achievement gap between Hispanic and white students by 29.33 points in math.

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

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with state and local governments to encourage sound policy decisions in public education and advance innovative reform on a statewide basis.

(Nashville) – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today released a report outlining specific recommendations to improve public education in rural communities in the South. The recommendations in Transforming the Rural South: A Roadmap to Improving Rural Education are based on research, best practices, and voices from rural communities across Tennessee and throughout the Southeast. The report, released jointly with the Ayers Foundation, Niswonger Foundation, Rural School and Community Trust, and the Tennessee School Boards Association, follows the Southeast Regional Rural Education Summit, which was held in Nashville on July 19-20, 2011.

“In Tennessee and across the South, the success and economic vibrancy of our rural communities are critically tied to quality public education,” SCORE President and CEO Jamie Woodson said. “The priorities and action items detailed in this report serve to highlight not only what must happen inside the classroom and the school house, but also what needs to happen in the community to improve rural education.”

The report outlines six priorities, with action items for each priority. The priorities include:

• Highlighting the connection between education and economic development
• Offering schools and districts more flexibility
• Forming a pipeline of effective teachers
• Using technology to meet instructional needs
• Creating professional learning communities for administrators
• Forming partnerships to enhance educational opportunities

The 34 action items in the report are targeted specifically to various education stakeholders. For example, school districts are encouraged to partner with nearby districts to recruit and retain highly effective teaching candidates who can serve as content specialists in critical subjects like reading and math across district lines. Local elected officials should make investing in public education the top priority to improve local economic development. The postsecondary community should enhance its teacher preparation programs to expose candidates to actual teaching settings in rural communities as a dual strategy to improve teacher effectiveness and recruitment to rural schools. Most importantly, business and community leaders should continue to stress the individual and community importance of obtaining a high school diploma and pursuing postsecondary training and education.

“Rural communities face unique challenges in improving public education,” said Linda Irwin, Director of School Partnerships at the Niswonger Foundation. “This plan of action serves as a guiding document to give all stakeholders, from parents to school districts, a clear roadmap that is tailored to the unique rural environment.”

The full report can be viewed here: http://www.tnscore.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SCORE-Rural-Education-Roadmap.pdf

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with state and local governments to encourage sound policy decisions in public education and advance innovative reform on a statewide basis.

In the last few years, Tennessee has committed to bold education reform through an ambitious and aggressive plan to transform our public schools and improve student achievement. Reform is critical to ensuring students graduate from high school prepared for college or the workforce.

This is hard work. While we have a long way to go to reach our goals, significant progress is being made in Tennessee. Because we have set higher standards and are expecting more of students, they are achieving more.

A challenge that Tennessee faces is fitting this bold reform plan within a meaningful federal accountability framework. Tennessee has set a high bar for improving student achievement, and I applaud Governor Haslam and Commissioner Huffman for being innovative about aligning Tennessee’s transformational roadmap with an accountability framework that is focused on student achievement.

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with state and local governments to encourage sound policy decisions in public education and advance innovative reform on a statewide basis.