Middle Tennessee high school named the best in the state for a second consecutive year
Rutherford County’s Central Magnet School was named for the second year in a row the top Tennessee public high schools, according to a 2018 U.S. News & World Report ranking.
Four other Middle Tennessee public schools also sit atop the annual rankings of high schools in the state. Last year, seven of the region’s public schools topped the list.
This year, a Knox County School broke into the top six of all public high schools statewide.
The yearly state rankings by U.S. News & World Report consider performance on the math and reading portions of state proficiency tests, graduation rates, college readiness and proof that schools serve all students well.
Central Magnet was also named the 44th best public high school in the country, according to the ranking. [Read more at Tennessean]
Read MoreWhy American Students Haven’t Gotten Better at Reading in 20 Years
Math scores have been flat since 2009 and reading scores since 1998, with just a third or so of students performing at a level the NAEP defines as “proficient.” Performance gaps between lower-income students and their more affluent peers, among other demographic discrepancies, have remained stubbornly wide.
Among the likely culprits for the stalled progress in math scores: a misalignment between what the NAEP tests and what state standards require teachers to cover at specific grade levels. But what’s the reason for the utter lack of progress in reading scores?
“Research shows that music and arts education enhances students’ overall academic performance and improves their attendance and engagement in school, building well-rounded students ready to compete in tomorrow’s workforce.”
Gov. Bill HaslamTennessee districts could get the chance for an infusion of money to support arts and music in their schools.
Tennessee Gov. Haslam and the Country Music Association Foundation announced Thursday the launch of a competitive, statewide grant that seeks to expand student access to music and arts.
The $1 million will fund, in its first year, eight grants. The State of the Arts program is expected to last three years and kickoff in the 2018-19 school year, according to a news release. [Read more at The Tennessean]
Read MoreGov. Bill Haslam unveils $3.5M plan to improve leadership skills for school principals
Tennessee wants to spend more than $3.5 million next year to improve the state’s principal pipeline.
Gov. Bill Haslam said the money, earmarked in his January budget proposal, will be used for three principal leadership initiatives — preparation, retention and development. The funds are boosted by $600,000 in donations from private groups.
Haslam said at a news conference that a leader is one of the most important factors in the success of a school.
The money will be spent on three initiatives:
- $1.25 million in recurring funds to help colleges create best practices in training school leaders, including through mentoring, residency programs and partnerships with school districts. The state also will partner on the initiative with philanthropy groups through $600,000 in one-time money.
- $1.92 million in one-time money to help struggling schools by providing incentives for effective principals to stay and lead Tennessee’s lowest-performing schools.
- $500,000 in one-time money to create a program that would support the development of rural school leaders, including scholarships to participate in networking and training. [Read more at The Tennessean]
Three of Tennessee’s largest teacher training programs improve on state report card
Three of Tennessee’s 10 largest teacher training programs increased their scores on a state report card that seeks to capture how well new teachers are being prepared for the classroom based on state goals.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville became the first public university to achieve a top score under the State Board of Education’s new grading system, now in its second year. And Middle Tennessee State University and East Tennessee State University also improved their scores.
But most of Tennessee’s 39 programs scored the same in 2017 as in 2016. Those included the University of Memphis and Austin Peay State University. [Read more at Chalkbeat Tennessee]
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Metro Schools hosting events to increase diversity education
Teachers in Metro Nashville Public Schools had another opportunity on Wednesday to join the school system’s push for diversity education.
As part of Black History Month, the Equity and Diversity Department is hosting a series of events that are open to anyone who wants to increase their capacity to engage with students and families effectively and equitably.
“As we look at discipline disparities and achievement gap data, we realize that a lot of the young people that are suffering, that are being left behind, are students of color, students who grew up in poverty,” said workshop advocate Tasha Fletcher. “And, I think, if we find ways to bridge those gaps, humble ourselves, find ways to connect across differences, then we can really start to make a difference in our young people’s lives.”… [read more on WSMV TV]
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Gov. Bill Haslam convened a ‘power meeting’ between Tennessee’s charter school and district leaders. Here’s why.
There isn’t a charter school within 100 miles of Rep. John Forgety’s district, but the East Tennessee lawmaker has become the mediator in a lingering dispute between the state’s charter sector and its two largest school districts, in Memphis and Nashville.
As chairman of a House education committee that green-lighted last year’s sweeping update of Tennessee’s charter school law, Forgety said he felt partly responsible for one provision that’s created confusion, anger, and even litigation over whether local districts must share student contact information with charter operators.
And while his own legislative proposal to clean up the ambiguity has been sidelined, Forgety managed to get all parties at the table last week with Gov. Bill Haslam — no small feat given that two of them already are in court over the issue… [read more on Chalkbeat]
Read MoreI am eager to see the impact that the next cohort of dedicated educators has in lifting Tennessee students to greater academic achievement.
Jamie WoodsonDear Friends,
Whenever I spend time with the Tennessee Educator Fellows, their passion and commitment to achieve great things for their students always impresses me. Each cohort of educators astounds me with their thoughtful reflections and drive to become the advocates their students need.
Right now the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) is accepting applications from outstanding K-12 educators for the next cohort of the Tennessee Educator Fellowship. Teachers, librarians, school counselors, and interventionists who work in K-12 public schools in Tennessee have the opportunity through the fellowship to create high-level impact beyond the classroom.
One dynamic example is the work Dr. Diarese George started as a 2016-17 fellow. During his fellowship, Diarese selected improving teaching diversity as his key issue, and he founded the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance to elevate the voice, presence, and support for educators of color… [read more on SCORE]
Read MoreTennessee bill would use Sunday wine sales tax money to fund pre-K scholarships for low-income students
A Memphis lawmaker is proposing to use tax money from a proposed law that would allow Sunday wine sales to fund the expansion of pre-kindergarten.
Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis, is sponsoring the bill that he says would fund increased access statewide for children from low-income families.
Senate Bill 1968 proposes requiring the Tennessee Department of Education to use money in a fund set up through the passage of the bill to establish a scholarship program to provide access to pre-K for children from low-income families… [read more on Tennesseean]
Read MoreWhat Educators Gain From The Tennessee Educator Fellowship: Strength, Confidence, And Impact
Lifting Tennessee students to be among the best in the nation cannot occur without empowering Tennessee educators to be advocates for their students and profession. The Tennessee Educator Fellowship is an opportunity for passionate educators to find and use their voice on behalf of their students.
Three fellows in this year’s cohort share what they have learned over the past year and why this fellowship has been instrumental to their development as teacher-leaders… [read more on SCORE]
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