2015-16 Public Education in Tennessee: A Policymaker’s Guide | Page 8

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Expanding students’ access to effective teachers and leaders
for postsecondary readiness

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Expanding families’ access to effective, high-quality schools

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Expanding educators’ access to high-quality professional
development

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Expanding public access to information on quality school
systems

The board is committed to Tennessee’s goal of being the
fastest-improving state in the nation, and in order to
measure progress toward its goals, relies on a number of
outcomes. It looks at national assessments, high school
graduation rates, college-going rates, and student success in
college. The board also develops the Basic Education Program
(BEP) formula used to allocate state funds to public school
districts. SBOE also has specific goals for technology, teacher
education and professional growth, school leadership, school
health and safety, and funding.
While SBOE adopts policies and standards, TDOE is
responsible for the implementation of those policies and
standards. Through regular meetings with SBOE, TDOE officials
also inform the board of recent developments and bring
policy decisions to SBOE for resolution.

Local Education Agencies
Local education agencies, or school districts, represent the
level of governance closest to schools. LEAs implement
the policies mandated by federal and state authorities in a
manner tailored to each community’s distinct needs. At the

8 | Public Education in Tennesee

local level, elected school boards serve as LEAs and appoint
superintendents/directors to serve as chief administrative
officers for the district. School boards make policy decisions
for the district and adopt budgets, while superintendents are
charged with implementing the board’s decisions. Directors of
schools make personnel decisions, oversee district budgets,
and manage the daily operations of the district’s schools.

United States Department of Education (USDOE)
The mission of the U.S. Department of Education is to foster
educational excellence while prohibiting discrimination and
ensuring equal access to education. USDOE’s key pre-K-12
initiatives include the reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (reauthorized in 2001 as the No
Child Left Behind Act), which established federal funding for
schools and districts with high proportions of low-income
students (Title I). USDOE also prioritizes the disbursement and
assessment of Race to the Top funds. USDOE oversees state
compliance with federal law and the provision of services for
students with disabilities in accordance with the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act. USDOE also establishes
policy on federal financial aid for education, as well as the
distribution and monitoring of those funds.
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) serves as the
research branch of the USDOE, publishing regular reports on
the condition of American education. IES-funded studies also
produce analyses of best practices in the field for educators,
researchers, and policymakers.