2016-17 State of Education in Tennessee | Page 64

RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION AND INSTRUCTION ( RTI 2 ): RTI 2 focuses on high-quality instruction and interventions that are tailored to individual student needs and where instructional decisions are made based on student outcome data on high-quality assessments . It is a three-tiered model with progressively more intense interventions provided to students who are not showing growth in general instruction or in response to initial interventions . Student progress is monitored regularly through research-based assessments , ensuring that instructional decisions and decisions to intervene are made based on student data .
RURAL SCHOOLS : The US Census Bureau defines rural by what it is not : it is neither a city with a population of 50,000 or more , nor a cluster of towns and cities with 2,500 to 50,000 people each . The National Center for Educational Statistics builds on this definition , adding three geographic categories within the rural definition :
• Fringe . Less than or equal to 5 miles from an urbanized area , as well as rural territory that is less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban cluster .
• Distant . More than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urbanized area , as well as rural territory that is more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban cluster .
• Remote . More than 25 miles from an urbanized area and also more than 10 miles from an urbanized cluster .
SEAMLESS ALIGNMENT AND INTEGRATED LEARNING SUPPORT ( SAILS ): The Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support ( SAILS ) program targets students that have not achieved college readiness benchmarks by introducing the college developmental curriculum into the high school senior year . Developed by K-12 teachers and higher education faculty at Chattanooga State Community College , SAILS embeds the Tennessee Board of Regents Learning Support competencies into the high school senior year math and English courses using a blended learning model . SAILS is a key aspect of the Governor ’ s Drive to 55 in removing barriers to college success by allowing students to begin a higher education career prepared for credit-bearing coursework .
STATE SALARY SCHEDULE : Tennessee ’ s State Salary Schedule for teachers is a minimum salary amount determined by years of experience teaching and professional degrees earned .
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ( SWD ): According to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act ( Sec . 300.8 ), “ Children with disabilities ” or “ students with disabilities ” means children or students who require special education because of : autism ; communication disorders ; deafness ; emotional disturbances ; hearing impairments , including deafness ; intellectual disability ; orthopedic impairments ; other health impairments ; specific learning disabilities ; traumatic brain injuries ; or visual impairments , including blindness ; or multiple disabilities .
SUSPENSION : Tennessee state law and State Board of Education rules define student suspension as , “... dismissed from attendance at school for any reason for not more than ten ( 10 ) consecutive days . The student on suspension shall be included in ADM ( Average Daily Membership ) and will continue to be counted for funding purposes . Multiple suspensions shall not run consecutively , nor shall multiple suspensions be applied to avoid expulsion from school .”
TEACHER LEADERSHIP : Teacher leadership refers to a teacher who maintains K-12 classroom-based teaching while also taking on leadership responsibilities outside of the classroom . Teacher leadership focuses on roles beyond the classroom , supporting the professional learning of peers , influencing policy / decision making , and ultimately targeting student learning . 60
TEACHER PREPARATION : Teacher preparation refers to an aspiring teacher ’ s training , which has traditionally consisted of college-level coursework and student teaching experiences offered through postsecondary institutions . As of 2016 , 40 traditional teacher preparation programs exist in Tennessee . All providers of teacher preparation programs that lead to licensure must be approved by the State Board of Education .
TEACHER PREPARATION REPORT CARD : State law requires that all approved teacher preparation programs in Tennessee be evaluated annually based on the placement and retention rates , Praxis II scores , and teacher effect data of their graduates . In December 2016 , the State Board of Education released an updated version of the report card that programs , program applicants , and districts and schools hiring new teachers may use for key data reference points .
TENNESSEE EDUCATOR ACCELERATION MODEL ( TEAM ): TEAM is the state-developed teacher evaluation system implemented in the 2011-12 school year . TEAM combines quantitative and qualitative components , and the model focuses on 23 specific indicators developed from researchbased standards . TEAM incorporates frequent observation , constructive feedback , student learning measures , and aligned development opportunities . TEAM is being used by 121 districts , covering approximately 80 percent of teachers statewide .
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