March 24, 2011
Dear Fellow Tennesseans,
2010 was an exciting year for education reform in the Volunteer State. After realizing that
far too few of our students are graduating with the skills they need to be successful in life,
Tennesseans rose to the challenge and began to lay the foundation to dramatically improve
our schools. The state has attracted millions of dollars in federal and philanthropic funds to
support innovative K-12 education reforms and has passed the most significant education
legislation since 1992. Over a year ago, I wrote that our state had a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to improve education for our students. In 2010, Tennesseans proved they were
up to the challenge.
In 2009, the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) issued its
“Roadmap to Success” report outlining a plan to make Tennessee schools number one in
the Southeast within five years. Our plan, which is based on the consensus of education,
political, business, and community leaders across the state, is composed of more than 60
detailed policy recommendations around embracing high standards, cultivating strong
leaders, ensuring excellent teachers, and using data to enhance student learning. Many of
the key recommendations regarding raising the state’s standards for receiving a high school
diploma, using value-added data to make decisions about hiring, tenure, and compensation,
and surveying teachers on their working conditions have already been implemented. But
while significant progress has been made, more work remains.
As you will see, SCORE’s priorities for 2011 highlight the actions that we believe must be
taken to ensure that the state can maintain the historic momentum we have experienced.
These priorities are based on the notion that effectively implementing the reforms that have
been passed is critical to ensuring there are real improvements in student achievement. All
of us – educators, parents, students, policy experts, and state and local officials – have a role
to play in implementing these reforms. SCORE will continue to work with all stakeholders to
ensure we stay on a pathway to success.
We hope that you read through this annual update and are both inspired by the tremendous
progress that has been made, and motivated to continue in this important work. As the
link between producing an educated workforce and creating jobs becomes clearer, there is
no better time for our continued commitment to education reform. Tennessee’s children
deserve nothing less.
With warmest regards,
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The State of Education In Tennessee
The State of Education In Tennessee
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