The State of Education in Tennessee: Introduction
The State of Education in Tennessee:
The Work in 2013 and Priorities for 2014
Tennessee is at a critical point in its pursuit of a better
public education system.
Important policy changes have been made over the last few
years that focus squarely on academic growth of students,
including higher academic standards, an educator
evaluation system that
identifies and supports effective teaching, and the
ability for the state to intervene in the lowest performing schools, among other
efforts. These changes,
combined with a focus on
successful implementation
in schools and communities
across the state, are helping
to drive improvements in
teaching and learning.
With new policies in place, successful implementation has
been a high priority in 2013. Tennessee’s commitment to
improved student achievement – in leadership, policy, and
practice – has led to strong early gains for students. Since
the state began implementing higher academic standards in
2009, students have continued to advance each year. Results
from the 2013 state assessments show that high school students are making significant gains in math and science, areas
we know are critical in preparing students for postsecondary
education and the workforce.
Nearly 10,000 more Tennessee students are proficient in Algebra II since 2011, the year that subject became a requirement for high school graduation. Also, since 2010 an additional 73,000 students in grades 3-8 are proficient in math
and approximately 91,000 more students are proficient in
K-12 math.iv Importantly, Tennessee reached a significant
milestone in 2013. According to the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP)—also known as the Nation’s Report Card—Tennessee is the fastest-improving state in the nation in student achievement across fourth- and eighth-grade
reading and math, following only the District of Columbia.
While 2013 was, in many ways, a banner year for education
in the state, Tennessee is at a crossroad. Work remains to
continue on the path that will help all students graduate with
the skills and knowledge they need to be competitive with
their peers across the state, country, and globe.
Data from both national and international assessments show
that Tennessee students remain significantly behind their
peers in academic performance. On the ACT, only 18 percent
of all Tennessee students, and 15 percent of public school
students, graduating in 2013 met all four college readiness
benchmarks (an indication of success in college-level coursework). Tennessee ranks 13th out of 17 states in which more
than 75 percent of high school students take the ACT.v While
Tennessee made significant gains on NAEP between 2011
and 2013, state scores are still below the national average. On
international assessments, Tennessee ranks 67th in reading
and 80th in math out of 116 countries and U.S. states.vi
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While challenges exist, the recent progress shown on both state and national assessments
are proof points of what Tennessee students are capable of achieving. It is important to
continue to build on this success by accelerating academic gains for students, while staying committed to student-centered decision-making at the school, local, and state level.
The following sections of the report pr