2018 Gubernatorial Race
literate society , with thousands of students now being served in Read to be Ready summer camps across the state . And now , we have experienced the highest graduation rates and lowest unemployment rates in our state ’ s history . These examples are only a few of the many that illustrate how Tennesseans are leading the way in simply making it happen for every student , every day .
Tennessee principals and educators , in particular , have shown an uncompromising focus on student growth and success over the past decade . Tennessee educators are the smartest people I know . They set goals for students that they then help them meet . They use data to drive productive change and instructional improvements every day . From there , they evolve in their own professional practices to meet high expectations . If this wasn ’ t enough , they make hundreds of minute-by-minute decisions daily as they reach the needs of all kids . And maybe most significantly , they build relationships with parents and children to help them see what is possible when they sometimes can ’ t see it themselves – and then , they never , never give up .
Tennessee is also incredibly fortunate to have organizations such as SCORE , Conexion Americas , and other strong advocacy groups that support education alongside philanthropists , such as the Ayers , Hyde , and Niswonger Foundations . These groups and our state and local government officials , higher education partners , chambers of commerce , and industry partners consistently put education first through the push and pull that inevitably comes from productive dialogue . This collective energy and action – grounded in data and research – has created incredible momentum for us to build on our strong policy foundation : high standards , aligned assessment , and robust accountability at every level . It is this momentum led by smart , pragmatic people that will lead us to even greater success on behalf of students across Tennessee in 2018 and beyond .
As we enter 2018 , the department will hold fast to the smart policies that have led us here with a continuous improvement mindset that has led to important changes over the past few years – including key changes in the foundation of standards , assessment , and accountability – and shifts embodied in Tennessee ’ s Every Student Succeeds Act ( ESSA ) plan , which has been noted by national groups as one of the country ’ s best plans . The department also will use the momentum created so far to continue a laser-like focus on three goals that build on our strong policies and engage our smartest people :
1 . Every child should be reading on grade level by the end of third grade . 2 . Every child must have an effective teacher every year . 3 . Every child is set up for success on a path to a career .