2015-16 Public Education in Tennessee: A Policymaker’s Guide | Page 25

The UT system serves approximately 49,000 students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. As a public, land-grant institution, UT is responsible for educating Tennessee’s workforce, driving the state’s economy, and enhancing the quality of life opportunities for all Tennesseans. Dr. Joe DiPietro, President [email protected] 865.974.2241 Anthony Haynes, Vice President for Government Relations & Advocacy [email protected] 615.741.8220 Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) www.comptroller.tn.gov/orea Tennessee’s Comptroller of the Treasury is a constitutional office with duties prescribed by state law. Elected by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly, the Comptroller serves a two-year term. Duties include the audit of state and local governmental entities in addition to participation in the general financial and administrative management and oversight of state government. The Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) is an objective, independent research arm for the Comptroller and General Assembly. The OREA prepares reports on state and local government issues, and publishes studies on topics such as adolescent literacy, charter schools, family engagement in education, and public school financing. Additionally, the OREA monitors legislation and performance of Tennessee’s public school systems in order to provide the General Assembly with reports on education topics and provide the legislature with an independent means of evaluating the effects of increased expenditures in education. Dr. Phillip Doss, Director [email protected] 615.401.7869 Centers of Regional Excellence (CORE) www.tn.gov/education/districts/district_ support/CORE.shtml CORE strives to provide school districts with support to create regional collaborative relationships, differentiated professional development, and evidence based best practice sharing. Through eight regional offices, CORE provides support to districts through a framework of data-driven decision making, curriculum support, leader and teacher effectiveness, balance