standards every six years, but following increased
make a final recommendation to the State Board of
public discussion surrounding the standards,
Education about the adoption of the new science
the governor sought to give all stakeholders the
standards in July 2016. Implementation for these
opportunity to provide feedback after four years of
standa rds is scheduled for the 2018-19 school year.93
implementation. From November 2014 through April
2015, Tennesseans could log onto a website to review
In summer 2015, the State Board of Education
and comment on each of the English language arts
decided to review Tennessee’s social studies
(ELA) and math content standards. During this six-
standards after four years of implementation rather
month period, nearly 3,000 people (mostly teachers)
than the required six years. This earlier review
logged into the site, made a total of 131,424 reviews
responded to concerns from educators and the public
of the standards, and left over 20,000 comments.91
related to the content of the current social studies
This public input helped inform the work of the six
standards. This process will follow a similar approach
advisory teams appointed by the State Board of
to the review of Tennessee’s ELA, math, and science
Education to review and recommend changes to the
standards. The current social studies standards will
current standards. These advisory teams included
be posted for public review in January 2016.
classroom teachers across grade levels, subject
areas, and geographic regions of the state. These
Legislative Change. During the 2015 session,
advisory teams reported to two Standards Review
legislators introduced several bills that would
and Development Committees, one for English
have repealed or resulted in significant changes
language arts and one for math. The committees, in
to Tennessee’s State Standards for English and
turn, worked to develop a set of recommendations for
math, despite the review process that was already
changes to Tennessee’s State Standards.
underway. For example, House Bill 1267/Senate
Bill 1194 would have required each local school
Educators who participated in SCORE’s 2015 Listening
board to adopt their own academic standards in
Tour were generally pleased that Governor Haslam
mathematics, science, geography, history, reading/
provided an opportunity for teachers and the
language arts, and writing. This bill was eventually
general public to comment on Tennessee’s State
taken off notice in the House Education Instruction
Standards. However, relatively few said that they had
& Programs Subcommittee.94 Additionally, House Bill
participated in the review process themselves. While
1263/Senate Bill 804 intended to discontinue the
some teachers said that their principal encouraged
use of the state’s current academic standards and
or even required them to participate, others were not
implement the Tennessee Diploma Project Standards
aware that a public comment process took place.92
in their place until the State Board adopted new,
Tennessee-specific standards. The House Education
In addition to reviewing Tennessee’s State Standards
Instruction & Programs subcommittee considered, but
for ELA and math, Tennessee’s social studies and
ultimately did not pass this bill on to the full House.95
science standards are also under review. Revisions
Amid legislative debate on the standards, the higher
to Tennessee’s science standards were originally
education community as well as the Tennessee
developed by teachers from across the state in fall
Organization for School Superintendents made
2014 and spring 2015. These revisions are posted on
requests to the legislature for stability in the state’s
a website that is open for public review. The State
standards.
Board of Education plans to work with the Southern
Regional Education Board to collect and analyze the
Ultimately, policymakers reached a compromise:
comments submitted on the website. Similarly to the
House Bill 1035/Senate Bill 1163, which calls for
process used to review Tennessee’s ELA and math
Tennessee’s State Standards to be reviewed and
standards, educator development teams will review
revised.96 This bill codifies the standards review
feedback on the draft science standards and make
process initiated by Governor Haslam and adds an
additional changes to the standards in early 2016.
additional layer of review in the form of a Standards
Another draft set of science standards will be posted
Recommendation Committee. This committee consists
to a public website in spring 2016 for comment, and
of ten members. The governor appointed four
a Standards Recommendation Committee will then
members of the group, while the Lieutenant Governor
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