because of problems with the online testing platform and its inability to deliver paper tests to all students .
• July 2016 : Questar was selected as the state ’ s assessment vendor in an emergency procurement process . The contract specifies a three-year transition from paper to online tests . TDOE also announces a new TNReady testing schedule that is on average 30 percent shorter . For grades 3-8 this means a reduction of 200-210 minutes , and for high school end of course exams 40-120 minutes . 17
• October 2016 : SBE approves rigorous cut scores for TNReady proficiency levels .
Accountability
Accountability systems provide diverse stakeholders in education with valuable information about how districts and schools impact student achievement . This information provides a more accurate picture of what is going well in schools and where there are opportunities for improvement .
Current accountability systems are more than systems of consequences and rewards . They are systems that allow the public to better understand how effectively their schools are working . Accountability also provides policymakers with the information they need to make changes that will improve students ’ educational opportunities . 18
Tennessee ’ s Current Accountability System
Tennessee ’ s accountability system focuses mostly on districts , which are evaluated based on their ability to improve student achievement and close gaps between groups of students . Under the Every Student Succeeds Act , however , the state must also establish accountability measures for all schools . Using data from statewide assessments , schools are identified as one of the following based on their student achievement data :
• Reward Schools are the top 5 percent of schools in the state for performance ( as measured by overall student achievement levels ) and the top 5 percent for year-over-year progress ( as measured by schoolwide value-added data ).
• Priority Schools are in the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools in Tennessee in terms of academic achievement .
• Focus Schools are the 10 percent of schools in the state with the largest achievement gaps between groups of students , such as racial and ethnic groups , students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds , students with disabilities , and English language learners . 19
Following the 2017-18 academic year , schools will be assigned a letter grade from A to F based on student performance on TCAP or end-of-course exams , student growth outcomes , and overall student achievement . Schools must track the success of both their entire student population and subgroups .
Topic Timeline :
These are key events related to the development of Tennessee ’ s current accountability system :
• 1992 : The Education Improvement Act ( EIA ) passed , laying the foundation for the development of many education policies in place in Tennessee ’ s current education system .
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One major component of the EIA was the establishment of an accountability system that required local schools and school districts to meet certain standards and goals .
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This piece of legislation included the adoption of the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System ( TVAAS ), the creation of the Office of Research and Education Accountability , the creation of high school subject specific assessments , and the strengthening of annual state reporting of assessment data . 20
• 2002 : No Child Left Behind ( NCLB ), the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1964 , placed more responsibilities on states for establishing and maintaining accountability systems .
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NCLB required states to meet specific performance goals for all students , with a focus on the performance of subgroups of students . Under NCLB , schools faced consequences if students or certain subgroups of students failed to meet performance goals .
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NCLB also requires annual assessments in English language arts and mathematics in all grades 3-8 and assessments administered at least once in grades 10-12 .
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In addition , NCLB required states to develop academic content standards in science by 2005-06 and aligned assessments based on those standards by 2007-08 . The science assessments must be administered at least once in each of three grade spans : 3-5 , 6-9 , and 10-12 . 21
• 2012 : Tennessee received a waiver from certain portions of NCLB and adopted a new accountability system . Under this new system , Tennessee holds districts accountable for improving achievement for all students and reducing achievement gaps that exist between groups of students .
• 2016 : Public Chapter 680 requires that the state develop a grading system for schools , and annually assess and categorize them along an A-F scale based on student performance .
A GUIDE FOR POLICYMAKERS / 2016-17 | 18