Executive Summary
F
rom parents to policymakers, Tennesseans’ continued focus on
improving public education is helping ensure students have the best
opportunities and brightest futures. While 2013 was, in many ways, a
banner year for education in the state, Tennessee is at a unique crossroad.
Tennessee’s commitment to improved student achievement
– in leadership, policy, and practice – has led to strong early
gains for students. Nearly 10,000 more Tennessee students
are proficient in Algebra II since 2011, the year that subject
became a requirement for high school graduation. Since 2010,
an additional 73,000 students in grades 3-8 are proficient in
math and an additional 91,000 students are proficient in
K-12 math.i 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 terms of student achievement outcomes across
fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, following only
the District of Columbia.
below and discussed in detail throughout this report:
1. Maintaining a commitment to rigorous standards
and assessments
2. Strengthening schools through effective leadership
3. Expanding student access to great teaching
4. Investing in technology to enhance instruction
5. Supporting students from kindergarten to career
Tennessee needs to maintain its commitment to rigorous
standards and authentic assessments to ensure that students
are educated in a way that prepares them for the demands
of college and the workforce, both today and in the future.
Tennessee’s Common Core State Standards are intended to
ensure that instruction in classrooms is providing students
with the real-world skills needed to succeed in higher education and the workforce, and Tennessee must continue the
implementation of these standards. In addition, Tennessee
must continue its commitment to implementing the PARCC
assessments to ensu ɔ