Public Education Foundation - Partners for Strong Schools

One-Page Overview

Download the First to the Top overview here.  For more information, see the Tennessee Department of Education website.

Tennessee First to the Top Coalition - Executive Summary Overview

Tennessee will win Race to the Top by capitalizing on its assets — a rich pool of data, a solid plan for revamped standards and assessments, involved STEM industries, a wide variety of local and national organizations willing to help, an expanded charter school law that can usher in innovation, and the full support of every local education agency, countless state organizations, the state teachers union, and all seven gubernatorial candidates.

“With years of solid reform work under our belts, we’re optimistic that the U.S. Department of Education will view Tennessee in the same way we see ourselves: As a state that is ready to lead the nation with fresh ideas and a new approach to public education.”

Governor Phil Bredesen, January 20, 2010

Tennessee intends to ensure successful implementation.

• Establishing a First to the Top Oversight Team;
• Developing a Delivery Unit within the Tennessee Department of Education; and
• Creating a Consortium on Evaluation, Research and Development to conduct overall research and evaluation.

Tennessee is well along the road to implementing higher, clearer standards and will accelerate adoption of the closely aligned Common Core.

• Implementing the Common Core Standards, and
• Developing training on the Common Core Standards, assessments, evaluation, and usage of TVAAS for both pre‐service and in‐service teachers and leaders.

Tennessee has the nation’s richest data system and will expand its use.

• Expanding the State Longitudinal Data System to focus on a 360° view of the child;
• Creating a dashboard to facilitate usage of TVAAS data in schools and classrooms; and
• Expanding the Electronic Learning Center.

Support for Tennessee’s First to the Top:

• 136 School Districts and 4 Special Schools
• Tennessee Education Association and 93 percent of local education associations
• 6 Statewide Foundations
• 7 Gubernatorial Candidates pledged to continue Tennessee’s progress
• All Tennessee Charter Schools and Charter Authorizers
• TN Business Roundtable, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Urban League, NAACP

Tennessee will find and support the best possible talent for its schools.

• Expanding alternative licensure routes;
• Training principals and teachers in residency programs;
• Professional development on using data for instruction;
• Creating an Innovation Acceleration Fund for district level differentiated compensation plans;
• Expanding UTeach replication sites;
• Revamping Teacher Preparation Program Effectiveness Report Card;
• Developing teachers through pre‐service training on TVAAS and STEM disciplines;
• Providing content area training for in‐service teachers in STEM disciplines; and
• Conducting a Teacher Working Conditions survey.

“I believe with all my heart that the simplicity and focus that is needed in education is to refocus on the individual teacher; a commitment to getting the best possible people to teach in each and every classroom.”

Governor Phil Bredesen, Speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce Summit, September 25, 2007

Tennessee will re‐engineer its accountability system to focus on low‐achieving schools.

• Creating an Achievement School District under control of the state Department of Education with services contracted for nationally and locally proven models to implement turnaround efforts at the state’s lowest performing schools (Restructuring II);
• Funding and supports for Renewal Schools (Restructuring I and Corrective Action) to choose and implement turnaround models;
• Funding and supports for Focus Schools (School Improvement) to access turnaround strategy assistance; and
• Expanding a statewide college access network and college access programs.

Tennessee will be a national leader in STEM education.

• Creating and expanding STEM platform schools and STEM regional hubs;
• Integrating STEM discipline professional development in pre‐service and in‐service; and
• Establishing a STEM Innovation Network.