Tennessee Department of Education Announces ACT Senior Retake Opportunity
August 5, 2016
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Education announced today the launch of the statewide ACT Senior Retake Opportunity that provides every eligible high school senior, meaning any public school student who took the ACT as a junior, the ability to retake the ACT free of charge on Saturday, October 22nd, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Tennessee’s historical ACT data indicate that students who retake the ACT typically increase their composite score by one to three points.
Eligible high school seniors have the opportunity to retake ACT.
Don’t Let Your Child Miss Out
July 19, 2016
Nashville, TN – In just a few days, thousands of students from across Tennessee will take their seats in classrooms to begin a new academic year filled with wonderful experiences and learning opportunities.
As these youngsters start opening books and mingling with friends, some will miss out on the important first few days of school, unable to attend because they aren’t properly immunized to prevent the spread of dangerous, infectious diseases.
Kindergarteners and other children enrolling in a Tennessee school for the first time must provide schools with a complete Official Tennessee Immunization Certificate before classes begin.
Tennessee Department of Education Reduces Testing Time by 30 Percent
July 16, 2016
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced significant changes to state assessments that respond to feedback from educators, parents, and students—including eliminating Part I in all subjects, restructuring the test to better fit within the school day and year, and reducing overall testing time.
The changes come as the department finalizes its contract with Questar, the primary vendor for the 2016-17 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP).
Tennessee Department of Education restructures tests to better fit within the school day and year, and reducing overall testing time.
Tennessee Department of Education Suspends Grade 3-8 Testing Due to Vendor’s Inability to Deliver Materials
April 27, 2016
Statewide Assessment Contract Terminated
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced today the department will terminate its statewide testing contract with Measurement Inc., effective immediately.
While high school testing will continue as planned, the state will suspend grade 3-8 testing during the 2015-16 school year due to Measurement Inc.’s inability to deliver all testing materials.
3-8 grade testing suspended for the 2015-16 school year.
Tennessee Department of Human Services Kicks Off No Tennessee Child Hungry Awareness Campaign
March 15, 2016
Pledge support to raising awareness on child hunger in Tennessee #NoTNChildHungryPledge
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter announced the launch of an awareness campaign calling attention to childhood hunger in Tennessee and urging Tennesseans to pledge support to help ensure no Tennessee child goes hungry.
In Tennessee, more than half a million children may go hungry each day. One in four Tennessee children faces the risk of hunger. This call to action is to generate awareness, prompt change, and help ensure that No Tennessee Child Goes Hungry.
State Launches Initiative to Nearly Double Reading Proficiency in Third Grade By 2025
February 18, 2016
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen joined Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today to kick off “Read to be Ready,” a statewide campaign focused on the critical value of reading.
Over the past several years, student performance on the English language arts TCAP has remained stagnant or declined. By the end of third grade, only 43 percent of students in Tennessee are reading on grade level.
Tennessee Students Still The Fastest Improving in U.S. Since 2011
October 28, 2015
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today announced Tennessee students are still the fastest improving in the nation since 2011 according to the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card.
Tennessee also rose to the top half of states in fourth grade math, ranking 25th – the first time Tennessee has ever ranked in the top half of states in any subject or grade.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4viqYVpJvM[/youtube] [Read more]
Tennessee Task Force on Student Testing and Assessment Releases Recommendations
September 19, 2015
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Task Force on Student Testing and Assessment, comprised of 18 educators and education leaders from across the state, concluded six months of discussions and research as they released more than a dozen recommendations to address concerns about “too much testing” and to ensure the meaningful use of assessments across the state.
Recommendations Reduce Testing Time and Increase Transparency to Help Address Teacher, Parent, and District Concerns
Tennessee Department of Education to receive $10 Million to Invest in Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools
July 16, 2015
Competitive Grant Process Awards Federal Funds
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Education has awarded $10,497,423 in School Improvement Grant funds to 16 schools that are among the lowest-performing schools in the state in terms of academic achievement.
This is the first year of a three to five year School Improvement Grant award totaling $31,904,500, designed to focus on areas that are most critical in turning around high needs schools – strong leadership, effective instruction, and additional time for learning. These School Improvement Grants are provided through funds from the United States Department of Education and must be used to support the state’s Priority Schools.
School Improvement Grant to fund 16 schools that are among the lowest-performing schools in the state in terms of academic achievement.
Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen Kicks Off Statewide Tour of Classrooms
February 14, 2015
Commits to Visiting 10,000 Tennessee Teachers
Nashville, TN – Education Commissioner Candice McQueen on Friday kicked off a statewide tour of classroom visits where she plans to connect with 10,000 Tennessee teachers. The commissioner, whose tour began in her hometown of Clarksville, is committed to this goal as a way to listen and learn from Tennessee educators.
Commissioner McQueen visited three schools on Friday, two of which she attended herself growing up: Burt Elementary and Northeast High. She spent time with teachers, students, and administrators, listening to stories of their successes and challenges. [Read more]
