Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Announces Next Step in Drive to 55

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today announced the next step in the Drive to 55: ensuring that colleges and universities are organized, supported and empowered in efforts to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential to 55 percent by 2025.

To enhance student success across higher education the plan includes key strategies to provide more focused support for community and technical colleges, increase autonomy and local control for Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) universities and strengthen the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).

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Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Outlines Initiatives To Support Teachers

Proposals address testing, evaluations, local control and teacher input

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced several key initiatives to support Tennessee teachers in response to direct feedback from educators across the state.

The proposals reflect input that the governor received during statewide meetings with more than 150 educators and that came out of an education summit he co-hosted with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell in September.

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Bill Haslam announces formal review of Teacher Evaluations

Calls upon independent organization and department to take a closer look

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today announced that there will be both an external and internal review of the new teacher evaluation system.

He has charged the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) with conducting an independent, third-party evaluation and is asking the state Department of Education to formalize a review process, which the department has already begun.

Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Rep. John Forgety (R-Athens) are sponsors of a resolution that outlines the review process for the department, which the governor said the administration supports. [Read more]