Commissioner Penny Schwinn Statement Regarding Tennessee General Assembly Passage of Education Waivers Related to COVID-19
March 19, 2020
Nashville, TN – In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and tornado damage, the Tennessee General Assembly passed HB2818/ SB2672, which waives state assessment and accountability requirements, including the 2019-20 spring administration of the TNReady and end-of-course assessments.
Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn
Tennessee Students Show Modest Math Gains on Nation’s 2019 Report Card
October 30, 2019
Nashville, TN – The Nation’s 2019 Report Card was released this morning. According to the results, Tennessee students made noteworthy gains in 4th grade math, but saw virtually no statistical gains in the other subject areas that were tested, compared to 2017.
TDOE Releases TNReady Results for 2019
August 16, 2019
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn has released the TNReady assessment results which indicates that students across the state are performing better in almost all math subjects.
The TNReady scores also show that more than half the schools in Tennessee – 56 percent – improved their growth scores (TVAAS scores) from the previous year, with 41 percent of all schools earning a level 4 or 5 TVAAS rating which measures year-to-year growth.
TNReady assessment results have been released by the Tennessee Department of Education.
Tennessee Department of Education reports Students Break Records with Highest-Ever ACT Score and Participation Rate
November 1, 2018
Tennessee Education Department
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Education Department Commissioner Candice McQueen today announced that Tennessee public school students have once again broken the previous year’s record by earning an average composite score of 20.2 on the ACT in 2018.
More than 1,400 new Tennessee Students now able to access up to $23.4 million in HOPE Scholarship funds.
2018 TNReady Scores Show Mixed Results, Encouraging Areas of Progress
July 20, 2018
Tennessee Department of Education
Nashville TN – Tennessee Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen announced the 2018 TNReady student assessment results today, sharing that while results vary statewide, there are encouraging trends – including strong growth in English language arts for elementary grades and improvement in high school math.
Students in historically disadvantaged student groups also showed notable progress. Gaps between student groups narrowed in multiple areas, and students in Priority schools – including the Achievement School District – grew faster than their non-Priority school peers nearly across the board.
Tennessee Students improved most in early grades reading, narrowed achievement gaps; show need for deeper, more sustained work to support improvement.
Tennessee Department of Education announces TNReady Changes, Will Recompete Testing Contract
June 14, 2018
Tennessee Department of Education
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced several new steps today to improve the state’s TNReady student assessment, including recompeting the state’s current testing vendor contract.
Additional steps include refining current Questar contract, revising timeline for online testing, engaging more teachers
Tennessee Department of Education approves New Steps to Reduce Testing
April 12, 2018
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced the approval of recommendations that will reduce student testing in 2018-19.
The recommendations are the first to be released by the state’s third Task Force on Student Testing and Assessment – which includes educators, parents, and education leaders from across the state – and they resulted from months of analysis and discussion, as well as additional surveys of high school teachers and parents.
For the first time, Tennessee Department of Education eliminates two TNReady exams.
Tennessee Department of Education Releases New State Report Card
January 14, 2018
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has unveiled the latest version of the state Report Card, which is now available on the department’s website.
This annual snapshot of school, district, and state performance offers users the ability to view multiple achievement and growth measures – in addition to metrics such as student enrollment, HOPE scholarship eligibility, school climate, and many others – in one central location.
Centralized Website Allows Communities to Easily View Data and Achievement of Schools, Districts.
Tennessee High School Students Scores Improve Across All Subjects In Second Year Of New Assessment
July 28, 2017
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has announced that Tennessee high school students improved across all subject areas – English, math, science, and U.S. history – on the 2016-17 TNReady end-of-course exams.
Thousands of additional students are meeting course expectations compared to last year, and the state reduced the percentage of students scoring at the lowest achievement level across all subject areas.
In 2015- 16, high school students set a new baseline in the first year of TNReady.
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.
