Expect More, Achieve More

TN.gov: Commissioner Webb to Leave Dept. of Ed.

Amy Graydon — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:26:21 +0000

Governor Phil Bredesen announced that Tim Webb, Commissioner of the Department of Education, is leaving the administration today after serving as Commissioner of the department since July, 2008. Webb joined the Tennessee Department of Education in 2003 after serving as Superintendent of Lewis County Schools.
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Metro Pulse: Fears of TCAP-itation

Amy Graydon — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:25:51 +0000

For weeks, starting in late summer and carrying through right to the end of September, it was almost impossible to escape a parade of grim warnings from Knox County education officials: TCAP scores were coming, and they were going to be bad.
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WRCB-TV: Scales Delivers State of the School Address

Amy Graydon — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:25:18 +0000

Dr. Jim Scales is preparing for a less than stellar report when it comes to reading and math scores for Hamilton County Schools. In his State of the Schools address Wednesday, he says students’ scores are showing most will test at “Basic”, or “Below Basic” in core areas.
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TN.gov: Smith to Lead First to the Top Team

Amy Graydon — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:35:24 +0000

Governor Phil Bredesen today announced Patrick Smith has been appointed interim executive director of the Tennessee First to the Top Oversight Team. Smith will lead implementation of Tennessee’s First to the Top plan to invest a $501 million Race to the Top grant in public education reform initiatives that will improve student achievement over the next four years.

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Bredesen: U.S. Chamber Report Leads to Standards

Amy Graydon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:18:32 +0000

Tennessee is raising the bar for student achievement with higher academic standards in the classroom. These new higher standards will help us make sure students are ready for college or career when they graduate high school. That means not only mastering the basics like reading and math, but also developing skills that colleges and employers value – like communications, problem solving and teamwork.
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Gallatin News Examiner: Tougher Standards

Amy Graydon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:18:16 +0000

Students must meet tougher education standards in Tennessee to keep up in a world where the job market’s demands outpace what’s taught in school. That’s one key point education expert Willard R. Daggett made at the annual Mid Cumberland fall district meeting of the Tennessee School Boards Association at Station Camp High School in Gallatin on Thursday, Sept. 23.
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WREG-TV: TN Parents Bracing For TCAP

Amy Graydon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:18:00 +0000

Parents of elementary and middle school students across Tennessee are bracing for what could be the lowest TCAP scores ever. That’s because of new testing standards. Today, some parents got a first hand look at how their kids did, as the district continues to do damage control.
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WTVF-TV: TCAP Scores Show Room For Improvement

Amy Graydon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:17:45 +0000

Scores from the new and tougher TCAP test are trickling into parents mailboxes across the state. For many, the results are as bad as expected.
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WREG-TV: Districts Prep for TCAP Results

Amy Graydon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:17:26 +0000

Memphis’ School Superintendent sent out another word of warning over the phone this past weekend. “The entire state of Tennessee including Memphis is expecting a drop in individual student scores. Parents, if your child scores drop, don’t get discouraged, ask for help and know the facts,” said Superintendent Kriner Cash in a recorded phone call.
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Dean and Register, The Tennessean: Turning Point

Amy Graydon — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:26:55 +0000

As the mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and the director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, we share a commitment to serious education reform in Davidson County. Together, we have worked to ensure that our school district prepares students to compete against students from across the nation and around the world — and we have strong partners at the state level.
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