Excellence for All Children 1 Higher Academic Standards A Defining Moment for Tennessee Schools

Excellence for All Children 2 Higher Academic Standards The Challenge…

Excellence for All Children 3 Higher Academic Standards The Challenge…

Excellence for All Children 4 Higher Academic Standards A recent U.S. Department of Education study showed Tennessee ranked 47 th to 50 th among states nationally for the rigor of its academic standards from 2005 to On the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Tennessee ranked: 42 nd out of 50 states in the nation in 8 th grade math 38 th in the nation in 8 th grade reading 43 rd in 4 th grade math 39 th in 4 th grade reading A recent study by the American Institute of Research suggests that if Tennessee were a country, we would not be competitive in math and science education with excelling countries like Japan, Singapore and the Netherlands but rather we’d be in league with educationally challenged countries such as Lithuania, Slovenia, and Russia. Why do we need to raise our standards?

Excellence for All Children 5 Higher Academic Standards Timeline Tennessee schools get an “F” for truth in advertising Tennessee Diploma Project launched to raise academic standards Higher academic standards take effect in Tennessee schools Legislature enacts landmark education law: First to the Top Act - Tennessee wins the federal Race to the Top competition - Tennessee students take first assessments under higher standards

Excellence for All Children 6 Higher Academic Standards What does it mean? More rigorous curriculum & harder assessments Increased graduation requirements A new definition of “proficiency” $501 million in Race to the Top funding An intense focus on high quality instruction and student learning Less favorable test scores in short-term Greater educational success in the long-term

7 Excellence for All Children 7 Higher Academic Standards Why does this matter? The success of our public schools will determine the knowledge, skills and competencies of our future workforce, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Our expectations must be ambitious if our students are to be successful in an increasingly complex world and an increasingly global economy. For our civic, economic, and cultural future to be bright, we need people who can think critically, learn continuously, and adapt quickly. Thinkers and learners develop through rigorous, excellent classroom instruction and educational experiences which foster 21 st century skills. Rigorous standards and high quality instruction will enable our children to be academically successful, economically competitive, and personally fulfilled.

Excellence for All Children 8 Raising the bar in Tennessee schools

Excellence for All Children Don't get discouraged.. Test scores and grades sometimes dip when schools put in place higher standards. 9

Excellence for All Children Ask for help.. Call your child's teacher or school and put together a plan for helping him improve. 10

Excellence for All Children 11 Asking for help Specific resources available… Within school Many activities happening in our schools that will enhance student learning – new formative assessments, professional learning communities, interventions and small group learning activities, and focused instructional work to meet the new standards. Outside school Before- and after-school tutoring programs available at many schools Parent engagement and support - PTA, PTO, PTSO Business support for schools – Partners in Education, Knoxville Chamber Community resources – United Way, Knoxville Area Urban League, Project GRAD, Great Schools Partnership, etc.

Excellence for All Children Know the facts.. Understand why high standards are important to your child's future. 12

Five-Year Strategic Plan: Excellence for All Children Excellence for All Children 13 Focus on the Student Engaged Parents & Community Infrastructure Effective Educators Accountability

Five-Year Strategic Plan: Excellence for All Children Excellence for All Children Strategic Plan Goals: Focus on the student to ensure they excel academically and are prepared for life beyond the classroom Recruit, select, induct, develop, support, compensate and retain effective educators Engage parents and community in a meaningful way to support student learning Build the infrastructure to enable and support student learning and district goals Accountability: ensure that all adults are focused on achieving results for children 14

Strategic Plan Key Metrics Excellence for All Children Performance Targets 15

Excellence for All Children Excellence Through Literacy Early Education Education Management Information System (Data Warehouse) Project GRAD Teacher Collaboration/Professional Learning Communities Family and Volunteer Engagement Teacher and Administrator Professional Development FY Critical Educational Investments 16

Knox County Schools – Race to the Top Excellence for All Children SCOPE OF WORK - $13.2m Over 4 Years Strategic Compensation Leadership Academy Expansion of TAP System Formative Assessment Human Capital Evaluation Systems Principal Professional Development Data Warehouse Training 17

Excellence for All Children 18 Resource information: knoxschools.org expectmoretn.org tennessee.gov/education/TDP tnscore.org