Reports and Analyses on Education in Tennessee
The Education Consumers Foundation has released a number of reports and studies on various aspects of education in Tennessee, including:
Poverty versus Performance
 The Foundation looked at the value-added performance of schools and compared it to the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch (a widely used indicator of poverty); the scatterplot chart that resulted showed almost no correlation between the two. Click here to see the analysis from 2010. (Note: PDF File)
In contrast, there is a fairly strong correlation between TCAP proficiency rates and free and reduced lunch rates, as seen in this chart (PDF file).
Out of the Starting Blocks: Delaware and Tennessee Begin Their Race to the Top
 Six months after Delaware and Tennessee were awarded the first Race to the Top grants, the Hechinger Institute, thanks to the support of the Gates Foundation, interviewed leaders in both states to gauge progress and see what issues they were facing during the initial implementation phase. This Hechinger report highlights some of the challenges both states have been working to address, and provides information on the initial steps they have taken to implement the goals of their respective projects.. See the report here.
Proposal for a Prioritized Teacher Rating System
 As Tennessee works to create a new reporting model for teacher performance, ECF has proposed a consumer-friendly model approach that accommodates multiple measures while prioritizing those of greatest interest to the public. See its proposed model here.
Significant Reforms in Tennessee's Race to the Top Application
 On March 29, the US Department of Education announced that two states - Tennessee and Delaware - would receive funds through the federal Race to the Top initiative. Tennessee's application contains some significant reforms; in a February 15 report, ECF highlighted 15 key developments of the state's plan that have the potential to dramatically improve schooling in the state. Go here to review the highlights.
And a new commentary: Why Tennessee Won: A Commentary on Tennessee's Watershed Reforms and the Race for the Rest.
Tennessee can save $121.7 million over the next 10 years with alternate certification
 A new analysis commissioned by ECF shows that dramatic cost savings are possible through expanded implementation of Tennessee’s Transitional Teacher Licensure Policy.Recent studies confirm that teachers who have been trained by programs such as Teach for America, the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, and similar organizations are as effective in the classroom as graduates of traditional teacher education programs. By expanding implementation of its recently enacted policy, Tennessee can save $2.3 million in the first year and $121.7 million over the next decade.
To download the complete report, click here (note: 6MB file). An executive summary is available here.
Correcting TCAP Inflation: What to Expect in 2010
 To correct acknowledged grade inflation in TCAP proficiency rates, the Tennessee State Board of Education has adopted the scoring model of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, or "the nation's report card) and will increase reporting rigor this fall. What would your district's proficiency rates look like based on NAEP reporting standards? Click here to find out.
ECF highlights changes in TCAP and TVAAS reporting in 2009
 In 2009, Tennessee recalibrated the grading scales used to report performance on the state's TCAP and TVAAS assessments. To see the magnitude of these reporting changes, the Education Consumers Foundation has charted the letter grade distributions of the following:
- TVAAS reading: 2008 vs. 2009
- TVAAS math: 2008 vs. 2009
- TCAP reading: 2008 vs. 2009
- TCAP math: 2008 vs. 2009
Click here to access these charts (PDF file).
ECF hosts event on early childhood preparedness
 On April 21, 2009, the Education Consumers Foundation hosted two events in Nashville centered on early childhood preparedness and the importance of effective intervention at an early age. The featured presenter was Lynn Fielding, chair of the Kennewick, Washington school board, which guided an early childhood initiative that brought the number of children reading at grade level by 3rd grade from 57% to 90%+ in ten years.
To see information from the event and learn about effective instruction at early grades, click here; to view videos showcasing Direct Instruction, click here; to see video clips of Dr. Stone's presentation, click here; or to view video clips of Mr. Fielding's presentation, click here.
Effective Schools, Common Practices
 The ECF sent a researcher to interview principals of six of the most effective schools in Tennessee; read the Foundation's new report to learn about the 12 practices that all of these six schools have in common.
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