The Tennessee Department of Education released their TNReady results this morning.

Under Tennessee’s accountability system, districts must increase achievement levels for all students and show faster growth in achievement for the students who are furthest behind in order to narrow achievement gaps.

In 2018, there were several metrics that were included in district accountability for the first time, including English learner proficiency assessment data, chronic absenteeism, Ready Graduate data, science data, and the requirement of a 95% ACT or SAT participation rate, since taking either exam is required by state law to graduate from a Tennessee high school. Districts received a rating for both all students and for student groups, including students with disabilities, English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and black, Hispanic, and Native American students. Districts designated as exemplary are generally exceeding expectations on average for both all students and each historically underserved student group.

Districts in the listening area designated as Exemplary

Clinton

Alcoa

Maryville

Loudon County

Athens

Districts in the listening area designated as Advancing:

Anderson County

Oak Ridge

Bledsoe County

Blount County

Bradley County

Cleveland

Cumberland County

Fentress County

Lenoir City

McMinn County

Meigs County

Monroe County

Overton County

Pickett County

Rhea County

Roane County

Alvin C York Institute

Districts in the listening area designated as Satisfactory:

Morgan County

Putnam County

White County

Six districts saw math scores increase for students in grades 3-8, including Anderson County, Oak Ridge, Roane County, and Scott County

In accordance with Tennessee’s accountability system, as well as federal and state law, the Tennessee Department of Education names schools that are excelling as well as those who need additional support.

2018 was the first year the department has implemented its new school accountability system. The new framework is based on multiple indicators, similar to district accountability, and it is built on the principles that poverty is not destiny and the success of each student matters. Given that, in the new model, all schools are able to achieve Reward status, and there is no cap on the number of Reward schools. Reward schools are generally those that are improving in terms of achievement and growth for both all students and student groups.

Reward Schools

Reward schools are generally those that are improving in terms of achievement and growth for both all students and student groups.  These schools are identified annually.

There are some exceptions:

Schools cannot be Reward if any student group performs in the bottom five percent in the state for any given student group.

A school cannot be Reward is also designated Priority or in need of Comprehensive Support and Improvement.

The following schools in the immediate listening area are Reward Schools:

Bledsoe County – Mary Wheeler Elementary School

Cumberland County – Homestead, South, Martin and Stone Elementary School

Fentress County – Clarkrange High School

Overton County – Rickman Elementary School

Rhea County – Frazier Elementary School

Roane County – Bowers, Kingston, Midtown and Midway Elementary; Oliver Springs High School

Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools

Tennessee was required by federal law to include 2017-18 data in determining Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools, which is a new federal designation for schools in need of improvement.  2019 CSI school include all 2018 Priority schools and 2018 CSI schools.  Additionally, CSI schools include all schools in the Achievement School District, regardless of performance.  Many Achievement School District schools otherwise do not fall into the bottom five percent.  Furthermore, these schools remain eligible for additional funding and will be supported by the department, similar to Priority schools.

The following schools in the immediate listening area are Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools:

Cumberland County – The Phoenix School

Targeted Support and Improvement Schools

Tennessee is required by federal law to identify Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools. TSI schools are those that fall in the bottom five percent for their weighted overall accountability score for any given student subgroup (i.e. Black/Hispanic/Native American, Economically Disadvantaged, English Learners, or Students with Disabilities) or any given racial or ethnic group (i.e., Hispanic/Latino, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian, and White). These schools will be supported by the department and are eligible for additional funding. Additionally, TSI school identification will occur annually.

The following schools in the immediate listening area are Targeted Support and Improvement Schools:

Morgan County – Central Middle School and Petros Joyner Elementary School