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As students, we can feel so far removed from the rooms where decisions are made for our education. If our experiences in the education system and the time we spend in school shape so much of who we are, why shouldn’t we have a voice at the table? Letting a student be an independent, critical thinker in our state's educational field is just the start of how Tennessee can make all students become successful members of society. That is why being a student member of the Tennessee State Board of Education is so valuable. This role may seem like you are speaking for every student in Tennessee, but really you are bringing a student's experience to the forefront and letting your opinion be an example of how students might react. My responsibility as a board member is to shed light on how policies and rules can affect the student body overall. In this position, you are given a vote on any regulation that is proposed to the board without restriction. Since your vote holds the same weight as the other members of the board, you have to make sure you have done your research and know what your vote means. This role has helped me understand just a small piece of how our government works, and I am grateful to know that decisions are carefully thought out. You get to engage with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and faculty from schools across the state and learn more about their experiences with the educational system. You are working alongside some of the most influential adults in the educational field for the State of Tennessee. Not only have you become one of their peers, but you also have to be able to step into professional settings as a student, all while still being a student yourself and planning out your next steps. Now, I know that sounds very overwhelming, and it is, trust me, but the State Board has one of the best staffs to help you along your journey. They break down the meeting procedures and explain the systems that the Board has in place, and it is no understatement to say that they are with you every step of the way. The staff understands the juggling and the time management that the student member faces. As a senior at Cookeville High School, I have many activities I couldn’t miss. The State Board staff is the biggest tool and resource for the student member. Without them, this opportunity would be exponentially harder. Unsurprisingly, they are some of the most kindhearted people I have ever met, and they quickly became my friends. The staff and the other board members understand the value of having a student member be a part of their board and do not take the opportunity lightly. Everyone I have met during my year of being a student member has been a helping hand, enlightened me on a new area of education, and lifted me up to be able to have a seat at the table. I can say, without a doubt, that this experience has been one that will stay with me forever. I have a new insight and appreciation for Tennessee’s educational system and everyone who is a part of it. My mom is a middle school librarian, and I've had lots of family members and friends be educators, so I’m no stranger to the school system. However, seeing how policy and rule-making trickle down to our schools in real time is eye-opening. I think student negativity towards educational decision making can be misinterpreted a lot of the time. Students are quick to blame the teachers and administrators right in front of them when they are not always the true source of the rulemaking. Students need to be more educated on their own educational system. Educators already have a full plate and don’t deserve hate where it shouldn’t be given. Our educators help develop our voices and opinions, but it can sometimes feel as though we cannot fully utilize them until we become adults. This is the chance to not let that be the case. Students, no matter what walk of life, deserve the chance to be heard. I am happy to see recent legislation to make sure student representation is present on each local board of education. This is just the start of ways to have students actively involved in their own educational journeys. This opportunity to serve as a student member was life-changing for me, and I know it will be for students to come. I encourage all students to engage with their local school boards to see how they can be nominated for the State Board of Education student member seat. You can be the voice that helps students feel seen. You can be the voice for change.

Today, the Tennessee State Board of Education launched its second round survey to collect public feedback on the state’s newly revised K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) academic standards, requesting public feedback through March 31, 2025. The State Board of Education is charged in state law to review and approve ELA, social studies, science, and math standards at least every eight years. The K-12 ELA academic standards set grade-specific goals that establish what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of a given grade or course. Tennessee’s ELA Academic Standards are skill-based, including drafting arguments supported by evidence, and vertically aligned from kindergarten through 12th grade to ensure students are postsecondary and career-ready regardless of pathway or profession. During the two public review periods, the State Board invites Tennesseans to share their feedback on the state’s K-12 ELA academic standards through an online survey. Members of the public can review the recommended changes to all sections of Tennessee’s ELA Academic Standards. The survey includes options to indicate whether a standard should be kept, changed, removed, or moved to a different grade level, as well as space to indicate if a new standard should be added. The first round of public feedback collected almost 25,000 comments from teachers, education leaders, and parents. At the conclusion of the first survey window, teams of Tennessee educators from K-12 schools and higher education reviewed the public comments, which informed their proposed revisions. These revisions are now available for public review in the second survey window. Following the second survey, the Standards Recommendation Committee (SRC) — a public body appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the House of Representatives — will review the proposed revisions alongside public comments to finalize standards revisions to recommend to the State Board of Education for final adoption. These steps combine public input and expert vetting in a transparent and inclusive way. Adopting the revised standards kicks off a preparation process that includes educator training, aligned textbooks and instructional materials review and adoption, and aligning state assessments to the revised standards. After these processes are complete, the revised ELA academic standards will be implemented in Tennessee classrooms during the 2029-30 school year. An overview of the academic standards review process is available on the State Board of Education website. Any questions on the academic standards review process should be sent to tnstandards.review@tn.gov.

During its February 21st quarterly meeting, the State Board of Education released outcomes for the 2024 charter school authorizer evaluations. The 2024 evaluations assessed the authorizing practices of the Achievement School District, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. “Charter authorizer evaluations are designed to provide valuable feedback and hold authorizers accountable to our state’s quality authorizing standards.” said Dr. Sara Morrison, Executive Director of the State Board of Education. “The priority with this robust evaluation is to reflect on achievements and progress made towards creating experiences for student success.” Under statutory requirement, these bi-annual evaluations are designed to ensure the effective operation of all authorizers and assess authorizer quality in Tennessee. Tennessee’s charter authorizer evaluation cycle is conducted over a two-year period. Each charter school authorizer evaluation begins with the formation of an evaluation team and an examination of the authorizer’s documentation to determine performance based on state standards. After the evaluation, authorizers receive a final report detailing specific feedback, scores on the rubric’s standards, an overall rating, and follow-up actions. Authorizers can earn an overall rating on a scale from zero to four, with score ranges indicating unsatisfactory/incomplete, approaching satisfactory, satisfactory, commendable, and exemplary designations. 2024 Evaluation Outcomes: Achievement School District – “Satisfactory” with a score of 2.19 out of 4 Metro Nashville Public Schools – “Satisfactory” with a score of 2.9 out of 4 Tennessee Public Charter School Commission – “Exemplary” with a score of 3.76 out of 4 Additional information, including the full charter authorizer evaluation reports, can be found on the State Board of Education’s website.

Today, the State Board of Education released its annual Educator Preparation Report Card, a tool that evaluates educator preparation providers (EPPs) in Tennessee. Established in state law, the Educator Preparation Report Card is an annual report designed to track metrics across Tennessee’s public, private, and alternative Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs). By assessing EPPs’ performance in teacher effectiveness, employment outcomes, and pass rates on licensure examinations, the State Board’s Report Card aims to ensure every Tennessee student is taught by a well-prepared educator. “As Tennessee continues to address workforce needs, tools such as the Educator Preparation Record Card include data that is vital to the future of our education system," said Dr. Sara Morrison, Executive Director of the State Board of Education. “We want to make sure that individuals interested in the teaching profession have the ability to find the right program that fits their needs.” Key Outcomes Ten EPPs earned the highest possible overall rating on the Report Card, “Exceeds Expectations.” Over 30 percent of teacher candidates earned endorsements in high-demand areas such as special education, English as a second language (ESL), secondary science, and secondary math. The three-year retention rate for new teachers increased from 78.8% to 82.6%. One-fourth of newly trained teachers in tested subjects exceeded expectations in student growth, an impressive achievement for early-career teachers. 2,876 teachers completed a Tennessee educator preparation program or enrolled in a job-embedded program during the 2022-23 school year, compared to 2,796 in 2021-22. This is the first time the number of teacher candidates has increased since 2018-19. -more- Certain metrics in the Report Card, such as performance on licensure examinations and measures of teachers’ effectiveness in the classroom, are mandated in state law. Other metrics, such as the percentage of candidates earning endorsements in high-demand fields, are included on the Report Card as key priorities highlighted by the State Board. “We are excited to see an increase in teacher retention as well as continued growth in high-demand subject areas,” said Erika Leicht, director of research for the State Board of Education and the Educator Preparation Report Card project manager. To view the Educator Preparation Report Card, visit https://www.tn.gov/sbe/ed-prep.html. Additional information and archives of previous editions of the Report Card are available on the State Board of Education website at http://www.tn.gov/sbe.

Eligibility According to TCA 49-1-301 (a) (6), all public school students in Tennessee who are a junior or senior and in superlative standing, are eligible for the student member role. He/she shall serve one-year term unless the student member was first appointed during his/her junior year of high school and is re-appointed by the Governor for a second one-year term during the student’s senior year of high school. Nomination Process Though the Governor’s office makes the final selection, local school districts play a significant role. TCA 49-1-301 (a) (6) specifies that local school boards may nominate no more than one outstanding Tennessee rising junior or senior student each year from their district. The local board can nominate by resolution and send the resolution to the Governor’s office along with the relevant contact information of the nominee. Once a school district submits a nomination, the Governor’s office conducts several rounds of extensive interviews before a selection is made and the new student member is appointed. Nominations are due by May 1, 2025, to the office of the Governor. Local school boards may send nominations by email to gov.boards@tn.gov, or by mail to the office of the Governor, State Capitol, 1st Floor 600 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd. Nashville, TN 37243 The Tennessee State Board of Education Rule 1.200 Board Members outlines more details and requirements for student member representation. Have questions? Contact Nathan James by email at Nathan.James@tn.gov or phone at 615.934.7076.

Today, the State Board of Education announced the members of the Standards Development Committee (SDC), who will review proposed English Language Arts (ELA) standards, developed by the ELA Educator Advisory Team (EAT), for consistency across grade bands (i.e., K-5, 6-8, & 9-12) and continue to refine and edit Tennessee’s current ELA standards. The SDC is a subset of EAT members, comprising the chair and vice-chair from each grade band and two higher education professionals. The SDC members are as follows: Meredith McMackins, Dyer County Schools Karen Sewell, Freed-Hardeman University Nicolle Moore, Greeneville City Schools Leigh Ann Potter, Hamilton County Schools Rachel Peay Cornett, Lipscomb University Tammy Marlow, Macon County Schools Courtney Gray, Monroe County Schools Leticia Skae-Jackson, Williamson County Schools The SDC in-person working sessions will be held December 4-6th, 2024, at the State Board of Education office at 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Working sessions are open to the public to observe. Please notify Catherine Johnson, catherine.ann.johnson@tn.gov if you plan to attend. The State Board of Education is charged under Tennessee Statute (T.C.A. § 49-1-311-313) and State Board Policy (Standards Review Policy 3.209) to review and approve the English Language Arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies standards at least every eight years. Each standards review process follows the same almost two-year rigorous, legislatively mandated process to promote collaboration and transparency. This process entails significant public feedback and coordination across educators, state government, and appointed representatives.

The State Board of Education is pleased to release our 2024 annual Master Plan Report which focuses on state-wide outcomes and the State Board’s efforts to ensure our rules, policies, and systems are working together to support student success. The 2024 Report outlines the State Board’s key focus areas, the steps we have taken over the last year to strengthen rules, policies, and systems, and Tennessee’s state-wide outcomes to date. “We share this information with the understanding that we must be transparent about our outcomes, measure our progress, and construct innovative solutions together,” said State Board Chairman Bob Eby and Executive Director, Dr. Sara Morrison The State Board is charged by state law, T.C.A. § 49-1-302 with developing and maintaining a master plan for public education, kindergarten through grade twelve, and providing recommendations to the executive branch, the general assembly and the local boards of education and directors of schools regarding the use of public funds for education. The State Board’s master plan provides a lens through which all Tennesseans can examine state-level efforts and determine if rules and policies are positioning school districts to effectively prepare Tennessee students for workforce, post-secondary success, and productive citizenship. The State Board regularly evaluates progress and updates its master plan to inform recommendations regarding the use of public funds for education every three years. The master plan can be viewed on the State Board website here.

Today, the State Board of Education announced the selection of its 21-member Educator Advisory Team (EAT) to review Tennessee’s current English Language Arts standards. The members were selected from 297 applications, the highest number the State Board office has received, and will utilize comments based on our public feedback survey and their personal experience as distinguished educators. The EAT members are as follows: • Tiana Hubbard, Cleveland City Schools • Meredith McMackins, Dyer County Schools • Karen Sewell, Freed-Hardeman University • Nicolle Moore, Greeneville City Schools • Leigh Ann Potter, Hamilton County Schools • Riley Brewer, Knox County Schools • Amanda Boyd, Lenoir City Schools • Rachel Peay Cornett, Lipscomb University • Tammy Marlow, Macon County Schools • Benita Villines, Marshall County Schools • Nathan Harmon, Meigs County Schools • Josef Woody, Memphis Shelby County Schools • Samantha Singer, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools • Jeni Moore, Milan Area Schools • Brytany Stewart, Milan Area Schools • Courtney Gray, Monroe County Schools • Diana Cook, Putnam County Schools • Mandy Smith, Rutherford County Schools • Luke Anderson, Tennessee Tech University • Trent Smith, University Schools • Leticia Skae-Jackson, Williamson County Schools The EAT is separated into committees based on grade bands (i.e., K-5, 6-8, & 9-12) with six current Tennessee K-12 educators and one higher education professional per committee. Each committee is led by a chair and vice-chair who facilitate revision discussions, track all edits, and ultimately serve on the Standards Development Committee in December 2024. The EAT in-person working sessions will be held November 4-8th, 2024 at the State Board of Education office at 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Working sessions are open to the public to view. Please notify Catherine Johnson, catherine.ann.johnson@tn.gov if you plan to attend the working session in-person. The State Board of Education is charged under Tennessee statute (T.C.A. § 49-1-311-313) and State Board Policy (Standards Review Policy 3.209) to review and approve the English Language Arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies standards at least every eight years. Each standards review process follows the same almost two-year rigorous, legislatively mandated process to promote collaboration and transparency. This process entails significant public feedback and coordination across educators, state government, and appointed representatives.