By Bob Eby Public education is the most important institution to our nation’s success and survival. This one shared endeavor binds our communities together and gives us commonality in purpose, no matter where we come from or what our backgrounds may be. In order for public education to thrive, the focus must always be on each student’s opportunity to succeed. After all, that is why public education exists — to provide every student the greatest likelihood for success and to take advantage of the blessings of liberty. The State Board of Education's purpose is to provide strong policies that ensure our students are challenged and strengthened. We accomplish this through developing excellent educator preparation programs, setting high academic standards, and postsecondary readiness.

The Tennessee State Board of Education will hold its third quarterly meeting of 2018 at the Cordell Hull Building on Thursday, July 26 and Friday, July 27, 2018. The newest member of the State Board of Education, Mr. Nick Darnell of the First Congressional District, will join other members of the Board of the first time. Chairman Fielding Rolston, the former board member from District 1, retired from the State Board of Education in April.

State Board of Education Executive Director Dr. Sara Morrison has invited Mr. Bob Eby, representing the third congressional district, to join the Board’s Teacher Preparation Report Card Advisory Council. “Bob brings valuable perspective and experience from his time on the Oak Ridge Board,” Dr. Morrison said. “Since joining the State Board in April, he has jumped right into the work, making meaningful contributions to state-level policy decisions. We are pleased to have him on the Teacher Preparation Report Card advisory council because he understands the impact this work has at the local district level.”

On Thursday, the Tennessee State Board of Education released the 2017 Teacher Preparation Report Card, a tool that Tennesseans can use to learn more about the effectiveness of teachers who graduate from all approved Tennessee educator preparation programs. The Report Card uses multiple metrics, including a profile of recent graduates, their placement and retention in Tennessee public school classrooms and their observation and growth scores, to provide information about the quality of teacher preparation across the state.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The State Board of Education will hold a media call on February 13, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. CT to present an advance look at the 2017 results, as well as new highlights and features to look for in the second year of the Tennessee Teacher Preparation Report Card. The report will remain embargoed until February 15, 2018.

Longtime chairman of the State Board of Education, Mr. Fielding Rolston, retired from the Board on Friday during the first quarterly meeting of 2018. Fellow members of the Board elected Ms. Lillian Hartgrove as the new chair and Mr. Gordon Ferguson as the new vice chair.

On Friday, the State Board of Education launched an English Language Arts (ELA) standards implementation feedback survey at https://www.tn.gov/sbe/topic/standards-review to gather public comments on Tennessee’s recently implemented K-12 ELA standards. All Tennesseans are invited to review the standards, and the survey will remain open through January 31, 2018. The State Board is charged in state law with adopting academic standards for Tennessee students and with reviewing those standards regularly.

Today, the State Board of Education voted unanimously on final reading to approve new, Tennessee-specific academic standards for social studies. The new Tennessee Academic Standards for Social Studies will be implemented in classrooms in the 2019-20 school year. This multi-year, comprehensive review involved teams of Tennessee educators, subject matter experts, higher education faculty, state history and geography organizations, and multiple public comment opportunities, ensuring that all Tennesseans had a voice throughout the process.