SREB and Tennessee
SREB and Tennessee
An overview of SREB programs and services and how Tennessee participates in them.
Appropriations from member states support core SREB services. SREB leverages the longstanding commitment of member states to attract external funding for additional programs and services that benefit member states. States may also choose to join targeted networks for additional fees.
Policy
Goals for Education | Monitoring State Policies
Monitoring and reporting to assist education leaders and policymakers as they shape public policy. SREB tracks trends and analyzes the progress of all 16 SREB states in each area in the Challenge to Lead 2020 Goals for Education and provides Legislative Reports that detail legislative and budget actions in each state.
SREB’s Insights data tool allows leaders to explore actions across states, delve into a topic for a deeper understanding or select a detailed state report.
College and Career Readiness
Intensive work to help states implement essential components of SREB’s recommendations for statewide college and career readiness. These include assessing high school juniors to determine their progress toward the state’s readiness standards — and requiring those who are underprepared to take transitional courses in 12th grade.
Benchmarking Implementation of College- and Career-Readiness Standards
Tracks and reports progress on implementation of college- and career-readiness standards and related reforms across states. Based on this research, SREB staff support these states through reports, meetings and technical assistance.
In September 2017, SREB staff presented information on state efforts to redesign state accountability systems under the Every Student Succeeds Act at SREB’s annual Meeting of Legislative and Governors’ Staff. Three stakeholders from Tennessee attended.
SREB.org/Benchmarking >
Readiness in New State Accountability Systems
SREB’s benchmarking team distilled key elements of SREB states’ accountability systems under the Every Student Succeeds Act into interactive profiles at Insights.SREB.org.
PUBLICATIONS
In January 2018, SREB published a set of reports on the redesign of state accountability systems. Profiles on each state describe how the state established expectations for increasing college and career readiness and also include the state’s long-term goals, school performance indicator, framework for differentiating school performance, and system of identification and support for struggling schools. An introduction to trends across states offers recommendations for making the new systems effective tools for continuous improvement.
Tennessee’s profile notes the state’s effort to raise expectations for college and career readiness through its long-term goals and school performance indicators.
Meetings
SREB staff presented information on state efforts to redesign state accountability systems at SREB’s Annual Meeting in June 2017 and at the Legislative Advisory Council meeting in November 2017. Eight participants from Tennessee attended.
Technical Assistance
Between April 2017 and January 2018, SREB hosted monthly conference call meetings of a state accountability network, for SREB member states to share ideas and discuss questions about redesigning and implementing state accountability systems under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Two state education agency leaders from Tennessee participated.
Career and Technical Education
State Leaders Forum
Tennessee attendees at SREB’s State Leaders Forum on policies for high-quality career and technical education in November 2017: 5
Educator Effectiveness
Advises state and district leaders as they develop strategies to support the professional growth of teachers and principals. SREB serves as a technical advisor to state education agencies, spotlights inspiring stories of local practice and convenes stakeholders at regional meetings.
Technical Assistance
In the last 12 months, SREB’s educator effectiveness team provided general policy and practice resources.
convenings
The state department sent representatives to SREB’s Sixth Annual Educator Effectiveness Convening in April 2018. They participated in collaborative working sessions with peers from 12 SREB states.
SREB staff presented on innovative ways to expand student access to high-quality instruction to state lawmakers who attended SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council Winter Meeting in November 2017.
SREB staff presented on teacher shortages at the SREB Meeting of Legislative and Governors’ Staff in September 2017.
reports and data
SREB produced the following resources for Tennessee leaders during the last 12 months:
School Is My Happy Place, May 2018, which showcases the innovative strategies used to develop a positive school culture at an elementary school in central Florida.
Mentoring New Teachers: A Fresh Look, January 2018, which proposes three action areas for states, districts and schools to support the development of novice educators and their mentors.
Evaluator Training: A Guide for States, September 2017, which spotlights seven components associated with effective training for observers of teachers.
Feedback on Teaching: A Fresh Look, July 2017, which features strategies for district and school leaders to establish and sustain better feedback practices.
Information Request Series, shares SREB responses to stakeholder questions on topics including educator evaluation, teacher certification, and principal recruitment and retention issues.
Educator Effectiveness Bill Tracker interactive tool, updated weekly to allow constituents to track legislative bills across eight areas, including teacher preparation, evaluation and professional learning.
A bi-weekly educator effectiveness e-newsletter
Teacher Preparation
SREB’s Teacher Preparation Commission met during 2016, 2017 and 2018 and will publish its final recommendations to improve teacher preparation programs in late 2018.
The Commission published its first report, More than the Numbers: Teacher Preparation Data Systems State Policy and Recommendations, in September 2017. Tennessee’s Teacher Preparation Report Card is featured in the report.
Postsecondary Education
Affordability
SREB’s Commission on College Affordability in the South recommended policies and practices to keep college costs within reach of all students. In addition to the Commission’s report, policymakers can draw on updated regional and individual state affordability profiles to understand how costs impact families at different income levels.
SREB convened state higher education agency academic officers in October 2017 to discuss factors that impact college affordability. Attendees learned from each other about new policies for tuition, fees, financial aid, transfer, textbook costs, online courses, collaboration with K-12, readiness, and serving returning adults. A representative from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission participated.
State Services
Connects policymakers with custom information, presentations and assistance on education issues as they arise. Leaders in member states are encouraged to contact SREB for data, analysis and advice.
SREB staff visited Tennessee to meet with legislators and staff, and attend committee meetings in 2018.
Throughout 2017-18, legislators, legislative staff and governor’s staff from Tennessee requested assistance on topics including evaluations of reading programs.
Meetings
Tennessee staff were among those from 10 SREB states at the 2017 meeting of legislative and governors’ staff to discuss topics that will likely be on agendas during the upcoming legislative sessions.
Tennessee legislators were among those in attendance at the 2017 meetings of SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council and Legislative Work Conference.
Curriculum and School Improvement
Readiness Courses:
Math Ready and Literacy Ready
Courses specifically designed to help underprepared students succeed in the next phase of their education.
Ready for college
Courses to teach young adults the reading, writing and math skills they must have to succeed in college. They are taught in an engaging way that leads students to learn and think independently, read for information and solve problems.
Tennessee uses transitional courses, including an option for the SREB Readiness Courses.
Ready for high school
New courses for the transition from middle grades to high school. Underprepared students take the classes in eighth or ninth grade.
Tennessee is one of 10 states that have participated in developing, field testing, training or piloting Ready for High School Literacy or Ready for High School Math.
High Schools That Work
The nation’s largest school improvement program. HSTW strategies transform high schools into places where all students master complex academic and technical concepts. More than 1,150 schools in 30 states use the framework, its six design features and nine key practices, to raise student achievement and graduation rates.
HSTW State Network
Member states select schools to receive services. The fee for state membership in the consortium covers several services and visits.
Tennessee is a member of the High Schools That Work state network. Thirty-four schools were active in 2017-18. SREB is delivering 75 days of on-site coaching, including leading Shelby County Schools through a strategic planning process and 44 days of on-site staff development.
HSTW Board Member: Casey Haugner-Wrenn, Assistant Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education
HSTW State Coordinator: Grace Palmer, Career Technical Education Specialist, Tennessee Department of Education
Contracts for Direct Support
Schools, districts and states contract with SREB for targeted school improvement services such as on-site coaching, technical assistance and professional development.
SREB has direct support contracts with Shelby County Schools and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.
Making Middle Grades Work
Engages state, district and school leaders in partnerships with teachers, students, parents and the community to raise student achievement in the middle grades. In addition to workshops and school visits, SREB links schools to the professional development resources they need. The network includes over 650 schools in 20 states.
Tennessee is a member of the Making Middle Grades Work network, with four active schools in 2017-18. SREB delivered 22 days of on-site coaching and 16 days of on-site staff development to the schools.
Professional Development
For Teachers, Principals and Counselors
College- and Career-Readiness Standards Networking Conference
Conference to share effective instructional strategies of the Literacy and Mathematics Design Collaborative frameworks.
Tennessee attendees at the July 2017 conference: 11
SREB.org/NetworkingConference >
High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference
Annual conference for thousands of school leaders, teachers and counselors from middle grades, high schools and technology centers across the country.
Tennessee attendees at the July 2017 conference: 109
Learning-Centered Leadership Program
Works with district, state and university partners to prepare aspiring principals and school leadership teams to lead school reform to ensure that students are ready for college and careers. This program offers training, guidance and technical assistance.
Tennessee attendees at the 2018 Annual Leadership Forum: 1 SREB.org/LCLP >
Project-Based Learning in Career Pathway Courses
Training model for teachers in high-skill career and technical education programs, and career pathway academic courses. Academic and career and technical education teachers improve assignments and assessments by working with business and industry partners to develop projects that require students to apply college- and career-readiness and technical-academic standards.
Number of Tennessee teachers and administrators in training or coaching in 2017-18: 16
Number of participating schools in Tennessee during 2017-18: 30
Teaching to Lead
Helps states redesign programs that prepare business professionals to become career and technical education teachers through an alternative certification route. New CTE teachers gain knowledge and skills to manage a classroom of diverse students; plan challenging, work-related assignments; motivate students to complete assignments; and assess student progress.
In Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, district career and technical education coordinators lead the professional development. MNPS participation:
- 9 teachers during the 2014-15 school year
- 20 teachers during the 2015-16 school year
- 11 new teachers during the 2016-17 school year
- 18 new teachers during the 2017-18 school year
“Seeing teachers start the training apprehensive and then finish with confidence and skills is very rewarding.” — a Teaching to Lead instructor
Postsecondary Education
Academic Common Market
A tuition-savings program for college students in SREB member states who want to pursue degrees not offered by in-state institutions. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions that offer their degree program and pay the in-state tuition rates.
During calendar year 2017, 2,130 degree programs were available, 152 institutions participated and 3,355 new students were certified for study.
In 2017,132 Tennessee students participated in the Academic Common Market, saving, on average, $13,609 each and a collective total of $1,905,230 in tuition
ACM State Representative: Victorica Harpool, Assistant Executive Director for Academic Affairs,Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Regional Contract Program
Gives students the opportunity to earn a professional health degree from participating institutions in other states through in-state tuition rates at public institutions, or reduced tuition at private institutions. More than 600 students participate each year.
Number of out-of-state students who enrolled in Tennessee programs in 2017-18: 202
Residents of other states may contract for entry into Meharry Medical College and University of Tennessee Health Science Center in College of Dentistry, and Southern College of Optometry. These Tennessee institutions received approximately $4 million from other SREB states.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
A nationwide system to open more high-quality distance education offerings for students and ease the regulatory burden on institutions. SREB member states may opt in to offer distance education activities in other SARA states.
Tennessee is an approved member of SARA.
Tennessee SARA representative: Julie Woodruff, Director of Postsecondary School Authorization and Lead Attorney for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
Fact Book and Data Exchange
Publishes one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of comparative data through a cooperative effort of state postsecondary education agencies. Data are updated annually on topics including population demographics, college completion, tuition and fees, cost of attendance, state appropriations and faculty salaries.
Tennessee leaders receive the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education, as well as Tennessee: Featured Facts From the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education and the annual SREB-State Data Exchange tables.
Tennessee’s Participating agency and SREB-State Data Exchange Coordinator: Crystal Collins, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing
Helps expand and strengthen schools of nursing to reduce the critical shortage of nurse educators needed to educate the nation’s registered nurses. The Council surveys institutions for nursing education trends and shares online graduate nursing courses.
As of April 2018, six Tennessee institutions are members, listed here with their representatives to the Council:
East Tennessee State University: Wendy Nehring, Dean
Middle Tennessee State University: Jenny Sauls, Director
Southern Adventist University: Barbara James, Dean
University of Memphis: Lin Zahn, Dean
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis: Wendy Likes, Dean
Walters State Community College: Cheryl McCall, Director
Doctoral Scholars Program
Supports minority students to help them earn Ph.D.s, begin careers at colleges and universities, and diversify campus faculties. The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program hosts the annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, the nation’s largest gathering of minority doctoral scholars, with more than 1,200 attendees.
Scholars funded by Tennessee in 2017-18: 19
2017 Institute attendees from Tennessee: 22
Scholars Tennessee has supported since joining in 1993: 111
Graduates since 1993: 82
Graduates currently employed: 67
Percent employed in education: 90
Tennessee-supported Ph.D. students have attended these institutions since 1993:
East Tennessee State University
Georgia State University
Meharry Medical College
Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Vanderbilt University
Interstate Cooperatives
Go Alliance
An interstate cooperative to increase high school graduation rates, access to education beyond high school and postsecondary degree completion — particularly for those who would be the first in their families to enroll. Go Alliance research, services and professional development focus on college access policy and communications strategies to motivate students to plan for and apply to college.
Tennessee is a Go Alliance member state.
Go Alliance Representative: Troy Grant, Associate Executive Director for College Access and Success, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Educational Technology Cooperative
Membership group of state K-12 and higher education coordinating and governing boards that represent more than 800 colleges and universities and 3,100 school districts in SREB states. The ETC focuses member agencies and state policymakers on using technology wisely, helps states understand technology issues and forms an action agenda for effectively using technology in education.
Tennessee representatives attended the spring and summer webinars. Tennessee ETC representatives helped determine SREB’s 10 Critical Issues in Educational Technology and served on working groups for revisions.
Tennessee sent a representative to the 2017 ETC Annual Meeting on teaching and technology. Robbie Melton, executive educational technologist at Tennessee State University, conducted a session on the internet of things, smart connected devices and edugadgets.
Tennessee ETC Representative and Member Agency: Greg Sedrick, Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Tennessee eCampus, Tennessee Board of Regents
Technology Purchasing Savings
Schools, universities and agencies in SREB states saved $3.3 million on over $33 million in technology purchases during fiscal year 2017 — double the FY2016 savings — through SREB’s participation in MHECtech discount agreements. Organizations in each of the 16 SREB states participated.
Tennessee saved $684,734 on $6,923,417 in technology purchases in fiscal year 2017.