Learning Materials: Through TNCore.org, the Tennessee
Department of Education worked to support teachers by
providing instructional resources aligned to Tennessee’s
State Standards. Through this website, Tennessee teachers can access sample unit plans and assessment items
that they can use or adapt for use in their own classrooms.63
While these resources provide teachers with a foundational set of learning materials to use in their classrooms, many
teachers and principals note a need for guidance on the selection of additional instructional materials that are aligned to Tennessee’s State Standards, such as textbooks and curricula.64
In 2014, the Tennessee Department of Education partnered with
the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh and the Institute for Learning at the University of
Pittsburgh through a $2.5 million grant focused on professional learning opportunities for grades 3-8 math teachers. During the three-year
grant, researchers will look to build on the training model the Tennessee
Department of Education implemented with Tennessee’s State Standards
to create high-quality, ongoing professional learning opportunities for
teachers throughout the year.65
Shifts in Instruction and Learning: Since implementing Tennessee’s State Standards, many teachers and principals have witnessed significant shifts in instruction and student learning in classrooms around the state. During SCORE’s
Listening Tour, many teachers and principals noted an increase in students’ use
of evidence to justify their thinking and a greater depth of knowledge for students
across content areas. Some teachers noted their instruction has improved as a result of implementing Tennessee’s State Standards, including setting higher expectations for student thinking in their classrooms through improved questioning and
more engaging instruction. Finally, many teachers and principals discussed a general
shift toward student-centered instruction in classrooms, with teachers more often serving as a facilitator of learning rather than a director of learning.66
Public Review of Tennessee’s State Standards: In October 2014, Governor Haslam announced a public review process for Tennessee’s State Standards for English Language Arts and Math. Academic standards in Tennessee are typically reviewed every
six years. As a result of current discussion on the standards, Governor Haslam
expressed his desire to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders, particularly
teachers, to share feedback on the standards after four years of implementation.
Governor Haslam emphasized that the goal of this process is to maintain high
standards for Tennessee students stating, “This discussion is about making
sure we have the best possible standards as we continue to push ahead on
the historic progress we’re making in academic achievement.”67 This process is taking place in two phases. In early November 2014, a website was
launched where all Tennesseans can go online to review each state standard and provide feedback on positive aspects of the standard or opportunities for improvement to the standard.68
During phase two of this process, the Southern Regional Education
Board (SREB) will collect and compile data from the public review
process in the spring of 2015. This data will be shared with committees of Tennessee educators who will review and analyze this
information, making recommendations for possible changes
to the standards to the State Board of Education. Governor
Haslam requested that the State Board of Education appoint
two committees, an English Language Arts Standards Review & Development Committee and a Math Standards Review & Development Committee, as well as three advisory
teams for each of the committees. The committees consist of six K-12 educators and two representatives from
Tennessee higher education institutions.69
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