According to SCORE ’ s findings , although educators receive information about TVAAS , most do not find that information easy to understand . SCORE encouraged TDOE and state partners to deliver clear , accessible , and differentiated information on TVAAS to meet educators at their level of understanding .
FIGURE 26 . EDUCATOR RESPONSE TO TVAAS INFORMATION
Findings from the research included the need for clearer resources for teacher and principal preparation programs to better prepare educators in the field to use student-growth data to inform practice . As a result of this work , TDOE and other state partners are working to improve resources and educator supports to improve instruction .
“ Agree ” or “ Strongly Agree ”
100 %
80 %
60 %
40 %
20 %
0 %
I ’ ve received information communicating the purpose of TVAAS
I have received in-person training on how TVAAS calculates student growth .
I find communication around TVAAS easy to understand
FIGURE 27 . EDUCATOR RESPONSE TO TVAAS TRAINING AND TVAAS USE
“ Agree ” or “ Strongly Agree ”
100 %
80 %
60 %
40 %
20 %
0 %
75 %
33 %
86 %
10 %
48 %
I understand how TVAAS can be used to inform instructional decisions .
Teachers
School Leaders
Source : SCORE Survey of Educators , 2016
The report also identified supports that help educators use student growth data to inform their teaching craft as a key area of opportunity . SCORE called for TDOE to provide improved resources and training to districts and school leaders so they can guide productive conversations with educators about student growth data .
50 %
18 %
75 %
Teachers
School Leaders
Source : SCORE Survey of Educators , 2016
TEACHER PREPARATION . Each year , thousands of new teachers step into classrooms across Tennessee and begin teaching students . The way Tennessee prepares teachers for working with all students has important consequences for how these students perform in the classroom . 19 Research has shown that students of color and low-income students are more likely to be served by an early-career teacher . Teachers , especially those in their first years of teaching , need adequate preparation to work with diverse groups of students . 20 For these reasons and others , efforts to improve teacher preparation received broad attention in Tennessee during 2016 .
To get an initial license to teach in Tennessee , a candidate must hold a bachelor ’ s degree , demonstrate content knowledge for the subject area he or she would teach , demonstrate the pedagogical knowledge to deliver content in an effective way , and be recommended by his or her preparation program . In 2016 , the State Board of Education established an Educator Preparation and Licensure Subcommittee to focus on teacher preparation policy and make periodic reports to the full board for consideration . In 2016 , the state board raised the cut scores for Praxis licensure examinations in 10 subject areas and required all teacher candidates to demonstrate pedagogical knowledge through edTPA , a portfoliobased performance assessment already used by eight educator preparation programs ( EPPs ) in Tennessee . All teacher candidates will be required to pass edTPA to earn a license beginning in January 2019 .
PG . 31