Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Explore:

Chalkbeat

TNReady

year two

Tennessee
July 27, 2017

Tennessee high schoolers post higher test scores, but some subjects remain a struggle

The increases were modest on average, but sharp for some of the students who have historically struggled most.

previewing TNReady

Tennessee
July 26, 2017

Why Tennessee’s high school test scores, out this week, matter more — and less — than usual

The statewide scores will kick off the second year of results for TNReady, the state's standardized test.

TNReady snag

Tennessee
May 25, 2017

Tennessee’s ill-timed score delivery undercuts work to rebuild trust in tests

TNReady testing went smoother this year, but score delivery issues have put state education officials back on the defensive.

Not Ready

Tennessee
May 23, 2017

Memphis students won’t see TNReady scores reflected in their final report cards

Shelby County Schools joins the growing list of Tennessee districts not getting the test score data in time.

Making the grade

Tennessee
May 19, 2017

TNReady scores are about to go out to Tennessee districts, but not all will make student report cards

The Tennessee Department of Education will start to distribute test score data beginning on Monday, but that's too late for final grades in some districts.

Testing Time

Tennessee
May 9, 2017

TNReady took almost twice as long as Tennessee tests in 2012. Here’s why.

Elementary and middle school students took about eight hours of end-of-year tests this year, an amount consistent with national trends toward longer tests.

Testing

Tennessee
May 8, 2017

McQueen declares TNReady a ‘success.’ Here’s what comes next for Tennessee.

After a non-eventful testing period with the state's new test, Tennessee is marching ahead with its plan to test all high school students online next year.

star power

Tennessee
April 27, 2017

Matt Damon’s latest role: The voice of an education documentary featuring Tennessee testing

Called “Backpack Full of Cash,” the 90-minute film features a Nashville elementary school and school board member Amy Frogge.

Starting early

Tennessee
April 20, 2017

It’s not just older students. Tennessee second-graders also started testing this week in nearly 100 districts

The new optional assessment is designed to provide teachers with helpful information and ensure the state's younger students are on track in reading and math.

lingering debate

Tennessee
April 19, 2017

Drop TNReady scores from teacher evaluations, urge Shelby County leaders

The county's Board of Commissioners votes unanimously to urge the state to use TNReady results as only a “diagnostic” tool.

PEP Talk

Tennessee
April 18, 2017

‘I think you will do well,’ says governor to Tennessee students preparing for TNReady

Tennessee's youngest students who began testing this week receive a pep talk from Haslam and a No. 2 pencil courtesy of SCORE.

day one

Tennessee
April 17, 2017

Unlike last year, TNReady testing starts without hiccups in Tennessee

On the first day of the state's testing window, nearly 11,000 students use a new online system without issue.

The Homestretch

Tennessee
April 14, 2017

It’s past the halfway point at the Tennessee legislature. Here are proposals that still could change the state’s schools.

Less than half of the more than 150 separate proposals originally filed with the Tennessee General Assembly are still standing, on issues ranging from school discipline to turnaround.

on the air

Tennessee
April 14, 2017

Trumpeting a ‘new and improved TNReady,’ radio ads tout why testing matters

The two-week run goes through next week in conjunction with the state’s April 17-May 5 TNReady testing window.

TNReady or not

Tennessee
April 13, 2017

Tennessee promises this year will be different when TNReady testing begins, but some educators are anxious

After last year's botched debut of its standardized test, the state prepares to try again with a new testing company, a revised test, and a new game plan.

Here We Go

Tennessee
April 11, 2017

Testing materials delivered as Tennessee schools prepare to try TNReady again

Testing coordinators at the state's 1,800 public schools should now have TNReady materials following deliveries this week by Questar.

testing tussle

Tennessee
April 5, 2017

Tennessee voucher bill stalls as lawmakers strip TNReady testing requirement

After sailing through several legislative panels, a school voucher bill stalls in a House committee for a second straight week.

Testing matters

Tennessee
March 30, 2017

For the first time, Tennessee school voucher advocates are pushing for TNReady in private schools. Here’s why.

If Tennessee private schools want to take advantage of public money that could soon be flowing their way, they might have to…

test prep

Tennessee
March 30, 2017

In final year of Common Core, Tennessee teachers can use practice test questions from PARCC

As TNReady testing approaches in mid-April, teachers are looking for practice questions to prep their students for the state's revamped assessment.

more tweaks

Tennessee
March 16, 2017

For third straight year, TNReady prompts Tennessee to adjust teacher evaluation formula

The State Department of Education is asking for another change to teacher evaluations in response to last year’s test cancellation of TNReady.

explainer

Tennessee
March 9, 2017

Here’s what you need to know about Tennessee’s latest voucher proposal

Here are answers to questions from some of our readers about a new proposal to pilot tuition vouchers in Memphis.

early adopters

Tennessee
February 17, 2017

Here are the 25 districts committing to taking TNReady online this spring

One year after Tennessee’s first attempt at online testing fizzled, almost a fifth of Tennessee school districts have signed up to try again.

Making the SCORE

Tennessee
February 7, 2017

Seeking to balance reform with stability, SCORE unveils priorities in annual State of Education report

The influential education research and advocacy organization unveils its top three priorities aimed at sustaining Tennessee's academic gains.

Take Two

Tennessee
January 19, 2017

One year after TNReady collapse, Tennessee unveils plan to test online again

All high schools will administer the test online in 2018, followed the next year by other grades.

year in review

Tennessee
December 21, 2016

Ten stories defining Tennessee public education in 2016

From testing and standards to school funding and bus safety, Tennessee has navigated a tumultuous and historic year.

Sobering results

Tennessee
December 13, 2016

TNReady scores are down across the state, but they’re especially down in Memphis

Shelby County Schools and the Achievement School District lag considerably behind the rest of the state on Tennessee's latest standardized test scores.

Scores in

Tennessee
December 13, 2016

UPDATED: Urban districts score below statewide averages on new TNReady tests, with some bright spots

A new test does hasn't changed which Tennessee school districts are the top performers, and which districts struggle relative to the state as a whole.

primer

Tennessee
December 12, 2016

Your guide to district- and school-level TNReady scores

Tennessee soon will release district- and school-level scores from the state’s new, and supposedly harder, standardized test.

Tough talk

Tennessee
December 6, 2016

Hopson warns of ‘disheartening’ TNReady scores while board orders hearings on closing schools

Shelby County's superintendent says the soon-to-be-released scores should galvanize the district to address "underutilized, poor-performing schools."

Scores in

Tennessee
November 4, 2016

Most Tennessee high school students lag in college readiness according to first TNReady results

Under the state’s tougher new grading scale, nearly three-quarters of Tennessee high school students performed below grade level on each of the new tests.

Almost here

Tennessee
November 3, 2016

Tennessee is about to release its first TNReady scores. Here’s what to expect.

On Friday, Tennessee will release its first batch of scores from its new standardized test. Here are four things we know.

Testing transition

Tennessee
October 14, 2016

TNReady scores are down, but GPAs shouldn’t take big hit under phase-in plan

Now that the drop in state test scores is official, Tennessee education leaders have a plan to soften the initial blow to high school students’ GPAs.

First word

Tennessee
October 13, 2016

Here’s a preview of how students fared on Tennessee’s new TNReady test

A month before scores are to be released, state officials offer a glimpse, saying that the results are worse than the previous year, as expected with a new test.

Waiting

Tennessee
October 11, 2016

Memphis teachers likely won’t see raises in their paychecks until late November, at least

It’s three months into the school year, and Memphis teachers still aren’t seeing the 3 percent raise promised to top educators working for Shelby County Schools.

Rethinking school

Tennessee
October 11, 2016

How Tennessee might drastically change testing, and other potential changes to the state’s schools

State officials share their takeaways from nearly six months of discussions on how Tennessee should adapt to the sweeping new federal education law.

New format

Tennessee
October 4, 2016

Tennessee soon will release its first TNReady scores — with a new look

The State Department of Education will release its first standardized test scores under the TNReady era in November.

Try again

Tennessee
September 30, 2016

Tennessee rolls out new online testing platform — carefully

Some Tennessee high school students tested out an online platform created by the testing company Questar, the first step to giving online testing a second try.

Testing season

Tennessee
September 1, 2016

Here are the standardized tests Tennessee students will take this year

Schools will administer 14 state-mandated tests this year, with testing windows spanning every month.

Fine line

Tennessee
August 30, 2016

Should Tennessee cut more tests? Leaders weigh concerns about over-testing against need to measure improvement

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen's testing task force debates which state tests, if any, are expendable.

Big questions

Tennessee
August 16, 2016

What’s the endgame for Tennessee’s Achievement School District? That’s the question facing lawmakers

State lawmakers will answer questions about the future of Tennessee's school turnaround district when they convene on Wednesday.

Shifting strategy

Tennessee
July 14, 2016

Here’s Tennessee’s new game plan for standardized testing next year

With a new test maker and a new strategy, the State Department of Education unveils details about next year's assessments, including less testing and less online.

the long view

Tennessee
July 13, 2016

Why this year’s failed TNReady test leaves Tennessee with challenges for years to come

The decision to cancel standardized testing this year will impact the state's accountability system for at least three years.

change of heart

Tennessee
July 7, 2016

Tennessee didn’t choose Questar in 2014. Here’s why officials say they’re confident now.

In 2014, Tennessee passed Questar over in favor of Measurement Incorporated. Here's why the state went with Measurement Inc. originally — and why they're going with Questar now.

Reset

Tennessee
July 6, 2016

Questar wins contract to develop Tennessee test to replace failed TNReady

After a rocky year of standardized testing, the Tennessee Department of Education is starting fresh with large-scale test maker Questar.

Time crunch

Tennessee
July 1, 2016

Extending uncertainty about testing, Tennessee misses its deadline to name new test maker

Tennessee misses its own deadline to name the testing company that will pick up where Measurement Inc. left off this spring.

Bumpy runway

Tennessee
June 28, 2016

Emails reveal months of missteps leading up to Tennessee’s disastrous online testing debut

Education officials allowed schools to go ahead with a new online testing system that had failed repeatedly across the state, according to emails obtained by Chalkbeat.

across state lines

Tennessee
June 20, 2016

Lawmakers wanted to know how unique Tennessee’s testing problems were. Here’s the answer.

A report from the Tennessee comptroller answers lawmakers' questions about how online testing went in other states.

in limbo

Tennessee
June 14, 2016

Theme of Tennessee’s testing task force meeting: ‘We’re in a transition phase’

Commissioner Candice McQueen's testing task force focuses on how the state will reshape its accountability system in light of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

Signed and sealed

Tennessee
May 31, 2016

Tennessee awards two testing contracts as it searches for TNReady successor

Two firms that have received smaller testing contracts this spring could be in the hunt for the state’s biggest job.

Job description

Tennessee
May 26, 2016

After TNReady failure, here’s what Tennessee officials want from their next test maker

The profile for Tennessee’s next standardized testing vendor is revealed at the kickoff meeting for Education Commissioner Candice McQueen’s second testing task force.
‹