by Former Sen. Bill Frist

In February of this year, I launched the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) to jumpstart statewide education reform in Tennessee and ensure every child graduates high school prepared to enter the workforce or a postsecondary education institution. Since April, we have worked closely with the Blount Education Initiative, one of our partner organizations.

This is a critical time for Tennessee’s schools.  Under the leadership of Governor Bredesen, Tennessee has enacted the Tennessee Diploma Project, which raises high school graduation standards and makes the TCAP test more challenging.  The Diploma Project is an important step in raising expectations for our students, but we must now work hard to figure out how to help our districts and schools meet these new standards.

To begin addressing this question, last month SCORE released our interim report entitled “The State of Education in Tennessee.”  The report identifies five areas where the state could improve its education system including better assisting districts and schools in implementing the Diploma Project. Key to this effort is expanding the pipeline of high-quality math and science teachers and educating parents, students, and other key stakeholders about the importance of the Diploma Project.

The report also highlights 34 promising practices that are working to address the state’s educational challenges in districts across the state. One of these practices is the Blount Education Initiative, which serves as a model for how a community can come together to emphasize the importance of education and educate the community about the importance of the Diploma Project.

To read an entire copy of our interim report, please visit www.tennesseescore.org, where you can also sign up for our newsletter. Working together, I know we can ensure every child receives the education they deserve.

The Blount County Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, for its monthly meeting. The meeting will be held in the boardroom of Central Office, 831 Grandview Drive.

The Maryville Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, at John Sevier Elemetary School for its monthly meeting.

The Alcoa Board of Education will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, in the boardroom of the Alcoa City Education Building for its monthly meeting.

Blount Education Initiative Supports Diploma Project

Blount Today

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009

In 2008, Gov. Bredesen commended the State Board of Education’s decision to officially adopt more rigorous graduation requirements in Tennessee. The Tennessee Diploma Project (TDP) redefines the K-12 experience as an initiative to raise Tennessee’s standards and curriculum to better prepare students to be successful after high school, says the Blount Education Initiative, a grassroots organization charged with advancing educational priorities in Blount County.

In a press release, the BEI said it believes the objectives of the new program will challenge students and better prepare them for college and the workforce. The goals of the diploma project include producing students who are workplace and/or college ready; have a deeper understanding of math and science and their relationship to technology; can work cooperatively in groups and are ready to demonstrate responsibilities in their own lives and in service to their community.

“These new standards will equip students in Blount County with additional knowledge and skills to help them succeed after high school, which ultimately will help improve the quality of life in Blount County,” said BEI Executive Director Bonny Millard. “As a community, we should rise to the challenge that these new standards present in order for our students to gain stronger skill sets.”

Part of implementing the TDP requires schools to align their curriculum to secure a pathway for students, parents and teachers to reach those high standards. The new requirements will begin with this school year’s ninth graders.

Requirements include:

• Current basic high school requirements requirement 20 credits while new requirements for students beginning high school in the Fall of 2009 are 22 credits.

• Currently students must have three math credits (including either geometry or Algebra II) while the new requirements call for four math credits, including Algebra I and II, geometry and a fourth higher level math course.

• Current requirements call for three science credits including one physical science course and biology. New requirements for students starting high school in the Fall of 2009 call for three science credits, including biology, chemistry or physics and a third lab course.

• The English and Social studies requirements for students beginning high school in the Fall of 2009 remain the same as the current requirements – four credits for English and three for Social Studies.

• The current requirement for Wellness is one credit and the new requirement for students beginning high school in the Fall of 2009 is one and a half credits for Wellness and Physical Education.

• Additional requirements for students beginning high school in the Fall of 2009 include a half credit for Personal Finance, two credits for a foreign language and one credit in Fine Arts.

The Fine Arts credit may be waived for students not going to a university, which then expands and enhances the elective focus requirement of three credits. The Elective Focus can include math and science courses, career and technical education, fine arts, humanities, Advanced Placement courses or International Baccalaureate courses.

Other dimensions of the new standards include end-of-course examinations, which will be factored into the student’s grades as a percentage along with performance-based assessments being developed by the Department of Education’s Division of Accountability, Teaching and Learning.

The Tennessee Diploma Project also will require faculty to participate in professional development. All teachers will be informed of changes in the standards and assessments along with best practices for engaging students and increasing retention.

More information about the Tennessee Diploma Project and the new graduation requirements may be found on the Tennessee Department of Education’s Web site at www.state.tn.us/education or www.tnelc.org.

After almost two years as president of the Blount Education Initiative (BEI), Mark Cate will step down from BEI to work fulltime as a statewide election campaign manager for a gubernatorial candidate. 

“I am honored to have been a part of the inception of BEI,” Cate said.  “I know that I am leaving BEI in excellent hands, as Matt is a proven leader in education, and I will continue to whole-heartedly support BEI.”

Current BEI vice president and University of Tennessee economics professor, Matt Murray, will replace Cate as BEI president. 

“I will continue to support BEI’s mission of making education the top priority in Blount County,” said Matt Murray.  “BEI will carry on its grassroots public awareness campaign to communicate the importance of education and to help our community make meaningful connections between businesses and educators.”

Murray will work with the BEI board members and Executive Director Bonny Millard to ensure a smooth leadership transition takes place.

“Mark Cate certainly will be missed, and on behalf of BEI, I would like to thank Mark for his vision and guidance and wish him the best on his new endeavor,” said Millard.  “I have great faith in Matt Murray’s demonstrated leadership, and I am confident Matt will be able to continue seamlessly in leading this organization.” 

Murray is the Ball Corporation Professor of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  He also serves as associate director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, housed in the College of Business Administration.  He currently directs the program in Public Administration in the Economics Department.

Murray is the chair of the Industrial Development Board of Blount County.  He is also a board member of the newly founded East Tennessee Quality Growth Forum.  Murray received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University.

BEI Cited as One of Tennessee’s “Promising Practices” in Education

by Mark Cate, BEI Board President

The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced yesterday that the Blount Education Initiative was among one of the top 34 “promising practices” being employed statewide.  I can’t begin to tell you how fulfilling it is to see the good work of so many individuals and businesses coming to fruition and now being recognized as a best practice.

While BEI’s mission is simple – “to make education the community’s top priority” – its work has just begun and there’s much to be done.  As the outgoing chair of this organization, I’m proud to have been a part of such an important initiative for our community and look forward to the many great things that are to come.

On that note, it’s back-to-school season and there’s no better time for the community to turn its sights toward getting the new academic year started off right.  One of the best ways to start the year is for our community to renew its commitment to parental and civic involvement in our three school systems locally.  Not only should parents get involved in their kids educational pursuits, but all community members should seek out ways to make our schools better.  There’s absolutely no better way to make a positive difference in our community.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Adopt-A-School Partners – find out if your company or employer already participates in this program.  It’s a great way to lend much-needed support to individual schools and for businesses to learn about local educational needs.  
For more information, call the Blount County Chamber of Commerce by calling 983-2241.

Give a gift – no matter how large or small, consider making a tax-deductible contribution to any of our local educational foundations.  The school systems depend on the foundations to provide the above-and-beyond funding that often provides fundamental resources that enhance classroom instruction.  There’s one foundation representing each of our three school systems:  1) Alcoa City Schools Foundation: www.epivox.com/acsf; 2) Blount County Education Foundation: www.blountcountyeducationfoundation.org; 3) Maryville City Schools Foundation: www.maryvillecityschoolsfoundation.org.

Give your time – avail yourself as a volunteer to a local school.  Most schools can always use an extra set of hands to help out in their offices, with fund-raising events or with Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) initiatives.  The school foundations can also use volunteer service.

Let’s start the year out right by getting involved and showing that education is our community’s top priority!