Graduation coaches have proven to be a key factor in significant graduation rate increases recently achieved in area high schools. Read here to find out more details: 2010 Graduation_Rate_Increase_

The Tennessee Department of Education released  information today (Wednesday, Jan. 20) about its application for federal “Race to the Top” funds after a General Assembly special session last week focused on education reform. You can read an overview of the proposal in Tennessee Submits Race to the Top Plan[1], provided by the state, or review the complete document at the state’s web site, http://www.tn.gov/education/.

If you missed the chance to hear Tennessee’s gubernatorial candidates in October at William Blount High School at a forum hosted by BEI, then you will have another opporunity.

Tennessee SCORE will host a forum on Jan. 14 with the leading Democrat and Republican gubernatorial candidates at Belmont University in Nashville. The forum, which will be focused solely on education issues, will be held at 7 p.m. CT at Belmont’s Curb Event Center and broadcast live on CBS affiliates across the state. The gubernatorial candidates  confirmed to attend are: Bill Gibbons, Bill Haslam, Jim Kyle, Kim McMillan, Mike McWherter, Ron Ramsey, and Zach Wamp.

Tune in as the candidates share their views and vision for education in Tennessee.

Congratulations to Townsend Elementary School for being named a 2010 Nominee for the National Blue Ribbon Award. Townsend is one of six schools nominated in Tennessee by the state department of education. The school was named because of its dramatic improvement within specific parameters. Read more about it here:  TN Names 2010 Nominees for National Blue Ribbon Award Townsend Elementary School is a part of the Blount County school system.

“These schools serve as a model for other schools across our state and the nation,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said in the press release. “Their performance is to be commended.”