Gov. Bill Haslam is taking part in a multi-phase plan to gather concerns and feedback on ways to improve the delivery of Tennessee's elementary and secondary assessments known as TNReady
"The thing that is most foundational to me and our team is public education and the progress we're making in Tennessee," Gov. Haslam said as he began his announcement Tuesday morning.
He said education leaders will go on a statewide listening tour to engage in an open conversation about assessment and ways to improve administration, gather feedback that can inform a smooth deliver of state assessments this school year and beyond, including feedback on the selection of the state’s next assessment partner to be chosen later this school year.
The listening tour began Friday, Aug. 24, in Knoxville. Following an outcry from concerned teachers who weren't invited to the first event, Gov. Haslam is asking educators to submit online feedback about the test. You can find a link to that feedback form here.
The governor headed to the Tennessee Valley region on Tuesday, and more stops are planned for Shelby County, Williamson County, Greene County and Gibson County.
Leaders will also discuss how to better provide schools, educators, parents and students with meaningful and timely results from assessments; and distinguish assessment content from delivery in an effort to focus on the value assessments can provide.
"I am committed to doing everything I can as Governor to get it right," Haslam said. "To throw in the towel on assessment is the wrong approach."
The listening tour will consist of six stops throughout the state and provide an opportunity for educators, school technology and assessment coordinators, and school district administrators to share information about recent challenges related to the online delivery of state assessments.
Haslam and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen will attend each leg of the tour.
The meetings will encourage feedback on how the state can continue to improve its assessment; a discussion of steps made to-date to improve test administration in 2018-19.
Former long-time educator, and former executive director of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, Wayne Miller was tapped to facilitate the listening tour meetings and outcomes.
"We've got some hurdles to get over, I anticipate that but in the end I just feel whole heartedly that our students are going to come out on top," Miller said.
He will be joined by a three-member advisory team which includes Dr. Mike Winstead, the current Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and Maryville City Director of Schools, Derek Voiles, the 2017 Teacher of the Year and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Hamblen County School District, and Cicely Woodard, the 2018 Tennessee Teacher of the Year and a math teacher at Freedom Middle School in Franklin Special School District.
Haslam said later this school year the state will announce its next assessment partner.