In February 2016, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) pulled together stakeholders from across the state and set an ambitious goal--that at least 75 percent of third graders would be proficient readers by 2025. The goal originated from both stagnant third grade reading scores in the state and national research indicating that third grade…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) The War on Progress: Why the National…

This report presents student-level achievement results for Tennessee charter schools that serve elementary grades. The schools had different start-up years as follows: (1) Circles of Success in Learning Academy and Smithson-Craighead Academy (2003-04); (2) Star Academy (2004-05); and (3) Promise Academy and Southern Avenue (2005-06). These three…

As a result of suggestions made in approximately 10 regional inservice workshops conducted in the State of Tennessee for Adult Basic Education (ABE) personnel, three institutes were conducted to instruct participants in guidance and counseling, instructional materials, and reading. Each institute was designed as a Teacher Training Institute, and…

Rigorous research provides information that will allow other schools and districts to select interventions that have a scientifically based track record of effectiveness. All Striving Reader grants include the mandate to evaluate literacy intervention(s) targeted to adolescents who are reading significantly below grade level. Although all studies…

This report presents case studies of the three exemplary projects within the Special Emphasis Project, a federally funded national study of how intensive reading programs might change the patterns of elementary school students who read one or more grades below grade level. An introductory section provides information on the history, organization,…

Three 2-week Adult Basic Education (ABE) Institutes were conducted in Tennessee during the summer of 1972. The three were an ABE Guidance and Counseling Institute, an ABE Materials and Teaching Institute, and an ABE Reading Institute. Each institute consisted of approximately 30 participants from the various regions of the state, and graduate…