Annual Joint Report on Pre-Kindergarten through Higher Education in Tennessee, 2006

Overview & Synopsis

This 2006 Annual Joint Report of the State Board of Education and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission identifies four joint priorities and nine associated goals addressing areas of need in both student learning and educator development for the advancement of education in Tennessee. The joint priorities and initiatives focus on points of connection between pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (P-12) and higher education that are essential to a unified system of education in the state. The four joint priorities include the following: (1) Student Learning: Pre-kindergarten through Higher Education (P-16): Align curriculum content, assessments, and entry as well as exit requirements, and improve learning across all levels of education; (2) Student Access and Transition: Establish seamless transitions and access for students across education levels; (3) Supply and Retention of Teachers: Ensure qualified, competent teachers in every classroom through targeted recruitment, development, and retention activities; and (4) Teacher Development: Maximize teaching quality through teacher preparation and development aligned with instructional goals. To achieve these joint priorities, the Board and Commission have created nine supporting goals. For each of the nine goals, the Board and Commission have worked cooperatively to identify indicators, performance targets, and baseline data that track the performance of P-16 education in Tennessee. Therefore, this document is not only a report, but also a master plan for action over the next 10 years. The report reaffirms the commitment by the Board and the Commission to develop an integrated, accountable, and competitive system of education in Tennessee. Appended are: (1) Tennessee High School Graduation Requirements; (2) Minimum High School Course Requirements for Regular Undergraduate Admission to Tennessee Public Higher Education Institutions; (3) Master Plan for Tennessee Schools: Preparing for the 21st Century; (4) Board of Education Performance Model; and (5) The 2005-10 Master Plan for Tennessee Higher Education: Creating Partnerships for a Better Tennessee.