In the federal Race to the Top, Tennessee is surely a competitor.
The state will share in a $170 million Race to the Top Assessment Program grant announced today by the U.s. Department of Education.
In June, Florida submitted an application on behalf of a consortium of 26 states, of which Tennessee was one. The goal of the group is to create a common assessment system, with students taking parts of the assessment at key times during the school year, i.e. nearer to when the class has covered the material rather than at the end of the year.
“The funds awarded to this partnership will allow us to create a common assessment and performance standards anchored in college and career readiness,” Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen said in a statement. “This will help us reach our fundamental goal of increasing the rate at which students graduate from high school prepared for success in college and the workplace.”
To ensure the assessment system is aligned with college standards, more than 200 higher education institutions are participating in the development of the new high school tests.
