Destination Known

Tennessee Puts the Recommendations into Action
Tennessee’s draft ESSA plan provides a clear example of how a state could incorporate all of the recommended
college and career readiness measures into its accountability system. 90 The state proposes to:
PUBLICLY REPORT ON COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
The state’s school report cards will include postsecondary matriculation
into two-year, four-year and credential programs, students earning
postsecondary credit while in high school, students earning industry
credentials, students participating in extracurricular activities, as well as
required information on student assessment performance.
SET ALIGNED K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION GOAL
The state has identified two meaningful goals for students’ readiness
and transition into postsecondary. First, the state expects its
average ACT composite score to be a 21—or the college readiness
benchmark—by 2020. Second, Tennessee expects the majority of high
school graduates from the class of 2020 will earn a postsecondary
certificate, diploma or degree. Both of these targets clearly point to,
and align with, the state’s Drive to 55 credential attainment goal.
INCLUDE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN
ACCOUNTABILITY DETERMINATIONS
High schools in the state will be rated on five areas, including
Readiness. The Readiness measure is derived by multiplying the
percent of high school graduates by the percent of students that (1)
score at the college readiness benchmark on ACT, (2) complete four
early postsecondary opportunities (such as AP or dual enrollment),
or (3) complete two early postsecondary opportunities and earning
industry certification on a CTE pathway leading to a credential. This
approach provides students with multiple opportunities to demonstrate
readiness. Importantly, it also reports performance based on the 9 th
grade cohort through the graduation rate multiplication.
Through accountability, Tennessee is making college and career readiness meaningful for all students and all schools.
This is a promising example that other states can follow.
FIGURE 14
Example Measure Weighting
for School Accountability
AREA/MEASURES
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
WEIGHT
30%
Proficiency ELA 10%
Under ESSA,
states are in
control of their
own school
rating system.
Proficiency Math 10%
Proficiency Science 10%
GROWTH
35%
Growth in ELA 15%
Growth in Math 15%
Progress in EL Proficiency 5%
ON TRACK TO CCR
15%
Learning and Leadership experiences 5%
4-year Cohort Graduation Rate 10%
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
20%
Progress toward Credential 5%
Assessment of Readiness 10%
Post High School Transitions 5%
TOTAL
100%
Destination Known | 31