The Tennessee Education Report has published several great pieces from policy makers and influencers around the state in the past few days that I want to highlight here on the blog.

First, Jamie Woodson of SCORE discusses how we’ve been implementing common core since 2011 and have already started to see results:

Tennessee began using the new standards in grades K-2 in August 2011. After summer training for 13,000 math teachers, schools began using the higher math standards in grades 3-8 and a pilot of the English language arts standards in August 2012. The NAEP assessments were administered in early 2013 to a sample of fourth- and eighth-graders, and in November we learned that the gains they showed made Tennessee the fastest-improving state for academic achievement.

Second, JC Bowman offers his thoughts on standardized testing in the context of new PARCC assessments:

The use of assessments should allow educators to better assist students who are behind their peers to ensure they receive the help they need immediately to get back on track. In addition, those students who meet or exceed expectations can be monitored to make certain that they continue to excel.

Third, Lucianna Sanson visa vis Diane Ravitch (most of the words in the piece are Ms. Ravitch’s) posts some thoughts on common core in the early grades.  Not saying I agree, but in the interest of fairness here are some of her thoughts:

I know, and a lot of teachers know, they’re totally inappropriate for children in kindergarten, first grade, second grade and third grade, because when they were written there was no one on various writing committees who was an expert in early childhood education… They’re also totally inappropriate for children who have disabilities — they can’t keep up.

All are worth a read.