Davies Manor invites teachers to July 28 event
The annual teacher’s luncheon at Davies Manor Plantation is slated for July 28. The event gives teachers the opportunity to view the facility’s traveling trunks and to give input on the facility’s current educational programming.
The luncheon will be catered by Swanky’s Taco Shop, and will feature guest speaker Jimmy Ogle and a tour of the manor house.
Attendees are asked to RSVP via phone or email by July 22 with their names, schools and phone numbers. They may call (901) 386-0715 or email daviesmanor@gmail.com.
BES awarded $79.5K arts grant
Bartlett Elementary School is one of two school state wide to be awarded the Arts360 Arts Integration grant by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
This three-year grant totaling $79,500 will allow BES teachers and students to work with teaching artists from New Ballet Ensemble and other local arts organizations, and the school will serve the district as an arts integration laboratory school.
For more information, see bit.ly/BES-ArtsGrant.
Lakeland student earns spot at Governor’s School
Shelby Halliday of Lakeland spent the month of June as a student at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences, hosted by the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Halliday, a student at HomeLife Academy, was chosen to participate after a rigorous application process. Selected students earn six hours of college credit in the agricultural sciences and participate in hands-on, real-world learning opportunities both on and off campus. The goal is to gain an in-depth look at the career fields available in agriculture.
National report sizes up phys ed in Tenn. schools
The 2016 Shape of the Nation report, which provides a current picture of physical education in each state across the country, shows that most states are dropping the ball on keeping kids active and fit and preparing them for a healthier future.
Tennessee requires students to take physical education in grades K-8 but does not have a requirement for the number of minutes.
The state’s students are also required to take physical education in grade 9 and to earn physical education credit for high school graduation.
Tennessee does not have a method for enforcing the physical education requirements.
The report was produced by SHAPE America and Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
See more information on how Tennessee fared in the 2016 report at bit.ly/TennShape2016.
Tennessee ranks near middle in per-student expenditures
Public schools rely on state funding to provide for their students, but some states offer more financial support than others. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, StartClass.com ranked the states based on spending per student.
Tennessee was in 21st place, with 2012-2013 spending per student at $11,010. In recent years, Tennessee’s per student spending reached $11,176 in 2010-2011 and $10,881 in 2011-2012.
See more information at bit.ly/TN-ed-funding.
Tennessee in 35th place on student scores
Tennessee hit 35th place among states ranked on the basis of their assessment test scores, according to StartClass.com. The website used data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card.”
The ranking listed the following information about Tennessee students:
- Average percent of students at or above proficient: 33.8 percent
- Percent of students at or above proficient in:
- Grade 4 Math: 40 percent
- Grade 4 Reading: 33 percent
- Grade 8 Math: 29 percent
- Grade 8 Reading: 33 percent
See more information at bit.ly/StateTestScores.
OREA releases glossary of Tenn. education terms
The Comptroller’s Offices of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) is making it easier to understand Tennessee education. OREA has just released a glossary of commonly used education terms, with the aim of assisting legislators and Tennesseans.
The glossary contains more than 180 entries, and it spans pre-K to higher education. See it online at comptroller.tn.gov/OREA/.
Sample terms include Achievement School District, School Choice, Charter School and more.
“This glossary is an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in Tennessee education,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “… By placing it on our website, we hope all Tennesseans will be able to take advantage of this glossary.”
OREA is a division within the Comptroller’s Office that is charged with providing accurate and objective policy research and analysis for the Tennessee General Assembly and the public.
