The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) applauds the state of Tennessee for implementing more rigorous curriculum, assessment standards and graduation requirements, resulting in an adjustment to the 2009 Report Card. While these changes are being introduced in an effort to increase student progress toward higher expectations, the TEA strongly believes that teachers and educational staff members need to be honored for their commitment to helping students succeed.

TEA President Earl Wiman said, “It is important to remember that as changes in curriculum and assessments take place, so do the responsibilities of educators. To date, Tennessee’s teachers have done a wonderful job in helping our students progress to such a level that the baseline for the report card has had to be adjusted.”

“At the same time, we believe that student success is much more than a test score. Since test scores provide an incomplete picture of student learning, schools should not be judged on test scores alone,” said Wiman. “It is important to realize that higher student achievement levels will take increased parental involvement and additional support for teachers.”