A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Tennessee

Team Report

• Tennessee?s revised language arts framework and accompanying staff development emphasize language and literacy growth consistent with the research findings.
• A statewide initiative, Tennessee: Come Read with Me, will assist by providing materials and resources for support of reading.
• The Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration program will provide funding and support of national reading models for qualifying schools.
• Beginning with the spring of 1999, the Department of Education will collect data from each system in support of the diagnostic evaluation of student progress in reading for grades one and two.

A Tennessee Success Story

The Governor?s Study Partner Program, established in 1988, successfully matches successful students with those who may be struggling. A new focus initiated in 1997-98 focuses on identifying fifth through eighth grade students who are trained as "partners" for first and second-grade students. Extensive training focuses on relationship-building with reading as the primary partner activity. The University of Tennessee evaluated the 1997-98 program with a 96% success rate. Expansion of the program includes the addition of summer sites and over 160 new schools added for 1998-99.

This program successfully complies with the recommendation to provide well-trained and supervised "volunteers" to expand children?s opportunities for reading and for motivational support.

For further information, contact:

Emory Register
Tennessee Department of Education
710 James Robertson Pkwy.
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 532-6300
E-mail: eregister@mail.state.tn.us

State Commitment Form

State: Tennessee
Team Leader: Claudette Williams
Phone Number: 615-532-6254

As a result of attending this Summit, what two things does your state team commit to doing in the next six months toward enhanced literacy for children and their families?

1. Identify a reading coordinator within each of the 138 systems to begin to provide coherent, research-based findings. A long-range goal is to host mini reading summits within Tennessee regions.
2. Work with community groups to share reading information. Hold focused discussion sessions which provide consistent information. The local coordinator (from the first commitment) can assist in the effort.

1. A parent brochure is needed. There are numbers of parent resources, but one developed from the Summit ideas would enhance local communication efforts.
2. Please host a 2nd Annual Reading Summit.
3. A supplement to PRD which includes "Programs that Really Work" would be welcomed.

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