Nashville Schools Need Transition to New Math Standards

Academic standards are being raised significantly this year in Tennessee and districts across the state, including Metro Nashville, are bracing for many schools to fail. In his state of the schools address Schools Director Jesse Register acknowledged the new standards would be a dramatic challenge.

If you were to apply the new math standards to last year’s test scores only one high school in the entire state would pass, Nashville’s Hume Fogg. Metro Schools Director Jesse Register says Tennessee’s previous standards needed upgrading, but hitting the new benchmarks will take time and he’d like to see a yearlong grace period.

“There must be a transition to the new standards that recognizes this change, but that’s a policy decision that’s outside of our control.”

If Metro does fail to meet the new standards, it could mean a state takeover of the school system.

In his state of the schools speech, Register said he plans on bringing six new magnet schools to Metro. He also praised many district wide improvements, saying truancy rates are down, new teacher recruitment programs are in place, and best teaching practices are being implemented in classrooms.

The federal magnet school grant that will create the six new inner city magnet schools is still being finalized. Director Register, hopes the schools will attract students from across the district. The proposed new magnets include:

*Museum magnet schools at Wharton Elementary and John Early Middle schools.

*Science, technology, engineering and mathematics magnets at Hattie Cotton elementary, Bailey Middle and Stratford High schools.

*An entertainment industry magnet at Pearl Cohn.