State Ed. Commish forms task force for student testing and assessment

Looks like the state is going to look into school testing, according to a release sent out today from Nashville. At the bottom is a list of players on the task force. I'm not familiar enough with all of them to determine whether the deck is stacked one way or the other.

But, you know, the glass is half full. Heh.

Here's the release:

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen today announced the formation of a special Tennessee Task Force on Student Testing and Assessment to study and identify best practices in testing at the school level and how those assessments align with required state tests.

“We have heard some concerns that there is ‘too much testing’ taking place. So as education leaders and stakeholders, it’s important that we clearly understand current testing policies and practices at both the state and local levels,” McQueen said. “Proper assessment tools are vital in making sure we are supporting our schools, teachers, parents, and students with clear information about what students are learning and mastering. We want to highlight those districts that are finding the right approach and balance on this important topic, and to identify any areas for discussion and improvement.”

The new task force includes a broad spectrum of education leaders, teachers and stakeholders. The first meeting of the task force will convene in late March, and will focus on the results of a district assessment survey.

“Assessments can be powerful tools in ensuring the work we’re doing in education is effective and that we are gaining a return on our taxpayer investments,” Senate Education Committee Chairman and task force member Dolores Gresham said. “I’m excited to be a part of this important work.”

The task force will issue a report on its findings this summer.

The task force will include the following members:

• Candice McQueen, Tennessee Commissioner of Education
• Sara Heyburn, Executive Director, State Board of Education
• Dolores Gresham, Chairman, Senate Education Committee
• John Forgety, Chairman, House Education Committee
• Harry Brooks, Chairman, House Education Committee
• Mike Winstead, Director of Schools, Maryville City
• Wanda Shelton, Director of Schools, Lincoln County
• Mary Reel, Director of Schools, Milan Special Schools
• Nancy Ashe, Assistant Director of Schools, Lebanon Special Schools
• Beth Unfried, Director of Elementary Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools
• Sharon McNary, Principal, Richland Elementary, Shelby County Schools
• Philip Eller, Teacher, Cedar Grove Elementary, Rutherford County Schools
• Becky McBride, Teacher, Brighton High, Tipton County School
• Valerie Love, Teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High, Kingsport City Schools
• Susan Lodal, President, Tennessee School Boards Association
• Jasmine Carlisle, 11TH-grade Student, Mt. Juliet High, Wilson County Schools
• Virginia Babb, Member, Knox County Parent-Teacher Association

Ex officio members:

• Kathleen Airhart, Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education
• Stephen Smith, Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education
• Emily Freitag, Assistant Commissioner, Curriculum and Instruction, Tennessee Department of Education
• Nakia Towns, Assistant Commissioner, Data and Research, Tennessee Department of Education
• Eva Boster, Teacher Ambassador, Tennessee Department of Education
• Alyssa Van Camp, Director of Policy, State Collaborative on Reforming Education