Committee starts work to revamp teacher testing

A committee appointed after Tennessee lawmakers enacted major changes to the state’s k-12 education policy is working on a fast timeline to create a pilot teacher evaluation system.
“It’s a massive undertaking,’’ said Jessie Register, who heads the Metro-Nashville school system and is one of nine people appointed to the committee by Gov. Phil Bredesen.
In a January special session, lawmakers approved new education policies, including the requirement that half of teacher evaluations be based on student achievement data. The changes were made in part to improve the state’s chances in the federal “Race to the Top’’ education competition.
Earlier this month, Tennessee was selected as one of the 16 finalists, but regardless of whether Tennessee is awarded the $501 million for which officials applied, the changes are now part of state law.
Nine people appointed by the governor will join four state officials and one appointment each from the House and Senate speakers and will be working until July to come up with the new system, Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.
Register, who formerly worked in Hamilton County, is the only schools superintendent on the committee.