By Todd Hatton
Murray, KY – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says improving student proficiency scores in the state by 20% over the next five years would prove their education overhaul is working. Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said at budget hearings in Knoxville last week his agency wants to meet that goal. Huffman says Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program scores currently show 40% of third-graders rank proficient in reading, while just 29% of seventh-graders achieve proficient scores in math. The state has been implementing more data-driven approaches to education as part of federal Race to the Top grants and through Haslam's own policies. They include an overhaul of teacher evaluations and making tenure more difficult to obtain. Earlier this month, the state submitted a waiver request from federal No Child Left Behind requirements. Huffman says he hopes to hear back from the U.S. Department of Education soon because some state laws would have to be changed to remove references to federal accountability standards.