Thursday, June 11, 2009 | Updated Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Change is in the air for school districts throughout Tennessee; and, the Clarksville Montgomery County School System is not immune to that change. The good news is that CMCSS has been preparing for these changes over the past few years. Through focused training for teachers to create a more rigorous and relevant classroom for students, and improved assessments and interventions, the system is up to the task ahead.

In 2007, Gov. Phil Bredesen launched the Tennessee Diploma Project, which better aligns this state’s academic standards with national standards and makes Tennessee students more competitive in the global economy. Beginning with this school year, Tennessee students will experience a number of changes in the curriculum, assessments, and requirements for graduation. The project focuses on college and career-ready graduation requirements; strategic assessments; and college and career ready standards.

New Standards
Tennessee has updated what students learn to cover the knowledge and skills employers and colleges say are needed for the 21st century. The curriculum will cover many of the same skills as before, but to a deeper extent with a higher level of thinking, and oftentimes earlier than in the past. Teachers have received training and are prepared to move students through this adjustment.

New Assessments
College-readiness pre-tests will be given out in the eighth and tenth grades to identify areas that need more attention so they can be addressed earlier in high school. Instead of students taking Gateway exams, they will take end-of-course exams in English I, II and III; Algebra I and II; Geometry or an equivalent; U.S. History; Biology I; Chemistry; and Physics. These exams will also count as a percentage of the student’s class grade.

In the eighth grade, students will take the EXPLORE test and in tenth grade they will take the PLAN test. Both of these tests are benchmarks which help students understand how well they are prepared for the ACT test that is given to all eleventh graders to determine college and/or workforce readiness. Scores on both the EXPLORE and PLAN tests are used to place students in honors classes and also help determine remediation needs.  Students are encouraged to meet with their school counselor to get information about admissions requirements for specific schools.

New Graduation Requirements
For students beginning ninth grade this year, graduation requirements have changed. In order to graduate, all students must complete 22 credits to receive a regular diploma, with three credits in a chosen elective. Within these 22 credits, students must complete Algebra I and II plus two additional upper level math courses; Biology I, chemistry or physics and an additional lab science course. A half-credit also has been added each in physical education and personal finance. With additional attendance requirements, the importance of student attendance cannot be emphasized enough

For more information click here for a pdf or here for a official website of the Tennessee Diploma Project.