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Nashville, TN – Three Tennessee students have been named 2008 U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for outstanding high school students. Graduating seniors Rachel L. Hawkins of Gallatin High School; Lindsey P. McCloy of Franklin High School and Michael H. Schulson of Baylor School each received the national award based on their overall academic performance. Just 139 students nationwide were named presidential scholars this year.

“Congratulations to these students on the remarkable honor of being named presidential scholars,” Acting Education Commissioner Tim Webb said. “It is a rare distinction to earn national recognition for one’s achievements.”

Scholars are invited to Washington, D.C. June 21-24 for a series of engagements as part of the award program. Each student may choose an inspiring or challenging teacher to travel to Washington to receive a Teacher Recognition Award and participate in recognition events.

“The Presidential Scholars Program gives well-deserved recognition to high-achieving students and the teachers who inspired them to achieve great things,” Assistant Commissioner for Teaching and Learning Susie Bunch said. “Tennessee is fortunate to have many excellent students and educators worthy of such praise. I commend these students on their accomplishment.”

Two students from each state and 15 at-large students were selected as presidential scholars each year. Additionally, 20 students nationwide were named Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The 2008 Presidential Scholars were chosen from among roughly 3,000 candidates who qualified out of more than 3 million graduating U.S. seniors.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.

Nashville, TN – Funds are available to assist Tennessee teachers who choose to pursue professional certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the Tennessee Department of Education announced today. Eligible Tennessee teachers may receive $1,250 toward the National Board Certification fee and have until December 31, 2008 to apply for the subsidies.

“The classroom teacher is the single most important factor affecting a student’s achievement in school,” Acting Education Commissioner Tim Webb said. “Achieving National Board Certification is one way Tennessee educators can continue to sharpen their skills and remain effective in the classroom.”

According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Web site (www.nbpts.org), 287 Tennessee teachers have achieved National Board Certification. Applicants must have at least three years of full-time teaching experience and hold a Tennessee professional teacher license. Priority is given to teachers from high-priority schools and those who currently teach in a Tennessee public school.

National Board Certification is one possible route to attaining highly qualified status under No Child Left Behind. Candidates compile a portfolio that demonstrates how they meet National Board standards and undergo an assessment responding to questions about classroom situations and subject matter. Forty percent of candidates complete the process in one year. Teachers who do not master all components in the first year retain accomplished scores and may complete remaining components within the next two years.

Applications for subsidy awards from the U.S. Department of Education are now being accepted for the 2008-09 school year. A subsidy application is available at http://www.state.tn.us/education/tpd/ntnl_bd_cert.shtml. For more information about National Board Certification, go to www.nbpts.org or contact Johnny Crow, the Tennessee candidate subsidy administrator, at johnny.crow@state.tn.us .

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.

Nashville, TN – Twenty-seven Title I schools in Tennessee performed in the top 10 percent in the state in reading/language arts and math the 2006-07 school year. These schools are the 2008 recipients of Title I Academic Achievement Awards for their exceptional academic performance and for meeting the adequate yearly progress goals of No Child Left Behind for two consecutive years.

“It is wonderful to honor the hard work evident in this accomplishment,” Acting Education Commissioner Tim Webb said. “Recognizing our schools’ successes is as vital to accountability as implementing reform when needed. Local educators and students should take pride in the example they have set for the rest of the state.”

Title I is a designation given to schools where a large number or percentage of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This award program is based on performance on the annual Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP).

“This tremendous achievement shows that schools with high percentages of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can still meet high standards,” said Julie McCargar, Executive Director of Federal Programs. “Congratulations to the district staff, school staff, and students at these schools.”

The 2008 Title I Academic Achievement Award recipients are:

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.

Nashville, TN – With a commitment to the health and well-being of every student in the state, the Tennessee Department of Education announced today the establishment of new rules that will ensure each student athlete is at the top of their game both physically and as a well-rounded student.

A new State Board of Education rule will require athletes entering the seventh and ninth grade for the 2008-09 school year to have a complete health maintenance exam also known as a “well-child check” or Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) exam prior to sports participation.

“Improving and ensuring the health of every student, so they can focus on their most important job of learning, is one of our single biggest priorities,” said Tim Webb, Acting Education Commissioner.

The health maintenance exam includes a thorough history, a physical exam, screening for hearing and vision, laboratory tests, immunizations and age-appropriate education. It also covers all the items needed so athletes can be cleared for participation in sports.

These exams are different from typical sports physicals, which do not address the behavioral, emotional and psychosocial topics covered during a comprehensive health maintenance exam. When the complete health exam is substituted for a sports physical, there is increased opportunity to address issues vital to a student’s health.

“Given the number of chronic health problems rooted in childhood, it is important to tackle these problems early and this exam provides a venue to address these areas,” said Dr. Veronica Gunn, Chief Medical Officer of the Tennessee Department of Health.

Students may obtain the comprehensive exam from their primary care provider, or if a child is uninsured, parents can inquire about eligibility for other health care programs like TennCare at www.state.tn.us/tenncare or Cover Kids at www.covertn.gov/web/cover_kids.html. Detailed information on this physical can be found at the Department of Health’s Web site: http://health.state.tn.us/sportsphysical.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.

Nashville, TN - Tennessee schools, districts and programs were honored this month for their outstanding service to students with special needs. These awardees model exemplary practices in educating and meeting the needs of students with special needs in regular classroom settings.

“We commend these programs for their efforts to provide students the services they need alongside their peers,” Assistant Commissioner for Special Education Joseph Fisher said. “The goal is for all students in Tennessee schools to gain the knowledge and skills to lead productive, meaningful lives. These awardees have done an exceptional job of honoring this goal for students with special needs.”

Below are the 2008 award recipients for excellence in special education:

1. Athens City Preschool - McMinn County
2. Loudon County Middle School - Loudon County
3. Maryville City Schools - Blount County
4. Kingsport City Preschool - Sullivan County
5. Lebanon Special School District - Lebanon City School District
6. The Independence Class - Putnam County
7. EIME Early Intervention and Mechanical Engineering Project - Tennessee Tech University - Putnam County
8. Harpeth Middle School - Cheatham County
9. Paul G. Caywood Pre-K - 5 - Lexington City Schools - Lexington County
10. Geeter Middle School - Memphis City Schools
11. Westhaven Elementary School - Memphis City Schools
12. Evans Elementary - Memphis City Schools
13. Gibson County High School - Gibson County

Mr. Fisher formally recognized the recipients at the Division of Special Education’s annual conference themed “Working Together for Success.” Federal law provides that students with special needs are to be educated separately only if their education cannot be satisfactorily achieved in the regular setting. This recognition program honors programs that do an exceptional job helping students with special needs achieve in the regular classroom.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.