Tennessee – Request to Amend Accountability Plans – NCLB Policy Letters to States

March 2, 2004

Honorable Lana Seivers
Commissioner of Education
Tennessee Department of Education
Andrew Johnson Tower – 6th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0375

Dear Commissioner Seivers:

I am writing to follow up on your letter of November 13, 2003 in which you submitted several amendments to the Tennessee accountability plan.

With respect to the amendments related to Elements 3.2 (application of the safe harbor methodology) and 7.1 (graduation rate definition), Tennessee may make these changes. Based on conversations with Tennessee, it is our understanding that students receive extra time to earn a regular diploma only when this allowance is written into the Individual Education Program plan for students with disabilities or deemed necessary by the limited English proficient (LEP) team at the school for LEP students. Please update your accountability plan with these amendments and submit it to your State contact so that the most up-to-date plan is available and on the Department’s website.

We will continue to work with Tennessee to implement these accountability provisions and ensure that all students reach proficiency.

Sincerely,

Raymond Simon
Assistant Secretary
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Table of Contents Decision Letters on State Accountability Plans