Robert Green, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education, addressed the county school board about what to expect from higher benchmarks for testing that are a part of the state's Tennessee Diploma Project.

Green said he wanted to warn school administrators to expect test scores to drop at least one letter grade under the new standards. He said the state decided to "bite the bullet" and raise part of the baseline this year instead of instituting the entire change at once next year. Green said of the schools already being tested at the higher standards  "87 percent dropped at least a letter grade in most cases." 

Green told the board it is important for them to understand the drop is to be expected. "I don't want people to think the teachers and administrators aren't doing their job - we changed the rules in the middle of the game." He added next year the standards will be raised even more with the full implementation of Tennessee Diploma Project. He likened the change to a football team excelling in the Southern Conference suddenly finding itself in the Southeastern Conference - lower expectations are in order. 

Green said while the changes this year are hard "next year will be really tough."  He cited higher standards in the curriculum, on tests and more difficulty for students to get a passing grade. Green asked Director of Loudon County Schools Wayne Honeycutt how test scores looked so far this year. Honeycutt replied that Green's estimate of scores dropping a letter grade was "about right." 

The new higher standards include upping the requirements for graduation including an extra credit in both math and science. Now students across the state will need four English credits; four math credits including Algebra two and one upper level math course; three science credits one of which must be chemistry or physics along with another laboratory science; three social studies credits; a credit for world history or world geography, a U.S. History credit and a half credit each for economics and government; one and half credits in wellness, physical education and personal finance; and six credits in fine art, a foreign language and an elective focus.

Green said lower test scores this year reflect teachers were not given time to at school to teach to the new standards. But he anticipates test scores will rise as students and teachers alike become accustomed to the new standards. 

"As the students go through they will get better each year," Green said. He reiterated that next year would be even more difficult.  "You've got some really tough hurdles, but it's what we need to do."