By AP
Nashville, TN – Governor Phil Bredesen is urging Tennessee lawmakers to quickly approve his education proposals in a special session. In a speech to lawmakers on Tuesday, the Democratic governor noted that out of every 100 ninth-graders, only 19 go on to earn a college degree.
Bredesen was making his case for changes in K-12 education he says are needed to strengthen the state's application for $485 million in federal "Race to the Top" money. The application is due on January 19th.
One area of contention is Bredesen's proposal to make student testing data a major factor in evaluating teachers and making tenure decisions. Bredesen is also proposing a series of changes in higher education, including changing the state's funding formula to emphasize graduation rates instead of enrollment.