[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN WEST TENNESSEE

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                        HON. STEPHEN LEE FINCHER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Mr. FINCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize schools in the 
Fayette County, Henry County, Hollow Rock-Bruceton, McKenzie Special, 
Milan Special, South Carroll County Special, and Union City districts. 
Each of these districts in West Tennessee earned the state's highest 
status of ``exemplary'' for their efforts to raise student growth and 
close achievements gaps during the 2011-2012 school year.
   The Tennessee Department of Education recently received a federal 
waiver to replace the No Child Left Behind accountability system with 
its own. Tennessee's new accountability system recognizes students 
across the state have different needs and a one-size-fits-all approach 
doesn't always work. It measures growth and improvement based on a 
school's starting point of proficiency, rather than expecting all 
schools to meet specific proficiency targets each year.
   To reach exemplary status under Tennessee's new accountability 
system, schools in the Fayette County, Henry County, Hollow Rock-
Bruceton, McKenzie Special, Milan Special, South Carroll County 
Special, and Union City districts met the majority of their achievement 
and gap closure targets and ensured students moved forward or held 
steady in target areas. Attaining exemplary status shows these schools 
are truly making improvements and helping students learn.
   On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I commend 
the teachers and staff of these school districts for their hard work 
and commitment to improving public education for all students in 
Tennessee. Please join me in congratulating them on their success and 
achievements.

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