Commonly Used Acronyms and Terms in Tennessee Education
Today more than ever before there are many acronyms and terms that may be unfamiliar to the general public. The same is true when it comes to education. It's not surprising that parents and others that do not work in the education field become confused and bewildered when they are bombarded with so many of these acronyms and terms. Hopefully, this list of the more frequently used acronyms / terms with their meanings will help to assist parents in having a clearer understanding of what these mean.
ACT
American College Test – A standardized test that is taken by high school students as a precursor to college/university admission.
AMO
Annual Measurable Objectives
AP
Advanced Placement- A program that enables high school students to complete college-level courses for college placement and/or credit.
Benchmarks
Statement that provides a description of student knowledge expected at specific grades, ages, or developmental levels. Benchmarks often are used in conjunction with standards.
Checks for Understanding
A skill within a sub-category of a state performance indicator in which a child should have a clear understanding.
CLE
A course-level expectation (CLE) is a statement that defines what all students should know and be able to do at the end of a given course.
Cutscore
The minimum score required on a test to obtain a proficiency level score.
CRT
Criterion referenced tests measure an individual student’s performance against a predetermined set of standards which are established based on the curriculum.
EIS
Early Intervening Services
ELL
English Language Learner Student whose first language is one other than English and who needs language assistance to participate fully in the regular curriculum.
EOC
End-of-Course Test - High school tests that include the following areas: Algebra I, English I and II, U.S. History, and Biology. New tests will be added over the next few testing cycles. These tests are course dependant and used as part of the course grade.
ESEA
Elementary and Secondary Education Act- This is the principal federal law affecting K-12 education. The "Every Student Succeeds Act" of 2015 (ESSA) was the reauthorization of the ESEA.
ESL
English as a Second Language -A program model that delivers specialized instruction to students who are learning English as a new language.
ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act- This law governs K-12 education policy in the United States and replaced the "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB).
EXPLORE
A test given to eighth graders, which the results are used to help select students’ classes in high school. The EXPLORE test prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post–high school choices as well. It marks an important beginning for a student's future academic and career success.
Formative Assessment
Formative assessments are designed to evaluate students on a frequent basis so that adjustments can be made in instruction to help them reach target achievement goals.
GLE
A grade-level expectation (GLE) is a statement that defines what all students should know and be able to do at the end of a given grade level.
G/W
Gateway Test - A series of high school tests that include subtests in the following areas: Algebra I, Biology, and English II. These tests are graduation requirements for students who began 9th grade any time starting with the 2000-2001 school year through the 2008-2009 school year. The Gateway Test will no longer be a graduation requirement in Tennessee starting with high school freshmen who begin high school in 2009-2010.
HOSA
Health Occupations Students of America
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - This federal law, reauthorized in 2004, is designed to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.
IEP
Individualized Education Program - The IEP is a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed, at least annually, by a team of professionals knowledgeable about the student and the parent. The plan describes the strengths of the child and the concerns of the parents for enhancing the education of their child, and when, where, and how often services will be provided. The IEP is required by federal law for all exceptional children and must include specific information about how the student will be served and what goals he or she should be meeting.
LEA
Local Education Agency - Synonymous with a local school system or a local school district, indicating that a public board of education or other public authority maintains administrative control of the public schools in a city or county.
NAEP
National Assessment of Educational Progress - also known as the "Nation's Report Card," NAEP assesses the educational achievement of elementary and secondary students in various subject areas. It provides data for comparing the performance of students in Tennessee to that of their peers in the nation.
NCLB
No Child Left Behind - NCLB was the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. However, this law was replaced in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
NRT
Norm Referenced Test - Gives a comparison of student performance in five content areas against a national norm group of students taking a similar test. The expectation is that the average score for a school or school system will be at the national average. Examples of such tests are be the NAEP, ACT, and the SAT test.
OSEP
Office of Special Education Programs- An office of the U.S. Department of Education whose goal is to improve results for children with disabilities (ages birth through 21) by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.
PLAN
A test given to 10th graders to help build a solid foundation for future academic and career success and provides information needed to address school districts' high-priority issues. It is a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.
PSAT
Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test - Normally taken by high school juniors as a practice test for the SAT. Some schools use the PSAT as a diagnostic tool to identify areas where students may need additional assistance or placement in more rigorous courses.
RTI
Response to Intervention- A method of academic intervention designed to provide early, effective assistance to children who are having difficulty learning. RTI seeks to prevent academic failure through early intervention, frequent progress measurement, and increasingly intensive research-based instructional interventions for children who continue to have difficulty.
RTI2
A multi-tiered delivery system that uses a data-driven problem-solving model to identify specific student need and match appropriate instructional strategies. Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) Framework is a component of TNCORE. The TNCORE implementation plan has three legs with student achievement at the center: Assessment alignment and transparency, Instructional materials and curriculum, and Quality training and meaningful support
SACS Accredited
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits elementary, middle and high schools based on rigorous standards for school improvement that focus on student performance.
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for college admission in the United States. It assesses a student's verbal, mathematical and writing skills.
S.C.O.R.E.
State Collaborative on Reforming Education – A long-term education reform that will "ensure that every child graduates high school prepared for college or a career”.
SBE
State Board of Education
SDOE
State Department of Education
SIP
School Improvement Plan - A plan that includes strategies for improving student performance, how and when improvements will be implemented, use of state funds, requests for waivers, etc. Plans are in effect for no more than three years.
SLD
Specific Learning Disabilities-The official term used in federal legislation to refer to difficulty in certain areas of learning, rather than in all areas of learning. It is synonymous with learning disabilities.
SPI
State Performance Indicators- A skill within a subject area deemed necessary by the Tennessee State Department of Education that a child should learn. The state performance indicators are used to develop achievement test questions.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment is generally carried out at the end of a course or project. In an educational setting, summative assessments are typically used to assign students a course grade.
SWD
Students With Disabilities
TCAP
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program - The umbrella under which all Tennessee mandated tests are referenced.
TDP
Tennessee Diploma Project is a school reform initiative to raise Tennessee’s standards and curriculum to better prepare students to be successful after high school. Students beginning high school in Fall 2009 will begin a new path with increased graduation requirements from 20 credits to 22, a focus on the skills needed for college and the workforce in an ever expanding global economy, and new assessments. The goal is for students to graduate with superior knowledge and skills allowing them a choice of continuing their education or securing a desirable job.
Title I
Title I is the largest federal education funding program for schools. Its aim is to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. School funding is based on the number of low-income children, generally those eligible for the free and reduced price lunch program. Many of the major requirements in the No Child Left Behind federal law are outlined in Title I – Adequate Yearly Progress, teacher and paraprofessional standards, accountability, sanctions for schools designated for improvement, standards and assessments, annual state report cards, professional development and parent involvement. Title I was formerly known as Chapter I.
TCSPP
Tennessee Comprehensive System-wide Planning Process - An improvement plan for the school system.
TVAAS
Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System- Value-added measures student progress within a grade and subject, which demonstrates the influence the school has on the students’ performance. This reporting provides diagnostic information for improving educational opportunities for students at all achievement levels.
W/A
Writing Assessment- A written test administered to grades 5, 8 and 11. This test is a state mandated test and results are used in conjunction with the CRT, Gateway and End-of-Course test to determine the standings of the school and system within the state and to account for the state’s national ranking.
WBL
Work-Based Learning (WBL) activities are part of a structured system, open to all students, at the high school level. The activities allow students to apply classroom theories and explore career options at the work site, as well as connect classroom learning to work.
Today more than ever before there are many acronyms and terms that may be unfamiliar to the general public. The same is true when it comes to education. It's not surprising that parents and others that do not work in the education field become confused and bewildered when they are bombarded with so many of these acronyms and terms. Hopefully, this list of the more frequently used acronyms / terms with their meanings will help to assist parents in having a clearer understanding of what these mean.
ACT
American College Test – A standardized test that is taken by high school students as a precursor to college/university admission.
AMO
Annual Measurable Objectives
AP
Advanced Placement- A program that enables high school students to complete college-level courses for college placement and/or credit.
Benchmarks
Statement that provides a description of student knowledge expected at specific grades, ages, or developmental levels. Benchmarks often are used in conjunction with standards.
Checks for Understanding
A skill within a sub-category of a state performance indicator in which a child should have a clear understanding.
CLE
A course-level expectation (CLE) is a statement that defines what all students should know and be able to do at the end of a given course.
Cutscore
The minimum score required on a test to obtain a proficiency level score.
CRT
Criterion referenced tests measure an individual student’s performance against a predetermined set of standards which are established based on the curriculum.
EIS
Early Intervening Services
ELL
English Language Learner Student whose first language is one other than English and who needs language assistance to participate fully in the regular curriculum.
EOC
End-of-Course Test - High school tests that include the following areas: Algebra I, English I and II, U.S. History, and Biology. New tests will be added over the next few testing cycles. These tests are course dependant and used as part of the course grade.
ESEA
Elementary and Secondary Education Act- This is the principal federal law affecting K-12 education. The "Every Student Succeeds Act" of 2015 (ESSA) was the reauthorization of the ESEA.
ESL
English as a Second Language -A program model that delivers specialized instruction to students who are learning English as a new language.
ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act- This law governs K-12 education policy in the United States and replaced the "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB).
EXPLORE
A test given to eighth graders, which the results are used to help select students’ classes in high school. The EXPLORE test prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post–high school choices as well. It marks an important beginning for a student's future academic and career success.
Formative Assessment
Formative assessments are designed to evaluate students on a frequent basis so that adjustments can be made in instruction to help them reach target achievement goals.
GLE
A grade-level expectation (GLE) is a statement that defines what all students should know and be able to do at the end of a given grade level.
G/W
Gateway Test - A series of high school tests that include subtests in the following areas: Algebra I, Biology, and English II. These tests are graduation requirements for students who began 9th grade any time starting with the 2000-2001 school year through the 2008-2009 school year. The Gateway Test will no longer be a graduation requirement in Tennessee starting with high school freshmen who begin high school in 2009-2010.
HOSA
Health Occupations Students of America
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - This federal law, reauthorized in 2004, is designed to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.
IEP
Individualized Education Program - The IEP is a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed, at least annually, by a team of professionals knowledgeable about the student and the parent. The plan describes the strengths of the child and the concerns of the parents for enhancing the education of their child, and when, where, and how often services will be provided. The IEP is required by federal law for all exceptional children and must include specific information about how the student will be served and what goals he or she should be meeting.
LEA
Local Education Agency - Synonymous with a local school system or a local school district, indicating that a public board of education or other public authority maintains administrative control of the public schools in a city or county.
NAEP
National Assessment of Educational Progress - also known as the "Nation's Report Card," NAEP assesses the educational achievement of elementary and secondary students in various subject areas. It provides data for comparing the performance of students in Tennessee to that of their peers in the nation.
NCLB
No Child Left Behind - NCLB was the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. However, this law was replaced in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
NRT
Norm Referenced Test - Gives a comparison of student performance in five content areas against a national norm group of students taking a similar test. The expectation is that the average score for a school or school system will be at the national average. Examples of such tests are be the NAEP, ACT, and the SAT test.
OSEP
Office of Special Education Programs- An office of the U.S. Department of Education whose goal is to improve results for children with disabilities (ages birth through 21) by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.
PLAN
A test given to 10th graders to help build a solid foundation for future academic and career success and provides information needed to address school districts' high-priority issues. It is a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.
PSAT
Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test - Normally taken by high school juniors as a practice test for the SAT. Some schools use the PSAT as a diagnostic tool to identify areas where students may need additional assistance or placement in more rigorous courses.
RTI
Response to Intervention- A method of academic intervention designed to provide early, effective assistance to children who are having difficulty learning. RTI seeks to prevent academic failure through early intervention, frequent progress measurement, and increasingly intensive research-based instructional interventions for children who continue to have difficulty.
RTI2
A multi-tiered delivery system that uses a data-driven problem-solving model to identify specific student need and match appropriate instructional strategies. Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) Framework is a component of TNCORE. The TNCORE implementation plan has three legs with student achievement at the center: Assessment alignment and transparency, Instructional materials and curriculum, and Quality training and meaningful support
SACS Accredited
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits elementary, middle and high schools based on rigorous standards for school improvement that focus on student performance.
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for college admission in the United States. It assesses a student's verbal, mathematical and writing skills.
S.C.O.R.E.
State Collaborative on Reforming Education – A long-term education reform that will "ensure that every child graduates high school prepared for college or a career”.
SBE
State Board of Education
SDOE
State Department of Education
SIP
School Improvement Plan - A plan that includes strategies for improving student performance, how and when improvements will be implemented, use of state funds, requests for waivers, etc. Plans are in effect for no more than three years.
SLD
Specific Learning Disabilities-The official term used in federal legislation to refer to difficulty in certain areas of learning, rather than in all areas of learning. It is synonymous with learning disabilities.
SPI
State Performance Indicators- A skill within a subject area deemed necessary by the Tennessee State Department of Education that a child should learn. The state performance indicators are used to develop achievement test questions.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment is generally carried out at the end of a course or project. In an educational setting, summative assessments are typically used to assign students a course grade.
SWD
Students With Disabilities
TCAP
Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program - The umbrella under which all Tennessee mandated tests are referenced.
TDP
Tennessee Diploma Project is a school reform initiative to raise Tennessee’s standards and curriculum to better prepare students to be successful after high school. Students beginning high school in Fall 2009 will begin a new path with increased graduation requirements from 20 credits to 22, a focus on the skills needed for college and the workforce in an ever expanding global economy, and new assessments. The goal is for students to graduate with superior knowledge and skills allowing them a choice of continuing their education or securing a desirable job.
Title I
Title I is the largest federal education funding program for schools. Its aim is to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. School funding is based on the number of low-income children, generally those eligible for the free and reduced price lunch program. Many of the major requirements in the No Child Left Behind federal law are outlined in Title I – Adequate Yearly Progress, teacher and paraprofessional standards, accountability, sanctions for schools designated for improvement, standards and assessments, annual state report cards, professional development and parent involvement. Title I was formerly known as Chapter I.
TCSPP
Tennessee Comprehensive System-wide Planning Process - An improvement plan for the school system.
TVAAS
Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System- Value-added measures student progress within a grade and subject, which demonstrates the influence the school has on the students’ performance. This reporting provides diagnostic information for improving educational opportunities for students at all achievement levels.
W/A
Writing Assessment- A written test administered to grades 5, 8 and 11. This test is a state mandated test and results are used in conjunction with the CRT, Gateway and End-of-Course test to determine the standings of the school and system within the state and to account for the state’s national ranking.
WBL
Work-Based Learning (WBL) activities are part of a structured system, open to all students, at the high school level. The activities allow students to apply classroom theories and explore career options at the work site, as well as connect classroom learning to work.