When the annual state Report Cards on Tennessee's more than 1,600 public schools are released soon, don't be surprised if the scores are lower even if student performance has not gone down.
That's the word of caution coming from top state education officials and leaders of the two local school systems.

There have been changes in the method of calculating scores and the scale used to determine the letter grades has been revised to allow for transition to the new, tougher state standards required by the Tennessee Diploma Project.
 "Once again, the finish line has been moved on us," Director Sweetwater City of Schools Dr. Keith Hickey said.

The longtime city schools director said with the changes, what used to be a "B" on the Report Card will now likely be a "C" or perhaps even a "D."        
Hickey and Monroe County Director of Schools Mike Lowry have been talking about the changes for months.  And with the Report Card's release looming early next month, the Tennessee Department of Education went on the offensive this week educating the public about the potential drop in sores with media releases and even a local briefing held at McMinn County High School Monday night, which Hickey and Lowry both attended with other area school directors.

Robert Greene is a former Sweetwater High School football coach in the late 1970s and later was director of the Meigs County School System.
Greene is now the state deputy education commissioner in Nashville. He spoke at the meeting in McMinn County Monday and stressed students' performance is not going down even if scores do.
In fact, state education officials point out Tennessee students are performing better and better, thus necessitating the tougher grading scale.

There have been two main changes to the report card.
Scores used to be based on progress made from a 1998 test score baseline.
But now the baseline will be the 2009 test data. Comparison of the 2009 Report Card data with previous years' scores will not be possible this year.

"All you can do is compare yourself to the state average and other school systems," Lowry said.
Second, a new grade scale will be used. The scale used to determine all grades A through F has undergone a major revision, according to the Tennessee Department of Education.
In the past, the state defined student proficiency in subject matter as a very basic understanding of the knowledge required. But now the Tennessee Diploma project requires that students master a concept to be considered proficient.

Not only has the way of calculating student academic growth changed, but also the standardized test students take each year to arrive at the Report Card data will be tougher beginning in 2010.
"It's kind of a double-whammy," Hickey said.

Hickey said the last time the state changed the Report Cards in 2003, the city system suffered a negative impact on its scores.
Hickey said in a broad generalization, what students are expected to learn has been pushed down a grade level. In other words, fourth-grade subject matter is now being taught in the third grade.
Hickey and Lowry said teachers have known for sometime the changes were coming and have trained and altered their teaching to meet the new standards.

"I feel very good about what our teachers and administrators are doing," Lowry said.
Mike Garren is the federal programs coordinator for K-12 in the county school system. He said teachers began last year teaching the new curriculum one year ahead of state changes.
When the report cards come out, they will still contain letter grades for achievement and value-added scores. Garren said it is important to remember that a "C" score in value-added means students have met state expectations and have made a year's worth of academic growth.
Hickey said the city system was able to make great progress after a drop in scores the last time the state made major Report Card changes and suspects city schools will again, though it could be more difficult this time.
Greene summoned up what all of the changes should mean for students.

"They may not score as well but they will be more ready for college and more ready for some type of career after college," he said.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101
The Daily Post-Athenian contributed to this report.