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Response to Public Chapter 585 (2012): HIV/AIDS Prevention Education in Tennessee Public Schools
April 2013
Authors:
Kim Potts / Tara Bergfeld
School Day Start Times
April 2013
Author:
Tara Bergfeld
2012 Memorandum to District Attorneys and Public Defenders
February 2013
Author:
Susan Mattson
Civic Education Assessments in Tennessee
February 2013
Authors:
Kim Potts / Tara Bergfeld
Tennessee Local Public Education Foundations
January 2013
Authors:
Linda Wesson / Tara Bergfeld
FY2011–12 Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study Update
January 2013
Author:
Susan Mattson
Trends in Teacher Compensation: Focus on Alternative Salary Schedules
January 2013
Author:
Linda Wesson
Methamphetamine Production in Tennessee
January 2013
Authors:
Shiri Anderson / Susan Mattson
Contact:
Susan Mattson
Teacher Planning Time in Tennessee
December 2012
Author:
Rebecca Wright
Teacher Professional Development in Tennessee - Part 2
December 2012
Author:
Rebecca Wright
Homeless Students in Tennessee Public Schools
October 2012
Author:
Kim Potts
Homeschooling in Tennessee
September 2012
Author:
Rebecca Wright
K-12 Virtual Schools
May 2012
Author:
Kim Potts
Autism in Tennessee: Part 3--Health
May 2012
Author:
Doug Wright
Recent Teacher Policy Changes in Tennessee: Teacher Evaluations
March 2012
Author:
Rebecca Wright
Recent Teacher Policy Changes in Tennessee: From Collective Bargaining to Collaborative Conferencing
March 2012
Author:
Linda Wesson
Recent Teacher Policy Changes in Tennessee: Achieving and Maintaining Tenure
March 2012
Author:
Linda Wesson
The Alignment of Tennessee's Education Initiatives: Public Chapter 529, 2011
March 2012
Author:
Russell Moore
Statutory Options for School District Mergers: Report Addressing House Resolution 30, 2011
March 2012
Author:
Linda Wesson
English Language Learners in Tennessee Public Schools
February 2012
Author:
Kim Potts
2011 Memorandum to District Attorneys and Public Defenders
December 2011
Contact:
Susan Mattson
FY2010-11 Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study Update
December 2011
Authors:
Doug Wright / Susan Mattson
Contact:
Susan Mattson
A Review of Tennessee's Report Card on the Effectiveness of Teacher Training Programs
October 2011
Author:
Joseph Woodson
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
September 2011
Author:
Linda Wesson
Evaluation of Tennessee's High School Uniform Grading Policy
September 2011
Author:
Susan Mattson
Legislative Brief: Coordinated School Health
September 2011
Author:
Sarah Cooper
Contact:
Russell Moore
Scopes of Work: How Select Districts are using Race to the Top Funds
September 2011
Author:
Nneka Norman-Gordon
Teacher Professional Development in Tennessee--Part 1
July 2011
Author:
Rebecca Wright
Assessing the Impact of Tennessee's Pre-Kindergarten Program: Final Report
June 2011
Author:
Strategic Research Group
Contact:
Phil Doss
Analysis of An Economic Report to the Governor, 2011
April 2011
Author:
Keith Boring
International Assessments
April 2011
Author:
Kim Potts
Basic Education Program Insurance Premiums
March 2011
Contacts:
Keith Boring / Phil Doss
SRG Pre-K Presentation to Education Committees
March 2011
Author:
Strategic Research Group
Contact:
Phil Doss
Charter School Task Force Report
February 2011
Authors:
Phil Doss / Rebecca Wright
Contact:
Russell Moore
FY2009-10 Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study Update
January 2011
Author:
Susan Mattson
2009-10 Memorandum to District Attorneys and Public Defenders
January 2011
Contact:
Susan Mattson
Tennessee Basic Education Program: An Analysis
December 2010
Author:
Keith Boring
Contacts:
Keith Boring / Phil Doss
Adult Education
December 2010
Author:
Kim Potts
Autism in Tennessee: Part 2 - Education
December 2010
Author:
Joseph Woodson
Assessing the Effectiveness of Tennessee’s Pre-Kindergarten Program: Second Annual Report
October 2010
Author:
Strategic Research Group
Contact:
Phil Doss
Michigan Virtual School
August 2010
Author:
Brennan McMahon
Contact:
Phil Doss
Family Engagement in Education
July 2010
Author:
Susan Mattson
Tennessee’s Graduated Driver Licensing Law
June 2010
Author:
Nneka Norman-Gordon
Tennessee’s Race to the Top Application
May 2010
Author:
Regina Riley
Zero Tolerance: An Update, 2010
April 2010
Author:
Angela Mullin-Jackson
Contact:
Russell Moore
Adolescent Literacy: Tennessee’s Efforts to Address Literacy for Adolescent Learners
March 2010
Authors:
Kim Potts / Regina Riley
Charter School Task Force Report
March 2010
Authors:
Erin Do / Phil Doss
Supplemental Educational Services in Tennessee
March 2010
Authors:
Kim Potts / Russell Moore
Assessing the Effectiveness of Tennessee’s Pre-Kindergarten Program: Third Interim Report
March 2010
Author:
Strategic Research Group
Contact:
Phil Doss
State Education Profiles: Utah, Florida, North Carolina
February 2010
Contact:
Russell Moore
FY2008-2009 Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study Update
January 2010
Author:
Susan Mattson
Commercial Fishing in Tennessee
January 2010
Authors:
Cara Huwieler / Doug Wright
Autism in Tennessee: Part 1 - An Introduction to Issues and Data Collection Methods
October 2009
Author:
Joseph Woodson
On the Horizon: State Initiative to Strengthen Tennessee Principals
October 2009
Authors:
Katie Cour / Regina Riley
Tennessee’s Pre-Kindergarten Program
October 2009
Author:
Nneka Norman-Gordon
More Rigorous Standards and New Graduation Requirements
September 2009
Authors:
Katie Cour / Kim Potts
Keeping Tennessee Schools Safe
September 2009
Authors:
Angela Mullin-Jackson / Susan Mattson
A Roadmap to Success: A Plan to Make Tennessee Schools #1 in the Southeast Within Five Years
October 2009
Author:
Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE)
Understanding Tennesseans' Attitudes About Education
February 2006
Author:
Center for Business and Economic Research
Contact:
Phil Doss
A Critical Mission: Making Adolescent Reading an Immediate Priority in SREB States
May 2009
Author:
Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)
Contact:
Kim Potts
Investing in People: Tennessee's Commitment to 21st Century Higher Education Excellence
May 1999
Author:
Governor Sundquist's Council on Excellence in Higher Education
Reports to the State Funding Board: Analyses of An Economic Report to the Governor
January 2009
Contact:
Keith Boring

OREA is a joint creation of the Tennessee General Assembly and former Comptroller William R. Snodgrass. The General Assembly created the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) within the Comptroller’s Office as part of 1992’s Education Improvement Act. Comptroller Snodgrass merged OEA with another new policy unit, the Office of Research (OR), to create OREA in July 1994.

 

OREA supports the General Assembly and Comptroller with accurate and objective policy research and analysis. OREA reports have informed policy debates within the state legislature, led to changes in state law, and sparked the creation of state initiatives to address critical needs. The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society has recognized the significant impact (dollar savings, program improvements, or increased legislative awareness) of select OREA reports every year since 2002.

 

The office has issued reports covering a wide range of policy topics since 1994, from education to health care to criminal justice. Our body of published work, housed and organized on this website, chronicles our organization’s responsiveness to the varied research and evaluation needs of the General Assembly. Our current projects exhibit similar diversity – please click here to access our latest publications.

 

Phillip Doss, Ph.D.
Offices of Research and Education Accountability
Suite 1700, James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0268
Telephone - (615) 401-7866
Fax - (615) 532-9237
Phillip.Doss@cot.tn.gov

 

Welcome to the website of the Comptroller's Offices of Research and Education Accountability. We have designed the website as a research center for legislators and legislative staff, but are hopeful that our audience will also include members of the media, students, staff of other research organizations, and the general public. Our intent is to inform the debate that occurs within Legislative Plaza and throughout the state; our belief is that better-informed debate will lead to better policy decisions.

 

We would like for this website to serve as a research portal. Think of us and this website as an addition to your research staff. The website has been designed to be easily searchable and user-friendly. We will strive to make it continuously relevant. If you would like to be notified whenever we release a publication, take a moment and sign up for our OREA email alerts.

 

We will continue to post Legislative Briefs (overviews and policy considerations for the state's most pressing issues), and we will also from time to time post other resource documents that can inform policy discussions.

 

None of our work would be possible without our dedicated, professional staff. Click on the staff information page to learn more about them and their areas of expertise. They stand ready to support state lawmakers searching for accurate information, so feel free to call or email them using the provided contact information.

 

During the 107th General Assembly, and over the years to come, we look forward to analyzing the problems that confront Tennessee, and working with you toward solving them.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Phillip E. Doss, Ph.D.

Administration

 

Phillip Doss

Director

Phillip.Doss@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7869

 

Education

Ph.D. (1996), Humanities, University of Texas at Arlington

M.A. (1982), English, University of Idaho

B.A. (1972), English, Rhodes College

 

OREA Research

Charter schools, pre-kindergarten, nursing homes, lottery, annexation and municipal growth

 

Russell Moore

Assistant Director

Russell.Moore@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7880

 

Education

M.S.W. (2002), Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

B.A. (1998), History, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 

OREA Research

High priority schools, alternative schools, high school exit exams

 

Sherrill Murrell

Executive Secretary-CPS

Sherrill.Murrell@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7866 

  

Researchers

  

Shiri Anderson

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

Shiri.Anderson@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7886

 

 Education

 M.S. (2007) Management, Austin Peay State University

 B.S. (2004) Public Management, Austin Peay State University

 

Tara Bergfeld

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

Tara.Bergfeld@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7885

 

Education

B.A. (2008), History, Belmont University

 

Erin Do

Principal Legislative Research Analyst

Erin.Do@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7889

 

Education

M.A. (2004), Public Policy Analysis, Duquesne University

B.A. (2002), Religion and Sociology, Furman University

 

OREA Research

Poor birth outcomes, charter schools, high priority schools, healthcare for the uninsured

 

Elizabeth Jones

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

mailto:Susan.Mattson@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7778

 

Education

M.A. (2011), Political Science, Loyola University Chicago

B.A. (2007), Political Science, Minors in Spanish and International Studies, 
Central College

 

Susan Mattson

Principal Legislative Research Analyst

Susan.Mattson@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7884

 

Education

M.P.A. (1982), Public Administration with emphasis on Public Policy Analysis, University of Kentucky

B.A. (1977), Economics and Urban Studies, Rhodes College

 

OREA Research

Courts, immigration, vehicle liability insurance, school violence

 

Nneka Norman-Gordon

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

Nneka.Norman-Gordon@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7877

 

Education

M.A. (2004), Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Austin Peay State University 

B.A. (1998), Psychology with a minor in Naval Science, Hampton University

 

OREA Research

Child care, racial profiling, mental health, early childhood education, dropout preventio

 

Kim Potts

Principal Legislative Research Analyst

Kim.Potts@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7875

 

Education

M.P.A. (2000), Public Administration, Tennessee State University’s Institute of Government. 

B.A. (1982), English and Journalism, Murray State University.

 

OREA Research

Reading/literacy, high priority schools, high school reform, graduation rates, dropout prevention, e-learning

 

Linda Wesson

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

Linda.Wesson@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7881

 

Education

M.P.A. (1982) Public Administration, University of Tennessee

B.S. (1980) Communications, University of Tennessee   

 

Joseph Woodson

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

Joseph.Woodson@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7874

 

Education

B.A. (2006), History, with a minor in Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 

OREA Research

Autism, teacher tenure and compensation, special education, alcohol and drug laws,environment

 

Douglas Wright

Principal Legislative Research Analyst

Douglas.W.Wright@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7870

 

 Education

 M.P.P.A. (1986), Public Policy and Administration, Mississippi State University

 B.S. (1980), Business Administration, Southeast Missouri State University

 

OREA Research

TennCare, health, judicial topics, solid waste, water planning, transportation planning,       GIS, endangered species, autism

Rebecca E. Wright

Associate Legislative Research Analyst

Rebecca.E.Wright@cot.tn.gov

(615) 401-7873

Education

M.P.P. (2010), K-12 Education Policy, Vanderbilt University

B.S. (2007), Secondary Social Science Education with a minor in Religion, Southeastern University

OREA Research

Charter schools, Basic Education Program, teacher professional development

 

The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES), a staff section associated with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), recognizes states that have issued reports that have had significant impact, such as dollar savings, program improvements, or increased legislative awareness. The following OREA reports received such Impact Awards from NLPES.