Bredesen said the changes were essential given that state tests indicate 80 percent of all students are proficient in math, but only 21 percent of students score mathematically proficient on the National Assessment of Education Progress test.

Theres only one reason that could be, and that is, our tests our way too easy, Bredesen said, while urging the public and lawmakers not to backslide on tougher standards as he leaves office in six months. To hand someone a diploma who does not have the skills to go out and be successful in college or at one of these (high-tech) companies is not doing anybody any favors or helping us to succeed.

It may be uncomfortable, but I know you really want what is best for your child. And your child is out competing against a lot of people who have these skills, some of whom are in this country, and some who are in another country.

Bredesen, delivering the keynote for Kingsports Straight to the Top Conference at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, applauded Kingsport and Sullivan County for being the quick to realize this fundamental connection between a truly educated workforce and a stable local economy.

Site selection consultants used to dismiss Kingsport as a part of the rust belt with a lot of old industry, Bredesen said. Nobody says that today. This is a part of our state that has really transformed its economy in some really fundamental ways ‚¬¦ and is training a 21st century workforce. Kingsport and Sullivan County are gaining national recognition for that. The academic village model is something that is being talked about around the country.

To highlight the nexus between education and economics, Bredesen indicated that a major manufacturing prospect Tennessee is currently pursuing is adamant they will not even interview someone without two years of education beyond high school, adding that 80 percent of jobs today now require a minimum two years of college. Since 2002, Kingsport and Sullivan County have offered every high school graduate free tuition to Northeast State Community College.

For a long time in our country a good job was a place you went to work right after high school ‚¬¦ I suspect Eastman (Chemical Company) was one of those over the years, Bredesen said.‚  With the mobile society we live in today, the very best protection is not getting on at Eastman early on, it is to have the skills it takes to go wherever you want and be able to get the kind of job that supports a family and lets you live the American dream.

Meanwhile, Eastman CEO Jim Rogers, who introduced the Governor, noted his companys commitment to education, with 200 employees who are trained to work in more than 100 local school systems.

I may not be an expert in this area, but I am a customer of the work you do, Rogers told educators and administrators in the room. What you do is extremely important to us. And we hope you are going to deliver the graduates who give us a competitive leg up.

Earlier in Tuesdays session, former Washington D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and current Lecturer in Public Management at the Harvard Kennedy School likewise commended Kingsport for helping residents to punch their meal ticket and thereby encouraging trust in the larger direction of local government.

How does a city become a viable, memorable city in a region and compete in the global economy, Williams asked. What are the ingredients? Most are spelled out in a common understanding in terms of building convention centers like this one or having great sports facilities or bringing in some entertainment to your city. But where all of us are impressed with Kingsport is that you are doing all of these things, but you are also looking at education and understanding the role of education in economic development. I think that is the genius of Kingsports plan.

Summing up the conference, Mayor Dennis Phillips noted that the leadership of Kingsport is not going to fail, and this is only the beginning of what we hope to accomplish.

Set in the context of Tennessees successful Race to the Top award and
Kingsports notoriety in higher education garnered with the Harvard
Innovations in American Government Award, the conference highlights
Kingsports decade-long focus on the nexus between education and
economic stability.

It is a tremendous honor for Kingsport to host this conference and
spread the word that Kingsport and Tennessee are on the cusp of an
innovation explosion, leading the way to a stronger, integrated and far
more relevant relationship between K-12 and the higher education
system, Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips said Thursday.

A sampling of topics includes a presentation by Dr. William Sanders,
creator of Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System that measures growth
in student learning instead of static test scores. Dr. Sanders will be
discussing how TVASS can be used as predictive tool in guiding classroom
planning and directing instructional dollars.

"Tennessee has an unprecedented opportunity with the resources provided
by Race to the Top," Tennessee Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said.
"The investment in our students now means a more educated workforce for
the future of our state. This is possible only through support from our
businesses and organizations, like those joining us this week in
Kingsport."

Offering two tracks, the Straight to the Top conference will focus on
both K-12 and higher education. Kingsport recently earned the
Innovations in American Government Award from Harvard Universitys
Kennedy School of Government recognizing Kingsports decade-long drive
to increase higher education access through the Educate & Grow
scholarships available to any high school graduate, as well as the new
downtown Academic Village offering instruction provided by both public
and private colleges and universities.

At the same time, Kingsports K-12 system is working diligently to
become a data-driven, results-oriented organization that integrates
early college coursework into the high school curriculum.

In todays challenging global economy, the quality of a communitys
local workforce is invaluable to ensuring a communitys long-term
livelihood and economic success, said Stephen Goldsmith, director of
the Innovations in Government Program at Harvard Kennedy School. As a
2009 Innovations in American Government Award winner, the city of
Kingsport has demonstrated an impressive commitment to revitalizing its
community through a host of creative measures that municipalities
nationwide can adopt to similarly achieve their economic potential.

Mondays Straight to the Top sessions will focus on strengthening early
college instruction and talent recovery, while a concurrent session
focuses on integrating early college coursework into K-12 studies.
Mondays sessions will also highlight Tennessees upcoming
teacher/principal evaluation requirements and the work of Tennessees
Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee.

Tuesdays sessions will feature Gov. Phil Bredesen, Commissioner Webb,
Eastman CEO Jim Rogers and Anthony Williams, former Mayor of Washington,
DC and current William H. Bloomberg Lecturer in Public Management at
the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. These sessions will focus on
Leveraging Academic Excellence for Economic Success as well as providing
insight into Kingsports development of the Educate & Grow
scholarships and Academic Village.

Also Tuesday, Commissioner Webb will moderate a panel discussion on
developing Greater Teachers and Leaders featuring Brad Leon, Executive
Director, Teach for America, Dean Bob Rider of the University of
Tennessee and Gera Summerford, President – Tennessee Education
Association.

To learn more about the Straight to the Top! Conference please
navigate the provided links below.

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KINGSPORT – FunFest 2010 is here, which means block parties, festivals and parades.‚  When these events happen, obviously the city shuts off the section of the street for the event.‚  Please refer to the following link to view a comprehensive list of the FunFest 2010 street closures.

To view a comprehensive list of FunFest 2010 street closures, please click here.

The aim of the conference is to focus on strategies for achieving economic stability through education excellence. The conference will consist of several information packed sessions lead by special guest speakers.

Sessions will be broken into two different tracts. These tracts are K-12 workshops and Higher Education workshops, which will focus on the achieving excellence in the relative feild of education. ‚ 

Both educators and economic development professionals will learn proven strategies to help guide them through the rapidly changing environment of education reform as it relates to economic stability. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Tickets are $99 per person or $75 perperson for groups larger than 4. For more information or to register, please visit our website at

www.KingsportTN.Gov/StraightToTheTop