Tennessee Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, has been reappointed to lead the board that oversees the Nation’s Report Card, giving the Memphis lawmaker another year helping shape how student achievement is measured nationwide.¶
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon reappointed White as chair of the National Assessment Governing Board. White joined the board in October 2020 and will now serve his second one-year term as chair.¶
White Continues National Assessment Role
White chairs the Tennessee House Education Committee and previously worked as a teacher and school principal. The board sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), including what grades and subjects are tested and how achievement levels are set.¶
White said the assessment helps states measure progress and identify learning gaps.¶
“I’m honored to continue serving as chair of this vital organization, and I’m grateful to Secretary McMahon for her confidence in me,” White said in a press release. “The Nation’s Report Card gives states the reliable data they need to identify learning gaps, measure real progress, and ensure every child is on the path to success.”¶
NAEP Measures Student Progress
NAEP gives states a common measure of student achievement and allows results to be compared over time. The 2024 Nation’s Report Card results showed Tennessee students above the national average in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, although performance had not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels.¶
McMahon said future assessments will remain important as states work to improve student outcomes.¶
“Future NAEP assessments are essential to help guide critical improvements in K-12 education outcomes and to usher in an education renaissance,” McMahon said.¶
That role fits with Tennessee’s focus on high academic standards and clear measures of student performance. State tests measure students against Tennessee standards, while NAEP gives parents and lawmakers an outside comparison with the rest of the country.¶
Tennessee Has Climbed Nationally
Tennessee has made significant gains on NAEP over the past two decades. A recent analysis found the state rose from 42nd nationally in 2003 to 16th in 2024 on a combined measure of fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, the largest ranking gain of any state during that period.¶
Those gains followed changes to academic standards, assessments, literacy efforts, school funding, and other policies. Achievement gaps remain, making consistent assessment data important for showing where students are improving and where more work is needed.¶
White represents House District 83 in Shelby County.¶
