SCORE Blog

This follow-up to a March 2020 post summarizing legislative actions impacting K-12 education provides a legislative update specific to the month of June.

The SCORE team is united by five core values that inform how we work. During the pandemic, we have channeled these words into action to guide day-to-day decision-making and our response to changing circumstances due to COVID-19.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Communicable Disease Team
Disease Team is providing responsive leadership for the district’s 35,000 students and 2,300 educators and developing the framework to give students the education they deserve.

In an annual report that looks at national and state-level trends in higher education funding, revenue, and spending, Tennessee stands out as a student-focused leader in state financial aid.

Principals in the Tennessee Rural Principals Network have been working overtime to ensure that student needs are met.

The Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute is a powerful vehicle because it creates a space where leaders across sectors can connect in shared learning that is focused on improving student outcomes.

While there are challenges to connecting with students virtually, there are also unexpected advantages and strong relationships are still possible.

As an optimist, I believe that a great and equitable education is one of the best ways to eradicate racial inequities and tackle racial injustice. But looking at student data in detail, it becomes clear that the gains that lifted Tennessee to among the fastest-improving states have not lifted all of our children.

SCORE Ed Fellow Melody Hawkins writes about her work to support teacher diversity in Knox County.

The director of Trousdale County Schools reflects on navigating the challenges of the pandemic and how to move students forward in their learning as schools reopen.

Learn how prospective educators, educator preparation providers, school districts, legislators, and the broader community can all benefit from using the Tennessee Educator Preparation Report Card.

When it comes to improving learning in K-12 education, teachers are the most important in-school factor and school leaders are the second most important factor. Each scored metric on the Educator Preparation Report Card is backed by research linking it to student learning or other significant student outcomes.

To keep you informed on how the ongoing crisis is impacting education in Tennessee, SCORE has launched the COVID-19 Impact Memo series, a series of memos that dive deeper into education issues close to our mission, explore potential responses, and present student-centered solutions.

Nearly two months into school closures, educators in Tennessee are still working to ensure that students can continue learning. Key insights from Chattanooga remind us how important it is to make the most of the time we have to prepare for what’s ahead.

Nearing the end of her teacher prep program, this future educator navigates the challenges of completing her coursework during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shutting down school buildings and canceling the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests were the right things to do, but we are concerned that students, teachers, and parents are losing valuable feedback.

As part of SCORE’s observance of Teacher Appreciation Week, we asked 2020 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Brian McLaughlin to reflect on his decision to become an educator, his thoughts on earning Tennessee’s highest teaching honor, and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

In spite of the challenges caused by a global pandemic, a teacher reflects positively on her time as an educator and why she feels fortunate to be a teacher in Tennessee.

Classrooms are empty, but teachers and school and district leaders are still at work for our kids, trying to maintain a focus on equity while also ensuring that kids are fed.

How do parents feel about the disruption caused by relocating learning from classrooms to living rooms and kitchen tables? And what do they think should be done to erase the inevitable loss in learning? The results of the latest SCORE poll.