Perspectives

Perspectives is SCORE’s blog that offers insights and thought leadership on key issues in education. This platform features contributions from SCORE team members and other experts who share viewpoints on improving educational outcomes in Tennessee. Through Perspectives, SCORE aims to inspire innovative thinking and foster informed discussions that advance student success.

Recent Perspectives

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Career Pathways in Action: Dyersburg High School Students Build Skills for the Future

July 9, 2026 | Erin Malafronte

Students at Dyersburg High School are gaining a head start on college and careers through a dual enrollment program that allows them to earn an assistant drafter certificate while still in high school. Learn how SCORE’s West Tennessee Pathways Network is helping students build real-world skills while strengthening Tennessee’s workforce.

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Students sit at classroom desks, leaning over notebooks and writing with pencils, with a focused child in a gray hoodie at the center

Beyond Momentum: What Tennessee’s Latest Assessment Results Mean for What Comes Next

June 30, 2026 | Courtney Bell

Tennessee’s latest assessment results show that student-centered policies and investment are paying off. The momentum is real, but so is the fact that progress is not yet reaching all students. Building off SCORE’s key takeaways from the 2026 TCAP results, we’ve identified three priorities that stand out as we move forward.

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Young student in a classroom reading an open book at a desk, with classmates blurred in the background

Rising Scores, Persistent Gaps: Why Tennessee Must Go Further

June 25, 2026 | Sam Brobeck, Lawand Yaseen

SCORE’s Data Team elevates five key takeaways from the 2026 TCAP results, highlighting statewide successes and areas for renewed focus

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Tennessee Educator Preparation Programs Work to Improve Alignment with the Science of Reading

June 9, 2026 | Dr. Zachary Hyder, Mary Kate Hillis, Nina Brown

With Tennessee’s literacy gains driven in part by the implementation of the science of reading through high-quality instructional materials, it is critical that we prepare future educators to teach reading aligned to that research. Ratings from the National Council on Teacher Quality help monitor how well educator preparation programs are preparing future educators.

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Three people stand in a conference room, engaged in discussion. One holds a laptop, while two others listen attentively.

SCORE and Playlab Launch the Tennessee AI Ecosystems Project

May 22, 2026 | Amanda Glover

In partnership with Playlab and with support from Google.org, SCORE launched the Tennessee AI Ecosystems Project, a network of nine innovative Tennessee school districts and charter management organizations focused on shaping strategic, responsible, and effective AI implementation across Tennessee.

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A smiling girl in a classroom, holding a pencil, focuses on her work with blurred classmates and a green wall in the background.

Lessons From Math Gains in Memphis Charter Schools

May 15, 2026 | Trent Carlson

The recent math performance in Memphis charter schools serves as a powerful example of what is possible for schools when they align around high-quality materials, strong instruction, and continuous improvement.

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Child with long hair attentively writing with a pencil, surrounded by school supplies, seated on a colorful carpet.

What Matters: Tennessee’s Student Growth Signals a Broader Education Transformation

May 13, 2026 | David Mansouri

The release of the 2026 Education Scorecard offers the latest evidence that Tennessee’s approach is working, ranking the state second in student growth in math and fourth in reading growth between 2022 and 2025.

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Five Education Wins from the 2026 Legislative Session

April 27, 2026 | Kirby Henslee

On April 23, the 114th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die, concluding a legislative session that advanced several important education priorities for Tennessee students and families. The SCORE team highlights five key achievements from the 2026 legislative session.

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Building Futures in Blue Oval City: How West Tennessee Students Are Getting Career-Ready

April 22, 2026 | Erin Malafronte

Haywood High School is one of five schools in Michigan and Tennessee chosen as the recipient of a Ford Future Builders Lab. These labs provide K-12 classrooms with high-quality equipment that allows educators to engage learners in academic and hands-on learning that builds skills for 21st century careers.

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A diverse group of people smiling in a brightly lit room, some standing and some seated, with plants and large windows in the background.

How Finance Leadership Can Become a Partner in Serving ALL Students: Lessons from a Finance Leaders Cohort

March 27, 2026 | Emma McWeeney

It’s a common challenge for financial decision-makers in Tennessee schools: Balance the budget while ensuring all students have access to the support they need to succeed. The Finance Leaders Cohort, a 15-month program led by SCORE and All Means All, brought leaders together to reimagine the role of finance leadership in public charter schools.

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Wooden door partially open, showing a classroom in session. The glass inset displays a "KIPP Nashville" logo. Students and desks are visible inside.

Real-World Problems, Real-World Solutions: KIPP Nashville Leads the Way in Innovative Work-Based Learning

February 13, 2026 | Sam Brobeck

In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, Teamship, and local business leaders, KIPP Nashville is showing how high-quality work-based learning can bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce by equipping students to take on real-world organizational challenges and propose practical solutions.

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Teacher assisting students with tablets at a round table in a classroom setting, colorful walls and educational materials in the background.

Five Insights from Tennessee’s 2025 School Letter Grades

January 15, 2026 | Jack Roberts Jue

Each year in Tennessee, nearly all public schools receive an A-F letter grade, giving a snapshot of how students performed during the prior school year. The SCORE team analyzed data from the 2024-25 school letter grades and identified five key insights about how schools are performing and what the results reveal about Tennessee’s accountability system. This analysis comes as state leaders are actively considering changes to how school performance is measured and communicated.

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