SCORE is investing $725,000 in nine new education-to-career pathway initiatives that will connect Tennessee students to opportunities in healthcare, nuclear energy, construction, education, sports, and other high-demand industries.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) today announced the 2026 recipients of the Future Forward Innovation Grant, a $725,000 investment in nine innovative partnerships that will create new education-to-work pathways leading to high-wage, in-demand jobs for students across Tennessee.
The Future Forward Innovation Grant was established to accelerate bold, locally driven ideas that strengthen the connection between education and workforce opportunity. By investing in partnerships among education, industry, and community organizations, the grant helps communities design and launch innovative pathways that prepare students for careers leading to economic independence while addressing the unique workforce needs and opportunities in their regions.
“Students across Tennessee need stronger pathways from education to employment, and employers need a workforce prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said David Mansouri, president and CEO of SCORE. “At SCORE, we’re committed to supporting innovative models and partnerships that better connect education and work. Through the Future Forward Innovation Grant, we’re helping leaders launch, accelerate, and scale bold ideas that prepare students for high-demand careers and create more pathways to economic independence.”
The 2026 grant recipients are:
- The University of Tennessee System is partnering with HopeNation and the Cocke County Cradle-to-Career Coalition (C5) to pilot a new model that helps learners in rural Tennessee earn a bachelor’s degree while building a career in their local communities. By leveraging prior learning, work-based experiences, and industry-recognized credentials, the model creates more flexible pathways in education, engineering technology, nursing, management, and information technology.
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities is partnering with Roane State Community College, and Strata-G LLC to debut a new internship program to enhance an existing 2+2 project management degree pathway. Students will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree at Roane State before transferring to Tennessee Tech to complete a bachelor’s degree in project management and project controls. The pathway includes a high-quality paid internship for potential college credit in the nuclear energy sector.
- Battelle and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network are partnering with Knox County Schools, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to launch the Nuclear Leadership Pathway. This new career-and-technical education pathway prepares Tennessee students for careers in the state’s expanding nuclear energy sector through a stackable credential sequence that leads to an Associate of Applied Science in Nuclear Technology earned concurrently with or shortly after high school.
- Sumner County Schools is partnering with HCA TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center, Highpoint Health Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas, Volunteer State Community College, Welch College, and Union University to create pathways to high-wage, high-demand healthcare careers, including radiologic technology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
- Music City Academy is partnering with the Tennessee Titans and Trevecca Nazarene University to create a career pathway centered on the sports industry. The model will culminate in a Super Bowl-aligned experience for students pursuing careers in fields such as sports medicine and sports marketing, with a stackable credential developed in partnership with Trevecca Nazarene University.
- Lipscomb University is partnering with Head Start Chattanooga and Little Wonders Early Learning Center to expand its early childhood teacher apprenticeship with comprehensive supports for students through their Lipscomb Lab initiative and a new secondary education apprenticeship pathway. Through the earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship, candidates teach full-time while earning a bachelor’s degree and progressing toward teacher licensure.
- Seeding Success is partnering with Tennessee Builders Education Foundation, Good People Inc., and the West Tennessee Home Builders Association to launch an accelerated education-to-work pathway that prepares students and young adults in Memphis for high-demand construction and infrastructure careers. Through technical training, career coaching, work-based learning, and direct access to registered apprenticeships, the model helps participants build meaningful careers while strengthening the region’s pipeline of skilled talent.
- Memphis Medical District Collaborative and Gestalt Community Schools are partnering with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the University of Memphis, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis, and Sincere Healthcare to redesign how students enter and advance through healthcare careers by creating a coordinated, employer-aligned pipeline. Through this model, students in Memphis explore healthcare careers, complete foundational coursework and dual enrollment opportunities, earn a certified nursing assistant credential (with the opportunity to continue on to other stackable nursing credentials), and transition quickly into employment while continuing their education.
- Libertas is partnering with Montgomery Martin Contractors, Frayser CDC, Harris Homeownership Foundation, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Moore Tech, and the University of Memphis to launch the Skilled Trades and Community Development Pathway, which prepares students for high-wage careers in construction and the skilled trades. Beginning in middle school and continuing into high school, students will explore careers, earn industry-recognized credentials, complete dual enrollment, and participate in work-based learning by helping rebuild neighborhoods in Frayser and North Memphis.
In addition to grant funding, recipients will participate in the Tennessee Pathways Incubator, a cohort-based learning experience designed to help strengthen, refine, and scale their models. Through the incubator, participants will receive expert mentorship, opportunities for peer collaboration, and strategic support from SCORE and its partners as they advance innovative approaches to expand career pathways for students.
For more information about the Future Forward Innovation Grant and this year’s grantees, visit https://tnscore.org/innovationgrant.