Resources

Delve into research on current education issues and gain a deeper understanding of policies that help students succeed.

A woman reading a report
Education-to-Career Pathways
Teachers & Leaders
Innovative School Models & Approaches
Data Insights
TN2030 Goals
See All Topics
One-page SCORE report with a blue header titled The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, explaining Tennessee’s tax credit scholarship program.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit: An Opportunity to Support Student Success in Tennessee

VIEW FEATURED RESOURCE

Perspectives & Press

Get insights and updates on the fast-moving education landscape from our expert team.

Kids sitting at their desks in a classroom
Perspectives
Read SCORE’s blog to get insights on key education topics.
Press
Stay up to date on the latest news surrounding SCORE and Tennessee education.

Research & Innovation

Resources

SCORE provides research and insights on the latest education issues to provide a deeper understanding of policies and practices connected to improving student success. 

One-page SCORE report with a blue header titled The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, explaining Tennessee’s tax credit scholarship program.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit: An Opportunity to Support Student Success in Tennessee

VIEW FEATURED RESOURCE
Topics
Types
Date Range
From
To
Clear All

All Resources

SCORE report page titled “Guiding Principles for AI in Tennessee Education,” October 2026, with blue header and body text.
Teachers & Leaders | Innovative Models

Guiding Principles for AI in Tennessee Education

October 7, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities to strengthen teaching and learning, but its value in education depends on the decisions leaders make today. As Tennessee schools move from AI exploration to practice, use of this technology should center on student learning and safety while drawing on the expertise of educators and education leaders. This memo offers a foundation for thoughtful decisions as Tennessee continues to learn what works in practice.

READ MORE
One-page SCORE report with a blue header titled The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, explaining Tennessee’s tax credit scholarship program.
Education Finance | K-12 Success

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit: An Opportunity to Support Student Success in Tennessee

October 1, 2026

Beginning in 2027, Tennessee will participate in a new program that could create a significant new source of funding for K-12 students and families in a variety of school settings, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, and private schools. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will incentivize individual donations to scholarships that eligible students can use for tutoring, instructional materials, special needs services, transportation, and other educational supports.

READ MORE
Report page titled “Tennessee Leads the South on NAEP After Two Decades of Progress,” with blue SCORE header and text sections.
Data Insights | K-12 Success

Tennessee Leads the South on NAEP After Two Decades of Progress

September 29, 2026

Between 2003 and 2024, Tennessee moved from 42nd to 16th nationally on a composite measure of fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math performance. That 26-position gain was the largest of any state in the country. This memo examines that progress, which has made Tennessee the highest-ranked state in the South and the region’s only state in the national top 20.

READ MORE
Cover of a playbook titled "A Playbook for Tennessee Communities to Build Educator Externships," with a colorful icon border at the bottom.
Teachers & Leaders | Education-to-Career Pathways

A Playbook for Tennessee Communities to Build Educator Externships

August 10, 2026

SCORE’s educator externship playbook is designed to assist local partners in Tennessee with planning and implementing externships that connect educators with industry to enhance classroom relevance and career-connected learning for students. The playbook includes best practices gleaned from our expert design committee, templates, application tools, employer engagement materials, and reflection tools.

READ MORE
Report page for SCORE on Advise TN expanding postsecondary opportunity beyond financial aid, with blue header, text columns, and inset document image
Data Insights | Postsecondary Success

Beyond Financial Aid: How Advise TN Expands Postsecondary Opportunity

August 4, 2026

Over the past decade, Tennessee has become a national leader in expanding access to postsecondary education through investments like Tennessee Promise. Yet making college more affordable is only one piece of the puzzle. Every year, students encounter barriers navigating applications, financial aid, admissions requirements, and enrollment. This report highlights evidence that Advise TN helps students overcome these barriers. 

READ MORE
SCORE graphic titled Co-planning to improve outcomes for students with disabilities: Lessons from IGNITE Nashville, with educator helping a student.
Teachers & Leaders | High-Quality Public Charter Schools | K-12 Success

Co-Planning to Improve Outcomes for Students With Disabilities: Lessons From IGNITE Nashville

July 15, 2026

In Tennessee, students with disabilities continue to face significant achievement gaps compared to their nondisabled peers. Yet research and practice show these gaps can be addressed when students have access to grade-level instruction, high-quality instructional materials, and the support they need to succeed. 

READ MORE
Future Forward Summit 2026 report page with blue header and text about building stronger pathways to economic independence in Tennessee
Innovative Models | Education-to-Career Pathways

From Vision to Action: Building Stronger Pathways to Economic Independence

June 29, 2026

Preparing more Tennessee students for economic independence requires stronger connections between education and workforce needs. The 2026 Future Forward Summit brought together leaders from K-12 education, postsecondary education, workforce development, industry, philanthropy, and state government to explore how Tennessee can build stronger, more connected pathways for every student. This memo highlights five key takeaways from the summit and explores practical solutions for education, workforce, business, and policy leaders working together to strengthen Tennessee's education-to-career ecosystem.

READ MORE
Young student with curly hair writing on paper at a classroom desk, with tables, chairs, and a blurred board in the background
Data Insights

2025-26 TCAP Results: Explore Tennessee Student Assessment Data

June 29, 2026

The annual release of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results can help educators, policymakers, and communities better understand where students are making progress and where additional support and focus are needed most. Our interactive data explorer helps you analyze student achievement trends across Tennessee using publicly available assessment data released by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE).

READ MORE
Document titled "Coaching and Completion Grants: Five Years of Evidence and Impact" with executive summary discussing Tennessee program successes.
Postsecondary Success | Innovative Models

Coaching and Completion Grants: Five Years of Evidence and Impact

April 9, 2026

New evidence shows that access to postsecondary education alone is not enough — targeted coaching and just-in-time financial support help more students persist and complete postsecondary credentials. Over the past five years, Tennessee has paired tuition-free access through Tennessee Promise with proactive completion coaching and completion grants for students with the greatest financial need. This report brings together evidence from the tnAchieves COMPLETE program and Knox Promise pilot, showing that this combined approach strengthens persistence and improves outcomes for students across the state.

READ MORE
Report cover with SCORE logo, titled "Outcomes-Based Funding: Reimagining the High-Need Premium." Includes introductory text and sections. March 2026.
Education Finance | Postsecondary Success | Education-to-Career Pathways

Outcomes-Based Funding: Reimagining the High-Need Premium to Align Education and Workforce Opportunity

March 5, 2026

Tennessee’s outcomes-based funding formula rewards colleges and universities based on student outcomes. The high-need premium, a newer component of the formula, is designed to incentivize institutions to prepare graduates for careers that meet the state’s economic needs. However, the premium’s current definition relies on broad program categories and does not consistently reward credentials that lead to high-wage, in-demand careers. This memo outlines our recommendation to replace the existing high-need premium with a tiered impact credential bonus grounded in actual labor-market outcomes. 

READ MORE
A group of young students sits on the floor, intently reading and writing in a classroom setting.
High-Quality Public Charter Schools

Resources: Public Charter Schools

February 7, 2026

High-quality nonprofit public charter schools are one strategy Tennessee is using to support and accelerate student learning. Expanding high-quality public charter schools is a research-supported approach for increasing student achievement, with public charters showing better outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and low-income students in Tennessee when compared to many traditional public schools.

READ MORE
Poster with charts and images showing 2024-25 Tennessee public charter school demographics, focusing on diversity and disadvantaged student representation.
High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Data Insights | Innovative Models

2024-25 Tennessee Public Charter School Demographics

February 5, 2026

Public charter schools serve a larger proportion of students from historically underserved groups — including Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students — than their traditional public school peers.

READ MORE