Tennessee’s commitment to high academic standards, aligned assessments, and to using data to support improved student outcomes moved our state from the bottom of the pack nationally in education outcomes to one of the fastest growing in the country. We should remain committed to high expectations through rigorous academic standards and aligned assessments that provide essential data about student achievement and growth.

Key points:

Rigorous academic standards and aligned assessments demonstrate our commitment to transparency about student performance.
These policies empower education leaders to identify where students need additional supports and to make data-driven decisions that ensure student success.
With the foundations of standards and assessment in place, Tennessee’s academic resiliency stood out after the COVID-19 pandemic and research highlighted the state’s academic recovery as one of the most robust in the country.