2026 State of Education in Tennessee: Moving Every Student Forward
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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.
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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.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Innovative Models
Public Charter Schools Across Tennessee
February 5, 2026
In 2025, there are 119 charter schools in Tennessee, serving over 44,000 students — 5% of the state’s total student population.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Innovative Models | K-12 Success
Nashville Charter Schools Provide Families With an Alternative to Priority Schools in Their Area
February 5, 2026
Charter schools are a free public school option, with many located near Nashville’s lowest-performing schools (priority schools). For the 2024-25 school year, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) had 23 priority schools serving over 10,000 students. All of these priority schools are traditional district-run schools and one is a charter school.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Education Finance | Innovative Models
History of Tennessee Public Charter Sector
February 5, 2026
Tennessee public charter schools are a free, public option available for students and families in Tennessee. This resource explores the timeline of state policy and funding regarding public charter schools in Tennessee.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Data Insights | Innovative Models
Tennessee Charter School Quick Facts
February 5, 2026
Learn the basic facts about public charter schools in Tennessee, including where they're located and a breakdown of the students they serve.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Innovative Models
Who Can Enroll In A Tennessee Public Charter School?
February 5, 2026
Tennessee Public Charter schools are a free public option available for students and families in Tennessee. Learn more about enrollment at these schools.
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K-12 Success
Tennessee Education Data & Opportunities to Advance Assessment
February 4, 2026
As part of our ongoing efforts to advance Tennessee’s foundational education policies, SCORE made a presentation on Feb. 3, 2026, to the Tennessee House Education Committee about the importance of our assessments systems. SCORE Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Aleah Guthrie and SCORE Director of Government Relations Jocelyn Pratt shared an overview of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) and how each contributes to Tennessee’s long-term improvement strategy. They also highlighted student progress on both measures and offered recommendations to improve assessment systems and reporting timeliness. Watch the presentation below and read our Future of Assessment memo for more about the importance of assessment and strengthening it.
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Education Finance | Postsecondary Success | Education-to-Career Pathways
Workforce Pell: A New Opportunity for Tennesseans to Build Skills Through Short-Term Credentials
January 21, 2026
Tennessee’s economy needs more skilled workers, and forecasts predict that by 2031 most jobs will require some form of postsecondary education. Beginning in 2026, Workforce Pell — the new federal expansion of the Pell Grant program — will provide financial aid for high‑quality short‑term training programs that help Tennesseans quickly gain skills, earn credentials aligned to employer needs, and access high‑wage, in‑demand careers.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Data Insights | Innovative Models
Historically Underserved Student Groups in Tennessee Public Charter Schools
January 6, 2026
Public charter schools serve a greater proportion of students from historically underserved groups — namely students of color and economically disadvantaged students — compared to noncharter schools across the state. On average, these charter students show faster academic growth and higher proficiency levels than their district peers.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Innovative Models
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission
January 6, 2026
In Tennessee, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission is the state’s appellate authorizer. The commission hears new-start, revocation, amendment, and renewal appeals from across the state and serves as the authorizer and local education agency (LEA) for any school it authorizes upon appeal.
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High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Data Insights | Innovative Models
Tennessee Public Charter School Achievement and Growth
January 6, 2026
Since 2021, public charter schools have seen significant increases in student proficiency across both English language arts (ELA) and math. Learn more about achievement and growth in Tennessee public charter schools.
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