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

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Teachers & Leaders | Education Finance | Postsecondary Success | K-12 Success

Tennessee Education Primer: A Guide for Policymakers, Candidates, and Advocates

January 15, 2025

Educational achievement in Tennessee has shown an encouraging trend over the last several years: In so many cases, students are reaching new heights and pursuing new endeavors. Much credit is due to the foundational laws, policies, and rules established and implemented by leaders who desire to see students succeed.  SCORE’s biennial Tennessee Education Primer — featuring educational statistics, trends, and initiatives — reflects that continuing progress.

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Teachers & Leaders | High-Quality Public Charter Schools | Data Insights | Education-to-Career Pathways | K-12 Success

2025 State of Education in Tennessee: Casting a Vision for Student Success

December 6, 2024

In 2025, SCORE will focus on a critical question that will have a lasting impact on the success of every student in Tennessee: "Are Tennessee students prepared for careers that enable economic independence?" Answering this question requires an intentional look at the entire educational journey and will take greater alignment across K-12, postsecondary, and the workforce. 

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Teachers & Leaders | Innovative Models | K-12 Success

Tennessee's Teacher Pipeline: Initiatives to Increase Student Access to Effective Teachers

November 13, 2024

The fourth in SCORE’s Educator Labor Market series, this report looks at how Tennessee is addressing staffing challenges in K-12 districts, how well those efforts are working, and how better access to data can help inform future decisions and investments to address the localized nature of teacher shortages in Tennessee. 

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Teachers & Leaders | Innovative Models | K-12 Success

Leading in Literacy: Building Early Literacy Partner Teams

September 26, 2024

Teachers trained in Tennessee are staying in Tennessee to teach. So, what can their training institutions (educator preparation providers, or EPPs) and future districts do to foster an even deeper connection between training and the classroom? The question is particularly important to ensure effective instruction reflecting Tennessee’s new literacy policies. Collaboration between EPPs and school districts is critical. This paper offers both a framework for this new model and an elementary school site visit toolkit.  

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Teachers & Leaders | Innovative Models

Unlocking AI: A Primer for Educators

September 24, 2024

As of fall 2023, more than half of all U.S. workers use artificial intelligence (AI) for work. The education field is no exception to this trend, as teachers across the nation are exploring ways AI can transform their work and help students learn. Despite the incredible promise of this new technology, many educators are still at the starting line — nationally, over half of teachers have never used AI. The opportunity that generative AI (GenAI) — programs that can generate text, images, and other media — brings to Tennessee’s classrooms, however, is worth the exploration. Our memo outlines two readily available tools for teachers to either dip a toe in the water or take a full-on first dive into AI to experience the possibilities and limitations of AI in its current state.  

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Teachers & Leaders | Education Finance | K-12 Success

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement: Prioritizing Student-Centered Funding

September 18, 2024

The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) modernized the state’s K-12 education funding formula to focus on individual student need while establishing a foundation of education finance that supports all students to succeed in school, careers, and life. Tennessee should remain committed to the TISA funding formula as a foundational policy that provides the resources for initiatives and investments that drive improved student outcomes.

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Teachers & Leaders | K-12 Success

Standards and Assessment: Setting High Expectations and Monitoring Progress

July 7, 2024

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.

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Teachers & Leaders | K-12 Success

Teacher Evaluation: Driving Improved Instruction and Student Achievement

July 7, 2024

Tennessee’s commitment to annual teacher evaluations and providing educators with high-quality feedback has led to more effective instruction and significant advances in student achievement. Tennessee should preserve its evaluation system and aim to bolster and strengthen it so that educators continue receiving high-quality feedback that will, in turn, benefit all students.

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Teachers & Leaders | Innovative Models | K-12 Success

Strategic School Staffing: Tennessee’s Opportunity To Sustain And Elevate Great Teaching

May 8, 2024

Access to highly effective teachers is essential for student achievement. However, growing evidence suggests students have unreliable and inequitable access to effective educators, with many school districts reporting high levels of teacher vacancies. This series examines the challenges facing Tennessee’s educator labor market and highlights innovative practices to strengthen it.

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Teachers & Leaders | Data Insights | K-12 Success

Rural District Leader Perceptions Of The Educator Labor Market

April 29, 2024

Access to highly effective teachers is essential for student achievement. However, growing evidence suggests students have unreliable and inequitable access to effective educators, with many school districts reporting high levels of teacher vacancies. This paper offers perspectives on the topic from rural district leaders across Tennessee.

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An elementary student wearing a maroon bow in their hair sits at their desk and works. They use a whiteboard marker to write on a mini dry-erase board.
Teachers & Leaders | Data Insights | K-12 Success

Strengthening The Educator Labor Market: A Look At Tennessee's Data Webinar

February 26, 2024

Access to highly effective teachers is essential for student achievement. However, growing evidence suggests students have unreliable and inequitable access to effective educators, with many school districts reporting high levels of teacher vacancies. SCORE partnered with 15 school districts and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) to understand the broader trends behind educator labor market challenges. This webinar highlights key findings from TERA’s research along with insights from district leaders and experts from across the state.

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Teachers & Leaders | Data Insights | K-12 Success

Understanding The Educator Labor Market: A Look At Tennessee’s Data

February 26, 2024

Access to highly effective teachers is essential for student achievement. However, growing evidence suggests students have unreliable and inequitable access to effective educators, with many school districts reporting high levels of teacher vacancies. SCORE partnered with 15 school districts and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) to understand the broader trends behind educator labor market challenges.

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