SCORE Blog

Bradley County educator Teah Shope reflects on spending her summer break to train fellow teachers in reading instruction.

Tennessee has been on an intentional journey to build seamless pathways for its learners. A hallmark of this journey is how the state has focused on aligned, cross-sector strategies to build its policy framework.

Building a strong, interconnected set of policies is essential to ensuring learners have on and off ramps for their educational to career journeys. Earlier this year, SCORE served on ExcelinEd’s Advisory Committee for Pathways Matter, a resource that outlines a continuum of 20 key policies that policymakers and systems leaders can use to think about what education to workforce policies exist in their state and what policies are necessary to create a robust learner continuum for all students.

Community-Based College Success Programs: A Playbook For Data-Driven Student Support outlines success principles and highlights programs across Tennessee that are increasing enrollment in and completion of college and career training by using data to fine-tune student-focused programs.

As district leaders decide how to spend resources from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, investments in high-dosage tutoring, vacation academies, and other innovative practices for in-person learning time are needed to aid students’ education recovery.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has released the 2021 Tennessee Higher Education Fact Book, a comprehensive report on Tennessee postsecondary access, efficiency, quality, and outcomes that now includes disaggregated data and a dynamic online dashboard.

CLTI alumus Tiffany Bellafant Steward reflects on her time in the leadership institute and how it empowered her to help more students realize their dream of a college credential.

While looking at chronic absenteeism during the last school year, we talked to students about it. Those conversations reveal steps we can take this fall to support students.

SCORE’s By The Numbers report reveals that Walters State had the highest Hispanic student persistence rate among Tennessee community colleges. We wanted to know what they’re doing — and show other institutions how this report can be useful.

Congratulations to Dr. Russ Wigginton, who will soon be leaving the SCORE team to become president of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

We look at legislative action taken this year that will help more Tennessee students realize career and life success through higher education.

Education leaders in Tennessee and across the country are looking to mobilize aspiring teachers as tutors to support vulnerable students and education recovery.

The Tennessee Literacy Success Act lays a strong foundation to address the literacy crisis in Tennessee. Now we must focus on strong implementation of the law so that every student receives the foundation they need to realize career and life success.

Educators are realizing the impact of high-dosage tutoring for education recovery following pandemic learning disruptions. Leaders at Lenoir City Schools show us how it can be done.

A Nashville educator talks about ensuring postsecondary success for students and how the data in the By The Numbers report can highlight ways to support students.

Part two in a legislative recap series summarizes progress made toward the education priorities laid out in our 2021 State Of Education report. This installment looks at efforts to to advance opportunities for students of color and low-income students by supporting and expanding proven school models.

With the first session of the 112th General Assembly now closed, it’s the perfect time to reflect on progress made in each of the four priority areas outlined in SCORE’s 2021 State of Education Report. One priority — to recover and reorient education systems in response to COVID-19 — was addressed during a January special session with the General Assembly passing legislation to extend learning time for students, ensure the state collects comparable summative state assessment data, and stabilize funding.

SCORE’s 2021 Higher Ed By the Numbers report makes higher ed data more accessible and forces us to answer critical questions about equity in our higher education system. The report’s use of disaggregated data shines a light on significant gaps that we must address.

Higher Ed By The Numbers: The Tennessee Postsecondary Data Book is a snapshot of data across postsecondary preparation, persistence, and success measures. It highlights key higher ed metrics and identifies areas for improvement.

ESSER 3.0 federal funding is an opportunity to not only recover but to reinvent our education system. Our latest COVID-19 Impact Memo offers guidance for investing these funds in a way that meets immediate needs of students while also working to disrupt troubling long-term trends.