Connecting Education To Work
Tennessee students need a clear pathway from their K-12 education to a high-wage, high-demand career. Postsecondary access and degree attainment have increased in Tennessee, yet information on which credentials lead to career success is limited. To solve for this, SCORE led key stakeholders in creating a data-driven framework that helps Tennessee students identify an impact credential that leads to a career enabling economic independence and workforce opportunity.
BOLSTERING THE EDUCATOR PIPELINE
Highly effective teachers are essential for student success. However, growing evidence suggests that Tennessee students have unreliable and inequitable access, with more than 1,400 teaching vacancies, declining enrollment in educator preparation programs, and decreasing teacher retention. In 2024, SCORE supported the educator pipeline through a series of memos that shared clear data insights, advocated for improved licensure processes, and supported innovative teacher talent solutions.
GROWING THE HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL SECTOR
Tennessee’s high-quality public charter schools are increasing student achievement, especially for students from historically underserved groups. However, public charter schools face unnecessary roadblocks to opening and serving students. In 2024, SCORE strengthened conditions through advocacy, collaboration, and strategic investments so that high-quality public charter schools have more resources to open on time, better support the students they serve, and expand to reach a greater number of students.
SCORE ACCOMPLISHMENT
Charter Facilities Funding
SUPPORTING STRONG TEACHING AND LEARNING
Tennessee’s commitment to foundational policies like teacher evaluation, research-based literacy strategies, and a modernized K-12 funding formula transformed Tennessee into a state with one of the fastest-growing achievement scores in the country. Today, we are in the top half of states for math and reading proficiency on NAEP — a testament to progress resulting from defending and advancing policies and practices that support strong teaching and learning. In 2024, SCORE led a coalition of advocacy partners to ensure these policies remained intact, even in the face of proposals that put academic standards, annual assessment, school accountability, and teacher evaluation at risk.
USING DATA TO DRIVE STUDENT OUTCOMES
Strategic data use across all levels supports student success and equips policymakers, schools, institutions, leaders, educators, and parents with the information they need to advance student learning and success. In 2024, SCORE recentered data at the forefront of critical education conversations, leveraging key insights to inform the way students access pathways that connect education to successful careers.
Related Resource
Read the Full 2024 Impact Report
Read the full report on SCORE’s impact on Tennessee education in 2024.