Collage for SCORE Impact Report 2025 showing learners studying, reading, mentoring, repairing bikes, and working in a lab.

Our 2025 Impact

2025 marked a milestone in Tennessee’s education journey. The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data show that Tennessee is the highest-performing state in the South for K-12 student achievement. Throughout the year, SCORE advanced student-centered policies and innovative practices that continue to strengthen K-12, postsecondary, and education-to-career pathways and expand opportunities for every Tennessee student. Working with partners across the state, we continued to build on Tennessee’s momentum to help ensure that students are prepared for lifelong success.

Connecting Education To Work

For too many Tennessee students, the path from K-12 education to postsecondary learning and careers is disconnected. In 2025, SCORE helped connect education, workforce, and community partners to better align learning with workforce opportunity, expand career-connected experiences, and prepare more students for in-demand, high-wage careers.

Supporting Strong Teaching

Preparing excellent teachers starts with high-quality educator preparation that equips future educators with the knowledge and classroom experience they need to help every student succeed. SCORE advanced evidence-based teacher preparation by supporting educator preparation programs and school districts in aligning coursework, clinical experiences, and mentorship with Tennessee’s literacy standards and instructional best practices.

Growing the High-Quality Charter Sector

Expanding access to high-quality public schools is a proven strategy for ensuring every Tennessee student has the opportunity to succeed. Through research, policy leadership, strategic investments, and statewide coordination, SCORE helped strengthen the conditions that allow high-quality public charter schools to grow and succeed. These efforts expanded access to high-quality public schools while promoting quality, accountability, and long-term sustainability across the charter sector.

Strengthening Foundational Policies

Tennessee’s education progress is built on strong, student-centered policies that support high standards, transparent accountability, and continuous improvement. SCORE provided policymakers and education leaders with the research, analysis, and evidence-based recommendations needed to strengthen Tennessee’s foundational education policies and connect policy decisions to improved student outcomes.

SCORE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Foundational Policies

SCORE and advocacy partners successfully defended and advanced foundational policies.

Building on Tennessee’s Student-Centered Progress

Tennessee’s long-term academic progress has been driven by a sustained commitment to high expectations, transparent accountability, and improving student outcomes. SCORE worked to ensure Tennessee’s next chapter builds on the policies and practices that have fueled the state’s success. Through research, policy analysis, legislative briefings, and engagement with current and future state leaders, SCORE helped keep students at the center of education decision-making.

Read the Full 2025 Impact Report

Read the full report on SCORE’s impact on Tennessee education in 2025.