Resources

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2026 State of Education in Tennessee: Moving Every Student Forward

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Perspectives & Press

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Perspectives
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Practice & Implementation

Future Forward Innovation Grant

Grounded in SCORE’s mission to catalyze transformative change in Tennessee education, the Future Forward Innovation Grant bridges the gap between education and opportunity by supporting the design and launch of innovative credential pathway programs.

SCORE believes that advancing clearer, more impactful pathways from education to work requires innovative partnerships between education, community, and industry. More innovation is needed in the education-to-work space to accelerate a student’s path from education to a career that enables economic independence and life success.

With this in mind, SCORE created the Future Forward Innovation Grant — an opportunity through which seven partnerships from across the state were selected to participate in a year-long cohort-style fellowship and receive expert mentoring and financial investment. Each of these partnerships brings together education, community, and industry to develop an accelerated pathway for students to earn a credential that can lead to an in-demand, high-wage career. Addressing a local workforce need, these education-to-work pathways are both student-focused and market-driven. 

We look forward to the work they will do to propel students toward a future career and to the impact they will have on their local communities. We are also eager to learn from lessons that can inform statewide practices and other education-to-work pathways.

The Future Forward Innovation Grant recipients include:

  • The University of Memphis, through The Polytechnic @ UofM Initiative, is partnering with Southwest Tennessee Community College, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson at Stanton, University High School, UpSkill Mid-South, the Center for Regional Economic Enrichment and Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce to launch a bachelor of applied science pathway that includes high-demand, embedded nondegree credentials, giving students valuable industry-recognized skills.
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is partnering with local education partners to launch a Python and data processing and analysis credential. This innovative program uses the high school computer science course requirement as a launching point for advanced studies in data analytics and data science, with a focus on health care settings.
  • Nurses Middle College Nashville (NMC) Nashville is partnering with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and other postsecondary and health care partners to launch an accelerated licensed practical nurse (LPN) apprenticeship program model. This innovative pathway expands NMC’s current school model by building on their certified nursing assistant (CNA) graduation requirement to allow students to earn their LPN by high school graduation.
  • BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) and Chattanooga State Community College are partnering on BlueHorizon, a program launching in 2026 that provides a path to an accelerated associate degree in health science and a career with one of the region’s employers of choice. Participating students work as customer service representatives at BCBST while simultaneously earning their degree.
  • Chattanooga 2.0 is partnering with Chattanooga State Community College and Hamilton County Schools to launch the Tutor to Teacher pathway. Through this innovative program students will earn multiple credentials by tutoring in elementary school classrooms while still completing high school and will also take the first steps toward an accelerated early education teaching license.
  • Niswonger Foundation is partnering with the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies at UT-Knoxville, high schools in Kingsport City Schools and Sullivan County Schools, and Ballad Health to launch an AI and data science credential. This innovative program leverages the high school computer science course requirement as a gateway to advanced studies in emerging technologies like AI, data analytics and computer science.
  • Ballad Health is designing and launching an accelerated surgical technologist (surg tech) apprenticeship pathway with regional high schools. This program enables students to earn credit toward a surg tech certification while in high school, with eligibility for employment at Ballad Health.