A presenter stands in front of a board that reads "Third-Grade ELA Proficiency Rates Reached Record Highs in 2023". The board is held by an easel and is set up in front of a window. Two people are viewing and engaging with the presentation.

What We Do

Research & Data

Research plays a crucial role in shaping effective education policies and practices. By grounding decisions in data, we can identify successful strategies and areas that need improvement. This evidence-based approach helps tailor interventions to meet students’ needs, ensuring all Tennessee students have the opportunity to succeed from K-12 through their careers.

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Elevating Data

SCORE works to create transparency and improve access to student data across the education-to-career continuum, ensuring policymakers and practitioners in K-12, postsecondary, and industry are using data to drive decision-making to improve outcomes for Tennessee students.

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Resources

SCORE delves into new research on current education issues to provide a deeper understanding of policies and practices connected to improving student success.

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Co-Planning to Improve Outcomes for Students With Disabilities: Lessons From IGNITE Nashville

July 15, 2026

In Tennessee, students with disabilities continue to face significant achievement gaps compared to their nondisabled peers. Yet research and practice show these gaps can be addressed when students have access to grade-level instruction, high-quality instructional materials, and the support they need to succeed. 

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From Vision to Action: Building Stronger Pathways to Economic Independence

June 29, 2026

Preparing more Tennessee students for economic independence requires stronger connections between education and workforce needs. The 2026 Future Forward Summit brought together leaders from K-12 education, postsecondary education, workforce development, industry, philanthropy, and state government to explore how Tennessee can build stronger, more connected pathways for every student. This memo highlights five key takeaways from the summit and explores practical solutions for education, workforce, business, and policy leaders working together to strengthen Tennessee's education-to-career ecosystem.

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2025-26 TCAP Results: Explore Tennessee Student Assessment Data

June 29, 2026

The annual release of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results can help educators, policymakers, and communities better understand where students are making progress and where additional support and focus are needed most. Our interactive data explorer helps you analyze student achievement trends across Tennessee using publicly available assessment data released by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE).

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Strategic Investments

SCORE maximizes our impact across the state through strategic investments in innovative mission-aligned work. In partnership with tnAchieves, SCORE supported research on the impact of the Knox Promise program, which provides completion grants and coaching to Tennessee Promise scholarship students from Knox County, and research on the impact of dedicated transfer pathways coaching for Tennessee Promise students planning to transfer to a four-year university. This research helped show the positive impact of both completion grants and coaching for community college students’ long-term outcomes.

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