Taking Action For Students

In 2022–23, SCORE saw early promising signs that aligning literacy intervention to Tier I instruction might accelerate learning more effectively than adding more time, materials, or staffing. Students in SCORE’s high-dosage tutoring network achieved stronger gains when tutoring was instructionally coherent with classroom instruction, especially among students performing in the lowest 10%. Building on this evidence, SCORE sought to further study the impact of instructional coherence, specifically for students who need the most support. To test the hypothesis that instructionally aligned intervention could be more impactful than the traditional RTI² approach, SCORE partnered with Knox County Schools (KCS) to embed a randomized control trial (RCT) into an early literacy pilot during the 2024–25 school year.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is advancing quickly, and Tennessee has an opportunity to lead the way in integrating it meaningfully into teaching and learning — starting with English language arts (ELA). Educators and students in Tennessee are already using AI to write, revise, research, brainstorm, and create, but clear guidance is needed to ensure that its use extends the reach of excellent instruction effectively and thoughtfully. Our memo examines how identifying the AI literacy skills and competencies that align with Tennessee’s ELA standards can help students build future-ready skills while supporting teachers with clear expectations and practical tools.

Informing the Conversation is a collection of resources offering data, research, insights, and ideas to inform discussions about Tennessee education in the context of federal shifts, offered with an eye toward the urgent need to continue improving student outcomes in our state. In a March 2025 executive order, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Secretary of Education to “return education authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.” As federal changes unfold, SCORE is committed to collaborating, informing, and offering perspective that we hope can steward change into opportunity for Tennessee students.