Taking Action For Students

Tennessee’s commitment to high academic standards, aligned assessments, and to using data to support improved student outcomes moved our state from the bottom of the pack nationally in education outcomes to one of the fastest growing in the country. We should remain committed to high expectations through rigorous academic standards and aligned assessments that provide essential data about student achievement and growth.

Tennessee’s commitment to annual teacher evaluations and providing educators with high-quality feedback has led to more effective instruction and significant advances in student achievement. Tennessee should preserve its evaluation system and aim to bolster and strengthen it so that educators continue receiving high-quality feedback that will, in turn, benefit all students.

Economic development in Tennessee has increased career opportunities, but we need to ensure students are earning degrees and credentials that prepare them for those jobs and enable them to benefit from this economic opportunity. This report offers a vision for measuring what success looks like for Tennessee students entering the workforce.

SCORE’s guide to partnerships between employers and K-12 and postsecondary institutions that put students on clear pathways to jobs that enable economic independence. 

SCORE is committed to student success from kindergarten through career. This report provides a snapshot of data across postsecondary preparation, persistence, and success as a means of highlighting key postsecondary metrics and identifying areas of improvement for better supporting students through the Tennessee public education system. Data and data insights specific to each institution and postsecondary sector are provided in the pages that follow. Due to small sample sizes in some cases, there may be fluctuations in year-over-year comparisons.

Tennessee is a leader in piloting and scaling efforts to strengthen student success. Foundational strategies have been grounded in high expectations for educators, schools, and students – from the time students enter the classroom to the time they receive a degree or credential. This work is yielding demonstrated results for students. However, while progress has been made, it is clear more needs to be done. Tennessee’s next challenge is to expand its vision for education so that each student not only has the opportunity to succeed in school but also has the opportunity to be prepared for a career that enables economic independence.