New study suggests Tennessee’s school turnaround models are not leading to long-term improvements in student performance
A new study published by Brown University’s Annenberg Institute indicates that middle school students in the state’s two primary school turnaround models have made very little academic progress in recent years.
Statewide graduation rate reaches 92.1 percent, breaking previous record
New data from the Tennessee Department of Education shows that the statewide graduation rate from the 2023-24 school year was 92.1 percent, breaking the previous record achieved in the 2022-23 school year at 90.6 percent.
Young adults aren’t seeing the value of postsecondary education. A new SCORE report highlights one way to help
A new report from SCORE notes that “too many Tennesseans are still not realizing the full economic benefits of their education,” despite the state’s efforts in recent years to expand access to higher education and workforce training. To help address the issue, SCORE developed a framework for measuring the value of workforce credentials.
East Tennessee State University poll finds economic concerns and divided opinions on book bans
A new survey study from the Applied Social Research Lab at East Tennessee State University indicates that 56 percent of Tennesseans believe the state is “headed in the wrong direction.” Respondents cited concerns over the economy, as well as a divide over Tennessee school districts’ efforts to ban inappropriate books from school libraries.
Leaders of two public charter schools say professional development is the key to success with special populations
Schools like Leadership Preparatory Charter School in Memphis and KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary (KACPE) in South Nashville have invested heavily in professional development efforts to better prepare teachers for working with multilingual learners and students from underserved backgrounds.
New study finds low-income students in 10 major cities with charter schools are catching up
A new study from the Progressive Policy Institute indicates that low-income students in both public charter schools and traditional public schools in 10 major cities are catching up to statewide performance levels.
Beacon Poll shows support for school choice policies in Tennessee
A new statewide survey from the Beacon Center of Tennessee found that Tennessee voters are “more likely to vote for candidates” who support school choice by a 40-point margin.
Learn more about the recent Beacon poll findings.
Study finds low math confidence among Black female students in Nashville
A new study published in Sage Journals suggests that Black female students in Nashville have significantly less confidence in math than their male counterparts due to internalized stereotypes about race and gender, as well as concerns about the quality of instruction. Learn more about the study's findings and conclusions.
New study of education funding determines an unprecedented amount of public money is now available for private school tuition
A new report from the Georgetown University education think tank FutureEd notes that 569,000 K-12 students received public subsidies for private schooling in 2023-24 across eight states with universal school choice programs.
TennesseeCAN survey: 46 percent of parents ‘very satisfied’ with schools, despite satisfaction with school choice
A recent parent survey study from the education advocacy organization TennesseeCAN indicates that despite overall satisfaction with school choice in Tennessee and parents’ understanding of student performance, only about 46 percent of parents in Tennessee are “very satisfied” with their children’s schools. Learn more about the survey's findings.
SCORE report highlights the promise of AI in education
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says that more than half of U.S. teachers have never used artificial intelligence tools, despite the growing popularity of AI-driven ed-tech platforms and their potential to enhance instruction.
Learn more about how educators can make use of AI tools for content creation and lesson planning.
SCORE report finds Tennessee’s new school funding formula has had a ‘positive impact’ on schools
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) says the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) school funding formula has had a “positive impact” on schools’ efforts to improve student outcomes.
University of Tennessee sees record-breaking retention, graduation rates
The university has had another historic year for enrollment, retention and graduation rates, according to recent data.
New study suggests Metro Nashville tutoring program was less impactful than expected
Despite increased investments in academic support to combat “learning loss” that came as a result of COVID-19, a recent report from Brown University researchers suggests students in Metro Nashville Public Schools are not benefitting much from tutoring.
New study examines role of socioeconomic factors in racial achievement gaps
A recent study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute suggests that socio-economic factors like household income and parents’ education play a role in perpetuating schools’ racial achievement gaps.
Tennessee Department of Education announces improvements in K-12 literacy and efforts to maintain progress
While recent state assessment data trends show that students throughout the state are making gains in literacy, officials from the Tennessee Department of Education say more work is needed to maintain that progress moving forward.
SCORE memo notes need to update state higher-ed funding formula
A new memo from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) highlights the need to revise Tennessee’s outcomes-based postsecondary funding formula to better prepare students for career success after graduation.
State Board of Education seeks feedback on state ELA standards
The Tennessee State Board of Education has launched a new survey to gather public comments and feedback about Tennessee’s K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) standards, a Monday announcement said.
Knox County Schools makes changes to early dismissal schedule
Following recent discussions between board members and with parents in the community about their preferences, the board decided to do away with two “early release days” and turn the remaining four into “half days,” which officials say have less instruction time than early release days
UT study shows need for more civic education in Tennessee
A recent statewide survey from the University of Tennessee’s Institute of American Civics suggests there's a critical need to improve civics education in Tennessee.

