SCORE

Our series, Policy Pillars: Supporting What Works, highlights policies that have had a positive impact on student success. Learn about Tennessee's foundational education policies and why we must recommit to supporting strategies that work for students. Read the first three memos: https://ow.ly/iQgF50SZLuU

Congratulations to the 2024-25 Tennessee Department of Education Principal and Supervisor of the Year finalists. We appreciate your commitment to students! A special shoutout to SCORE alums Cathy Pressnell and Meagan England, as well as SCORE alum Leslie Eldridge. https://ow.ly/qEgV50SYT5X

SCORE’s latest memo highlights the need to revise Tennessee’s outcomes-based postsecondary funding formula so that we are better preparing students for career success beyond graduation. While evidence shows that postsecondary education leads to improved earnings and employment, not all credentials and degrees yield meaningful economic returns for Tennessee students. There’s also a persistent shortage of educated Tennesseans to meet our workforce needs. Our current funding formula, adopted in 2010, has had some positive impact on student success but has not yet driven improvements for all outcomes or all students. The 2025 formula review cycle is an opportunity for Tennessee to prioritize student success by aligning the funding formula with measures that show whether students are on pathways to careers that enable economic independence.

Read the memo here: https://ow.ly/XO3i50SXQl3

Please join SCORE in welcoming Kristen Hayner as our new Senior Director of Communications. Kristen leads key aspects of SCORE's communications strategy in an effort to improve outcomes for students. https://tnscore.org/people/kristen-hayner/

In a guest column for The Tennessean, Dr. Marquinta Harvey of the Belmont University Data Collaborative explains that factors like employment, income security, education, and living conditions can increase stress and anxiety for students, affecting their well being and educational outcomes. Read her column here: https://ow.ly/bO3m50SUbEY

Dr. Harvey shared data on this topic at a mental health symposium hosted earlier this year by SCORE and NashvilleHealth. You'll find the related report, Connecting the Dots, and additional resources here: https://ow.ly/kIkG50SUbGm

Tennessee must use mental health treatment strategies targeted at specific communities Belmont Data Collaborative research shows both Tennessee rural and urban areas face distinct challenges that contribute to mental health disparities.

The latest memo in our Policy Pillars series highlights Tennessee’s strong foundation of research-based literacy strategies. These foundational policies have yielded record-breaking ELA student outcomes, with our third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students making significant proficiency gains since the pandemic declines of 2021 and even surpassing 2019’s previous highs. Students who aren’t reading on grade level by third grade have a harder time catching up, meaning fewer opportunities for success in life. We must continue to advance and evaluate these foundational policies so that all Tennessee students are prepared for success. Read the memo: https://ow.ly/tNG750STkvT

Wishing all and students an exciting year of learning!

: Did you miss our briefing on 2024 TCAP results? We highlighted trends in the data, including Tennessee’s continued growth in math and ELA, ongoing equity gaps, pandemic learning recovery, and performance in the public charter sector. Watch the recording here:

SCORE TCAP 2024 Briefing This briefing on 2024 TCAP results looks at key data points and takeaways in the latest findings from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program. The bri...

More than 60% of Tennessee jobs require a postsecondary credential, but our postsecondary attainment rate is just 47.9%. We're highlighting One Million Degrees, an innovative, scalable, & successful model that Tennessee can learn from! https://ow.ly/B0QK50SMrIh

Thanks to standards and assessment, Tennessee had the data to provide student support and realize one of the most robust postpandemic academic recoveries in the U.S. Continuing commitment to these foundational policies will ensure we prepare students for success. https://ow.ly/gio050SL7ur

Data show that Tennessee’s annual teacher evaluations have led to more effective classroom instruction and improved student outcomes. And most agree! That's according to the annual educator survey conducted by Vanderbilt Peabody College's Tennessee Education Research Alliance. Let’s preserve and strengthen this policy that supports students. Read to learn more: https://ow.ly/4hyL50SJnav

Join us this Friday, July 26, for a 45-minute webinar sharing key insights from the 2024 TCAP results released last month. SCORE’s Director of Data Alexis Parker will offer data analysis & highlight notable trends. A Q&A session will follow.

Register now: https://ow.ly/yGAT50SIuC0

The countdown is on for students to complete the FAFSA before August 1. Remind the students in your life to apply for access to scholarships, grants, and $$$ for college. https://ow.ly/JuvY50SFzkj

SCORE is hiring a Director of Finance. Join our team and help further our mission of catalyzing transformative change in Tennessee education so that all students can achieve success.

Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/mneW50SBATv

Last week SCORE team members spent some time giving back to the community. One group cleaned and organized toys for playrooms at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt while another helped out at the Nashville Humane Association. Many thanks to both organizations for the opportunity!

SCORE is excited to announce Caroline Martin as the newest member of our team. As our Senior Director of Impact, Caroline will help ensure that our strategic priorities and investments are aligned with our mission. https://ow.ly/Yb5e50Szbpy

Our new series — Policy Pillars: Supporting What Works, highlights policies that have significantly impacted student success in a positive way. Today, we release the first two memos in the series.
• Teacher Evaluation: Driving Improved Instruction and Student Achievement, looks at how annual teacher evaluations lead to more effective instruction and advances in student achievement.
• Standards and Assessment: Setting High Expectations and Monitoring Progress reviews how high academic standards, aligned assessments, and the use of data have propelled our educational progress and provide essential data about student achievement and growth.
Join us in revisiting and recommitting to these foundational policies. Let’s continue our track record of educational improvement grounded in using data to improve student outcomes. View the first two memos in the series here:

Education Policy Pillars: Supporting What Works - SCORE A SCORE series examining the challenges facing Tennessee’s educator labor market and highlighting innovative practices to strengthen it.

Please join SCORE in welcoming Jocelyn Young as our new Director of Government Relations. Jocelyn will work closely with local and state public officials and policy makers to drive policy and practice changes that improve outcomes for students. https://tnscore.org/people/jocelyn-young/

Today SCORE celebrates America’s independence as well as the power of education to shape our nation. Wishing all of our partners and friends a safe and happy !

We’re excited to see hard work pay off. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s latest report finds the college-going rate for the class of 2023 is now 56.7% — up 2.4 percentage points from 2022. While we celebrate that success, we also see concerning gaps based on race, gender, and economic status. The insights from this report can help us identify where support is needed. Let’s harness the data, close those gaps, and ensure success for all students. https://ow.ly/JK9k50SuPgt

Tennessee has a track record of educational improvement, grounded in data to improve student outcomes. But did you know that some of the priorities that enabled that progress — and position us for future success — are at risk? Recent policy proposals — described by some as “reforms to the public school system” — would have removed almost all required assessments for public high school students and eliminated annual teacher evaluation/feedback for some teachers.

To ensure student success, Tennessee must:
• Measure and act on student outcome data in K-12.
• Use data to better connect postsecondary experiences to clear career outcomes.
• Make data — especially education-to-work data — more accessible, actionable, and usable to all Tennesseans.

Let’s recommit to policies that work and act more boldly, using data as our guide to prepare every student for career and life success. Read more in this timely message from David Mansouri: https://ow.ly/eefI50SsOfH

Showing record high proficiency rates in ELA for third, fourth and fifth graders, yesterday’s release of 2024 state annual assessment results indicate that Tennessee’s student-focused policies are paying off for students. Math proficiency rates continue to improve as well. While policies on early literacy, rigorous standards, annual assessments and tutoring have had a positive impact, there is still more to be done to ensure all students are on track for success.

Read more in our TCAP key takeaways: https://tnscore.org/understanding-2024-tcap-results-five-key-takeaways/

Understanding 2024 TCAP Results: Five Key Takeaways - SCORE Results from the 2024 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) show the continued positive impact of the state’s investments in the public education system.

Economic growth in Tennessee has increased job opportunities, but are Tennessee students earning credentials that prepare them for those jobs? We’re committed to ensuring that all students have access to jobs that enable economic independence. Learn more in our new report: https://ow.ly/eQaB50Snx46

Tennessee must bridge the gap between education and career success so that all students earn credentials leading to greater economic opportunity. David Mansouri explains why SCORE's latest report is aimed at engaging stakeholders to pursue this goal. https://ow.ly/OEKe50SnoNt

Today we celebrate , which marks the culmination of the emancipation of African Americans in 1865. This day symbolizes freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward a more inclusive society. Juneteenth reminds us of the importance of understanding and appreciating the varied experiences and backgrounds of our students, educators and community members. By doing so, we can create an education system that truly supports and uplifts every student. Learn more about Juneteenth here:

nmaahc.si.edu

Sobering statistics from the CDC: 42% of U.S. high school students feel persistent sadness and hopelessness, and more than one in five seriously considered su***de in 2021. In The 74, SCORE Founder/Chairman Senator Bill Frist, M.D., offers takeaways from our recent mental health symposium that focused on strengthening student mental health.

Linking Mental Health and Education to Give Tennessee Kids a Healthier Future Frist: At a recent symposium, national, state and local leaders came together to discuss the crisis. Here are 5 key takeaways.