The State of Education in Tennessee: Supporting Students from Kindergarten to Career
last-dollar scholarships. While all of these
efforts are helping break down potential
barriers to postsecondary education, they
are still in their beginning stages and have
not yet had a chance to demonstrate success
when brought to scale statewide.
Whether graduates choose
to pursue postsecondary
education or enter the
workforce, they must develop
critical thinking and problem
solving skills to succeed.
The focus on connecting student learning
opportunities in K-12 with meaningful
postsecondary and career options has also
led to increased attention to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. Tennessee’s economy is rich in STEM
resources, including heavy industry, agriculture, automotive manufacturing, and
healthcare. About a fifth of jobs in the state’s
large metropolitan areas require a high level
of knowledge in a STEM field.xxxvii The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network has been working to unite business and
education partners to provide schools and districts with innovative STEM opportunities for their students and faculty.
The network’s six regional STEM hubs across the state have
helped establish and enhance the partnerships between local
education agencies, higher education institutions, and related
business and industry. The partnerships created by the hubs
are connecting students to field placement internships that
will enrich their learning experiences, while also providing
teacher externships that provide opportunities for teachers to enhance their instructional skills through real-world
participation in industry. The regional hubs and platform
schools work collaboratively to bring industry expertise into
the classroom. The incorporation of industry professionals
into instruction infuses real-world projects that seek to raise
students’ interest and awareness for STEM careers.
In September 2013, Governor Haslam announced the Drive
to 55 initiative aimed at increasing the number of Tennesseans with postsecondary credentials to meet today’s workforce demands. The goal of the Drive to 55 is to bring the percentage of Tennesseans with college degrees or certifications
to 55 percent by the year 2025. The initiative is bringing a renewed sense of energy and commitment to leveraging many
of the programs outlined above to ensure more Tennesseans
complete postsecondary education. In his announcement,
the Governor explained, “In today’s world, we need to be
thinking in terms of K-J, kindergarten to jobs. We need to do
a better job of defining reality for our students to help them
understand what is expected in the workforce and to map
out different paths and programs so that they understand
what success looks like for them.” A key part of the initiative
involves improved accountability and alignment between
K-12 education agencies, postsecondary institutions, and
businesses.xxxviii
28
Priorities for 2014
In today’s economy, the majority of career pathways require
education and training beyond high school. As Tennessee
embarks on work to ensure that citizens have the skills they
need to work in the fastest-growing fields in our state, the
public K-12 education system has an important role to play.
1. Create a data-driven environment that equips policymakers, superintendents, principals, teachers, and
parents with the information and tools they need to
advance student learning and success. The Measure
Tennessee data system – which connects information
from multiple sources, including K-12, higher education, and the workforce – will enable schools and districts to know how their students perform after high
school. It is also important to be clear that the data
system still protects the privacy of individual student
information. Using key data will help local systems
determine what changes should be made to curricular
and program offerings to ensure students are ready
for multiple postsecondary pathways.
2. Increase and expand opportunities for high school
students to participate in rigorous coursework, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate,
dual-credit, and dual-enrollment courses. Barriers (e.g.
financial, geographic, or administrative) that prevent
students from participating in such courses should be
identified and removed.
3. Increase and expand opportunities for students to
study STEM subjects and pursue career opportunities
in STEM fields. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development identified 10
industries where Tennessee has a competitive advantage, and 7 of them require a solid foundation in STEM
subjects. The work to support STEM education in the
state must continue to be a priority in the absence of
Race to the Top Funds.
Priorities in Action: Preparing Students for
College and Workforce
Today’s global economy demands that students leave high school prepared for college and the workforce. The K-12 education
system has a critical role to play in identifying possibilities for students, communicating with business and industry partners
about workforce needs, and in providing students skills in critical thinking, writing, and math that they will