The State of Education in Tennessee: Supporting Students from Kindergarten to Career
Supporting Students from Kindergarten to Career:
Creating Multiple Pathways to Postsecondary Success
Overview
It is critical that students receive an education that prepares
them for the demands of the workforce, both today and in
the future. Multiple state agencies – from the Tennessee
Department of Education (TDOE) to the Department of Economic and Community Development – are working together
to ensure students have access to rigorous academic and career pathways that are aligned with state and local economic
needs. The goal is to develop an educated and skilled workforce across Tennessee.
adult skills in 2013 revealed that “what people know - and
what they can do with what they know - has a major impact
on their life chances.”xxxi For instance, individuals who are
able to make complex inferences and closely evaluate written
texts have a median hourly wage that is 60 percent higher
than individuals with low literacy skills.xxxii
secondary education opportunities by creating a college-going culture in communities across the state, removing barriers to higher education, and promoting college persistence. In
2013, TCASN awarded over $400,000 in grant funding to 12
projects that will help 27,000 students access postsecondary
education.xxxiv
Since 2010, there has been a progression of initiatives that aim
to ensure all students in Tennessee are prepared for college or
career, while increasing the percentage of Tennesseans who
complete postsecondary education. In Januar