Education Reform Organization Says TN Should Do More To Prepare Students For Workforce

Photo Credit: SCORE / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

With the release of their most recent annual report, the State Collaborative on Education Reform, or SCORE, says that Tennessee legislators need to better prepare young people to enter the workforce.

Their annual “State of Education” report discusses what they believe should be a priority for consideration by lawmakers in the next year. This year’s recommendations include closing completion gaps, providing more opportunities for high-quality charter schools, accelerated student learning, and more emphasis on helping students be ready for a career after high school.

Economic expansion in the past year has opened up many more jobs in Tennessee, bringing the discussion of college and career readiness to the forefront once again. However, some question whether Tennessee graduates will actually have the skills and qualifications needed to take on those jobs.

David Mansouri, president of SCORE, pointed out that less than half of Tennessee high school graduates were considered “ready graduates” last year. Students earn this commendation through a combination of ACT or SAT scores and the accumulation of Early Postsecondary Opportunities (EPSOs). EPSOs can include industry certifications, advanced placement and dual enrollment courses, or military tests such as the ASVAB.

“Right now, just to be candid, the state has a mismatched education and workforce system that is leading many students to walk down an unfulfilling pathway,” Mansour said.

He continued, “The state’s completion crisis is clear: Tennessee must take action to address these gaps to increase economic opportunity and to meet workforce demands.”

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Mansouri also noted that many Tennesseans do not have post-secondary degrees, although over half of the jobs available require one. 

While programs such as the Tennessee Promise scholarship has helped the state to progress over the last ten years, the pandemic brought on new challenges that have kept students from enrolling or finishing those degrees.

Mansouri is hopeful that the new remodeling of the school funding formula will be helpful in expanding and increasing college and career readiness across the state.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com