Courses on Reading Instruction and Intervention.
does not increase rapidly, employers will be unable
To ensure Tennessee teachers have the knowledge
to fill many of these jobs. In some industries, such
and skills they need to help their students
as construction, transportation and logistics,
succeed in reading, the Tennessee Department
and banking and finance, employers are already
of Education is offering four seven-part courses
struggling to find enough qualified workers.128 To
in reading instruction and intervention. The four
address this skills gap, Governor Haslam launched
courses include K-3 Instruction, K-3 Intervention, 4-5
the Drive to 55 initiative in 2013 with the goal of
Intervention, and 6-12 Intervention. These courses
increasing the proportion of Tennesseans with a
are offered regionally through the Centers for
postsecondary degree or certificate to 55 percent
Regional Excellence (CORE).
by 2025.129 Key components of Drive to 55 as well
125
as other programs aimed at closing skills gaps and
Closing Skills Gaps. As of 2013, 33 percent of
increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion
Tennesseans ages 25-64 had at least an associate’s
in Tennessee are described below.
degree, ranking Tennessee 42nd in the nation in
39
postsecondary attainment.126 By 2020, nearly 66
Tennessee Promise. In 2014, the Tennessee General
percent of jobs in Tennessee will require some type
Assembly passed House Bill 2491/Senate Bill 2471,
of postsecondary education.127 If the percentage
creating the Tennessee Promise program.130 The first
of Tennesseans with postsecondary credentials
program of its kind in the nation, Tennessee Promise