2015-16 State of Education in Tennessee | Page 41

allows Tennessee high school graduates to attend a competitive grant program that aims to eliminate community college or Tennessee College of Applied skills gaps across the state by encouraging Technology (TCAT) free of tuition and fees. Tennessee collaboration between education and industry. Local Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it covers organizations identify skills gaps, develop programs tuition and fees not already covered by Pell grants, to fill those gaps, and then apply for grants to help the HOPE scholarship, or state student assistance fund those programs. Governor Haslam’s Workforce funds. The program also matches students with Sub-Cabinet reviewed grant applications and mentors who guide them through the college search selected winners. The Tennessee Higher Education and application process. Commission (THEC) then provided ongoing support 131 to grant recipients.138 In 2014, twelve programs from The high school class of 2015 was the first class across the state received LEAP Grants totaling over eligible for Tennessee Promise. To participate, 10 million dollars.139 students had to fill out an application by November of their senior year. More than 58,000 students Pathways Tennessee. In 2012, Tennessee joined (nearly 90 percent of high school seniors in the the Pathways to Prosperity Network, a multistate state) applied.132 During the spring of their senior initiative led by the Harvard Graduate School of year, participants had to attend mandatory meetings Education and the Boston-based nonprofit Jobs for with their mentor, fill out the Free Application for the Future.141 The goal of the network is to ensure Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), apply to a community that more students graduate from high school and or technical college, and participate in community attain a postsecondary credential that is highly service activities by August 1. valued in the labor market.142 133 To remain eligible for the scholarship, students must enroll full-time, maintain continuous enrollment, complete eight Tennessee’s entrance into the Pathways to hours of community service per term, and maintain a Prosperity Network led to the founding of Pathways GPA of at least 2.0. Tennessee, an initiative that aims to provide 134 Tennessee students with rigorous academic and In the fall 2015 semester, the first class of Tennessee career pathways linked to economic and labor market Promise students arrived on community and technical needs.143 The Pathways Tennessee Framework college campuses throughout the state. Tennessee’s includes the following components: 13 community colleges saw a 24 percent jump in fulltime enrollment, with certain campuses seeing even larger growth.135 The state’s 27 TCATs saw an average enrollment increase of about 18 percent, though this increase is likely the combined effect of the Tennessee Promise and the Tennessee Reconnect Program,136 Governor Haslam’s initiative to encourage adult learners to complete postsecondary credentials. • Active industry involvement in student learning, starting in middle school • Strong integration of student supports, interventions, and counseling • Utilization of early warning systems and remediation strategies • Allows students to acquire postsecondary Program requirements for the Class of 2016 are the credits and/or industry certifications in high same as they were for the Class of 2015. Applications school were due November 2, 2015, with nearly 60,000 students applying.137 Going forward, the outcomes of Tennessee Promise should be monitored to ensure that scholarship recipients are completing postsecondary credentials that lead to rewarding careers in high-demand fields. Tennessee LEAP. Created in 2013, the Tennessee • Supports seamless transition from secondary to postsecondary education institutions • Participants have multiple entry and exit points throughout grades 13-16 • Program completers are competitive in Tennessee’s fastest growing employment sectors 144 Labor Education Alignment Program (LEAP) is a 40