students to pursue degrees and certifications
in industries with significant skills gaps. In
industries across Tennessee are reporting workforce
addition, Tennessee businesses should work
skills gaps. To ensure these gaps can be filled with
with education partners to ensure school
highly qualified individuals, Tennessee businesses and
curricula aligns with the skills students need
education partners must work together to incentivize
to succeed in the workforce.
LEADERSHIP FOR LEARNING
This report details many areas of progress to celebrate in Tennessee public education, as well as
remaining hurdles the state must cross to ensure all students complete high school ready for success in
postsecondary education and the workforce. Achieving the imperatives outlined in this report requires
setting, committing to, and providing students and teachers the support they need to meet and exceed
high expectations. The efforts underway from Mountain City to Memphis aimed at keeping Tennessee
on its present path of improving student outcomes require a shared sense of urgency to implement
innovations we know empower students to succeed.
As achievement levels rise, they must rise for students from all backgrounds, but they must rise
particularly in communities and for populations too long underserved by public schools in Tennessee.
Leadership of teachers, principals, superintendents, and policymakers at the state and local levels
must complement engagement in education from parents, businesses, and philanthropic organizations.
Tennessee has made evident and needed progress over the past five years. The test of that progress will
come in our commitment to continue leading for the future of all of our state’s students.
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