When students excel in the classroom, they emerge prepared to find success in college, career, and life.

Are Tennessee students prepared for careers that enable economic independence?

To address this crucial question, Tennesseans must unite around a shared data-driven vision that charts a path for student success. TN2030 puts forth a set of ambitious — yet attainable — goals aimed at ensuring Tennessee students are on clear pathways toward opportunity.

Those invested in Tennessee students hope that every one of them is prepared for their next steps in life. With this aspiration as our collective north star, strong progress can be made when just one more student in every classroom across the state reaches key educational milestones.

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Goal: 71% of Tennessee third-graders are reading and writing on grade level by 2030.

Students Proficient in Third-Grade ELA on TCAP (TDOE) as of May 2024

This means that just one more child in every third-grade classroom will achieve ELA proficiency each year.

Students who do not read proficiently by the end of third grade are unlikely to catch up in future years. These students are less likely to graduate from high school or earn a postsecondary credential. When we increase this specific measure, we can expect more students to successfully complete high school and be better prepared for postsecondary education and a career.

Goal: 58% of Tennessee seventh-graders are proficient in math by 2030.

Percentage of Students Proficient in Seventh-Grade Math on TCAP, 2024

This means that just one more child in every seventh-grade classroom will achieve math proficiency each year.

Students who are not proficient in math by the end of seventh grade are more likely to struggle with complex high school mathematics courses, including algebra. This proficiency is highly predictive of success on college entrance exams and in postsecondary courses. When we increase this specific measure, we can expect students to achieve greater success in high school and postsecondary pursuits.

Goal: 77% of all 12th-grade students in Tennessee pursue a postsecondary opportunity aligned to their long-term goals by 2030.

Seamless Enrollment in Postsecondary Education After High School, Class of 2023.

Data do not account for military enlistment, apprenticeships, or credential earning in K-12.

This means that just one more high school graduate per 12th-grade classroom will seamlessly enroll in college, accept an apprenticeship, or enlist in the military each year.

Students who do not immediately enroll in postsecondary education after high school graduation are unlikely to enter the higher education system in the future. When we increase this specific measure, we can expect to see higher postsecondary completion that leads to stronger prospects for work and economic independence.

Goal: 64% of postsecondary students in Tennessee complete a degree or credential, with 75% of those being impact credentials by 2030.

Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time Students Earning a Postsecondary Credential and Those Aligned to High-Wage, High-Demand Careers, 2023

This means that just one more high school graduate per classroom will complete a postsecondary degree, with 75% of those completed endeavors being considered an impact credential.

Earning a postsecondary degree or credential results in higher lifetime earnings, lower rates of unemployment, and is also linked to improved health outcomes, increased civic participation, and reduced likelihood of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. Focusing on completion of impact credentials — or credentials that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs — can help ensure students are prepared to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow. When we increase this specific measure, we make that final connection from Tennessee's educational system to the state's workforce, leading to lives of economic independence and stronger economies.

Do these four goals tell the full story of success?

The metrics tell us whether Tennessee students master foundational academics, start postsecondary education, and earn an impact credential. But there's more to the story: We must help students overcome roadblocks and complete their credentials, so that they can achieve careers that enable economic independence.

Students Are Disconnected

Nearly one in six young people (14%) between the ages of 16 and 24 are disconnected from both education and the workforce.