SCORE 2024 report released at Construction Career Center

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The State of Education in Tennessee held a networking reception and conference for school and community leaders Thursday morning at the Construction Career Center.

In this meeting, SCORE released the 2024 report.

This report has been released every year since 2009.

The objective was to focus on student career readiness from Pre-K to college.

President & CEO of SCORE, David Mansouri said, “One of the most important data points that we will talk about today is only about 26% of 9th grade students in Tennessee are going on to complete any kind of post-secondary credential degree within six years of graduating from high school. So we really want to spend a lot of time talking about ‘How do we strengthen that?’ How do we increase the number of Tennesseans who are successfully obtaining a credential or degree that is going to lead to a career that enables economic independence.”

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee provided the keynote address and discussed the importance of career readiness from a business perspective.

SCORE also outlined specific priorities for school leaders to implement in their communities.

The report outlines three priority areas for the year ahead:

• Expand student opportunity by strengthening foundational policies
• Build effective pathways between education and careers
• Ensure K-12 pathways between education and careers

“We’re here at the Construction Career Center on purpose. We want to be elevating and identifying really innovative models that are helping students progress through their education experience, and do that in a way that results in a job… And not only a job, but a job that enables economic independence and economic mobility. So, we’ll be showcasing the work that’s happening here and we’ll be elevating other models across the state that really include education and business partnerships. And we’re excited not only to elevate those models, but also to talk about how we can expand and provide more of them in the year to come across the state,” Mansouri added.

Panelists from different parts of the Chattanooga area also participated in the event.

Mayor Weston Wamp represented Hamilton County along with Breckan Duckworth of Hamilton County Schools, Keri Randolph of Chattanooga 2.0, and Marie Webb with EPB.

Superintendents and leaders from the Tennesee Valley also attended this year’s conference to discuss the data for the next year.

“We’re making sure students are successful really kindergarten through career. So in terms of the folks that we have here with us, we’ll have K-12 school district leaders and school leaders from across the region… Higher education leaders, so individuals who are leading higher education institutions and who are working to support students in being successful in higher education. We have a lot of members of the business community who are here. Some of them speaking today about the needs that businesses and the workforce has in making sure that education is preparing students for successful careers,” Mansouri said.