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Nashville, TN— Today, the Tennessee Department of Education released the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program student application checklist and encouraged interested families to begin gathering required documentation to submit when the application launches in May. The department will announce the program’s launch date in the coming weeks. Families can access the checklist for Education Freedom Scholarships, Tennessee’s landmark universal school choice plan, here.

Nashville, TN – Throughout April, the Tennessee Department of Education invites Tennesseans to celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, proclaimed by Governor Bill Lee. All month long, the department will highlight meaningful math gains due to Tennessee’s ongoing commitment to K-12 mathematics education and launch key initiatives: the Math Implementation Network and the state’s new mascot, Marty the Mathematician.

Oneida, TN— Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced East Tennessee 3rd grade teacher Stephanie Boshears at Oneida Elementary School in Oneida Special School District has been named a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award, one of the highest honors in education that has been dubbed the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher Magazine.

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced 162 schools have already signaled an intent to participate in the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program, Governor Lee’s first-ever universal school choice plan, within the first three weeks of the program’s launch. As the department prepares to award scholarships to students in the upcoming 2025-26 school year, the department continues to invite interested schools to participate and welcomes families to learn more here.

Nashville, TN – Throughout March, the Tennessee Department of Education invites all Tennesseans to celebrate Tennessee Literacy Month, proclaimed by Governor Bill Lee. All month long, the department will highlight how Tennessee’s meaningful reading investments continue to strengthen early literacy skills and prepare students to reach their full potential.

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University launched the 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey. All educators, administrators, and certified school staff in Tennessee are invited and encouraged to take the survey and share their perspectives and expertise on education issues affecting their classrooms and schools, and help inform strategies and goals at the state, district, and local school levels.

Nashville, TN — Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced February is Tennessee Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and will celebrate by amplifying the role CTE has in preparing students for postsecondary success.

Nashville, TN— Today, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) published the 2024 Nation’s Report Card, which highlights Tennessee's unwavering commitment to public schools and scores that outpace the nation in reading and math.

Nashville, TN — Today, the Tennessee Department of Education released the ACT state results and participation rate for the graduating class of 2024. Thanks to efforts by schools and districts to encourage student participation on the ACT, the overall statewide participation rate for the 2024 graduating class was 99 percent. In addition, the state average composite ACT score increased from 19.0 in 2023 to 19.3 in 2024.

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced significant gains in participation and academic outcomes for the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program, reflecting a growing demand for educational choice and flexibility. The release of the 2023-24 Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) report highlights the second year of the program in operation.

Nashville, TN – Today, the Tennessee Department of Education released the 2023-24  State Report Card, including the 2023-24 School Letter Grades and highlighting interactive features for families and users to learn more on how districts and schools are performing across the state.

NASHVILLE, TN—This evening at the annual Excellence in Education celebration, the Tennessee Department of Education announced the 2024-25 Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year, along with the two 2024-25 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) state finalists.

Nashville, TN— Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced school and district designations for the 2023-24 school year, including Reward Schools, Exemplary Districts, and In Need of Improvement districts. These designations are based on various performance indicators, including student achievement and growth. 

Nashville, TN — During the month of November, the Tennessee Department of Education is celebrating Career Development Month by highlighting the Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Innovative School Models (ISM) programs that provide every student the necessary skills to pursue postsecondary education and high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers. Additionally in November, the department will recognize Early Postsecondary Opportunities (EPSO) Week, November 11-15, and National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), November 18-22. Schools, educators, and districts are encouraged to join in highlighting their work by sharing on social media using #EPSOWEEK2024, #NationalApprenticeshipWeek2024, or #NAW2024.

Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced the 2023-24 statewide graduation rate is 92.1 percent, breaking the previous record achieved in the 2022-23 school year at 90.6 percent.