Career Pathways & Talent Pipeline

Access certified student talent from TN public schools.

Description

CTE equips students with the skills needed for success in college, careers, or military service.

Focuses on instructional strategies, classroom management, lesson planning, technology.

14 career clusters and 59 programs of study, organized into 5 meta-clusters and 3 cross-cutting clusters to align education with student interests and labor market demand.

Programs are developed in partnership with workforce, postsecondary, and military representatives using Tennessee-specific labor market data.

Students earn industry credentials and postsecondary credits while gaining hands-on experience through coursework and Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs).

Eligibility

For secondary (K-12) CTE programs:

• Be enrolled in TN public school, grades 7-12, offering CTE
• Select a CTE course or program of study
• Meet any prerequisites for specific courses

For post-secondary CTE programs:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Meet program requirements (e.g. exams, background checks)
• Apply through the institution offering the program

Develop long-term talent pipelines with earn-and-learn models.

Description

Structured, earn-while-you-learn training and nationally recognized credentials.

Develops long-term talent pipelines in skilled trades and technical careers.

Eligibility

Must be registered with U.S. Dept. of Labor or TN Apprenticeship Office.

Apprentices must be full-time employees, age 16+ and legally able to work.

Employers must designate qualified mentors and submit a training plan.

Connect with tuition-free talent pool of TN graduates.

Description

A scholarship and mentoring program that provides TN high school graduates an opportunity to attend community or technical college tuition and fee-free.

Eligibility

High school senior graduating from a TN eligible high school or completes a Tennessee home school program.

Application submission in fall of high school senior year.

Upskill adult learners with tuition-free access to community college.

Description

A scholarship that helps adults and/or returning students go to community or technical college tuition-free..

Eligibility

Community college eligibility:

• Does not already have an associate or bachelor's degree
• Has been a Tennessee resident for at least one year preceding the date of application
• Completes the FAFSA and is an independent student
• Has been admitted to an eligible institution (any of the state's 13 public community colleges or any four-year institution that is eligible for the Tennessee education lottery scholarship that offers an associate degree program)

TCAT eligibility:

• Is a Tennessee resident, U.S. Citizen
• Has a FAFSA dependency status of independent

Host high school talent for internships and apprenticeships.

Description

Tennessee offers a continuum of experiences - from career awareness to on-the-job training - to prepare students for workforce entry.

Includes internships, apprenticeships, school-based enterprises, cooperative education, and project-based learning.

Guided by WBL Framework, employers can offer virtual, in-person, or simulated placements.

WBL supports talent recruitment and skill development while providing students with career-relevant learning regardless of their postsecondary plans.

Eligibility

Available to all students, regardless of postsecondary plans, with placements coordinated through their schools or districts.

Participation typically contingent on maintaining satisfactory academic performance and meeting any program-specific requirements (age, prior coursework).

High school access to industry-recognized, in-demand credentials.

Description

Tennessee is transforming high school by embedding access to industry-recognized, high-quality postsecondary credentials that align with high-demand careers.

A multi-agency partnership (TDOE, TBR, and TDLWD) ensures credentials are mapped to in-demand occupations and aligned with workforce needs.

Credentials include clearly identified skills and competencies, making their value transparent to students, educators, and employers.

Ongoing updates keep credential offerings responsive to evolving labor market trends, helping students transition confidently into postsecondary education or employment.

Eligibility

For high school students progressing toward graduation.

Eligibility may depend on academic readiness and successful completion of requisite courses or assessments to ensure a seamless transition into postsecondary or career opportunities.