Annual Joint Report on Pre-Kindergarten through Higher Education in Tennessee, 2015

Overview & Synopsis

This year's joint report highlights the progress made in education since the special session of the 106th General Assembly (2010), which included passage of the First to the Top and Complete College Tennessee Acts. Both Acts provide a framework for collaboration between all state systems of education, addressing the overarching need to produce a higher proportion of college- and career-ready graduates. The "Joint Report" discusses the following four areas, as mandated by T.C.A. §49-1-302(a)(10): (1) Minimizing Duplication -- the extent of duplication in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education; (2) Compatability -- compatibility between high school graduation requirements and college admission requirements; (3) Master Plan Fulfillment -- fulfillment of the State Board of Education and Tennessee Higher Education Commission's master plans; and (4) State needs in Public Education -- the extent to which the state needs in public education have been met as determined by the board and commission. Tennessee has made significant progress in each of these areas and has set up a robust system of collaboration between different levels of public education in the state. This collaboration has driven the State's goals of increasing the number of college-ready high school graduates and the number of college graduates. This report demonstrates that the goals set by the T.C.A. §49-1-302(a)(10) are being successfully met. The goal of aligning high school graduation requirements and admission requirements of higher education institutions has been fully attained. Robust data collection across the P-20 sector allows for identification of the areas of duplication that must be minimized. A variety of programs, projects, and initiatives aim to serve the state needs in public education and achieve the specified goals. [For the 2014 report, see ED560727.]