Tennessee Department of Education

The Tennessee State Board of Education is considering alternatives to content knowledge assessments for teacher licensure, including options from Educational Testing Services and Pearson. Critics argue this could lower instructional standards, while proponents cite national teacher shortages as a justification. Emergency credentials for teaching positions increased by 9.25% between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Williamson County Schools in Middle Tennessee leads the state with a 73.9% proficiency rate in all subjects on the 2025-26 TCAP test, showing improvements in English/Language Arts, math, and social studies. Science results are pending for release on August 31.

Middle Tennessee school districts showed overall improvement in standardized test scores, but proficiency rates for marginalized groups like low-income students, English learners, and Black/Hispanic students declined in several areas. While 118 districts reported increased proficiency rates, disparities persisted in counties such as Williamson, Cheatham, and Dickson.

The Tennessee Department of Education has released district-level TCAP results for the 2025-26 school year, giving parents and educators a closer look.

The Tennessee Department of Education released 2025-26 TCAP district-level results, showing strong participation rates and gains in English language arts, math, and social studies. Williamson County Schools had the highest combined proficiency rate at 73.9%, while 78 districts exceeded 40% proficiency across all subjects.

Preliminary TCAP data for 2025-2026 shows improved test scores for Nashville students overall, but significant disparities persist for Black, Hispanic, and students with disabilities. The Tennessee Department of Education and advocacy group SCORE analyzed the data, revealing uneven academic growth across subgroups.

Tennessee third-grade reading scores improved in 2025, with 44.9% of students meeting or exceeding expectations, but proficiency declines in middle school. A 2022 reading law requiring interventions or retention for underperforming students contributed to third-grade gains, yet achievement gaps persist for low-income students and proficiency drops significantly between sixth and seventh grades.

Less than half of Tennessee students are proficient in any school subject, with over 50% of 3rd through 8th graders not meeting expectations in all tested subjects. High schoolers show similar struggles, particularly in math, where less than one-third are proficient. The Tennessee Department of Education reported modest gains but did not highlight the persistent challenges in student performance.

Tennessee has established a state oversight board to control Memphis-Shelby County Schools, with MSCS funding the board members' $30,000 annual salaries. The board's operational costs may come from a state reserve fund of $500,000 to $1 million or amendments to MSCS' local budget, though details remain unclear. A lawsuit challenges the board's constitutionality.

Tennessee TCAP results show increased proficiency in English language arts, math, and social studies for students, with third graders reaching a decade-high in ELA. Metro Nashville Public Schools reported gains in core subjects and high school courses, including a 4.1-point rise in social studies and 7.9-point increase in Integrated Math III.

A federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee's religious charter school ban will proceed after a judge denied the Knox County Board of Education's motion to dismiss. Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville, which faces requirements to operate as a non-religious school under state law, argues the ban is unconstitutional. The case highlights tensions between existing state laws and recent legislative changes allowing religious institutions to operate charter schools under certain conditions.

Tennessee students have nearly returned to pre-pandemic math achievement levels and improved in reading, driven by state initiatives like the Tennessee Literacy Success Act and new math curricula. The state invested over $130 million in reforms, including tutoring and professional development, though disparities persist for historically underserved student groups.