Commentary: Maintaining High Standards in Math and Science is Critical to Ensuring Tennessee Students Benefit from the ‘Nuclear Renaissance’

This starts before higher education. Math and science curricula are part of Tennessee’s high school graduation standards, making up four and three credit requirements, respectively. ¶

Core coursework, such as Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, requires students to demonstrate proficiency through End-of-Course Exams (EOCs). This makes sense—if more jobs are coming to Tennessee, such as nuclear energy, healthcare, and technology, which will require higher education and mathematical proficiency, maintaining high standards in foundational curriculum is critical to ensuring our students have the requisite skills and knowledge to take advantage of these opportunities.¶

Further, our statewide exams are a repository of data that provides some of the most compelling arguments for why business leaders should choose Tennessee, showing that our state can support a skilled, educated workforce for any industry considering locating in the state. ¶

Tennessee’s data is outstanding—since 2021, overall math proficiency (which includes high school End-of-Course Exams) has improved by 35 percent. Algebra II, the most challenging required math course for many, has seen a 45 percent growth in proficiency over the same period. ¶

It is no accident that Tennessee has become an increasingly popular choice for emerging industries. We are doing the work, and we have the numbers to back it up. ¶

Whether thinking in terms of a nuclear renaissance or a second space race, as described by Senator and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn, future innovation and development in these emerging sectors will be built on a foundation of education. ¶

Standards will be high—nuclear and aerospace industries are serious and challenging work—but our students will rise to the occasion if we continue to invest in them.¶

Steven Bergman serves as Assistant Director of Government Relations for Tennesseans for Student Success. The Tennessee Firefly is a project of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.¶

Commentary: Tennessee Students Benefit from a Targeted Investment in Higher Education

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is poised to deliver a better return on investment from higher education funding by incentivizing degrees in good-paying careers.