The State of Education Equity A Long Way to Go: The Story of Education in Tennessee

The State of Education Equity A Long Way to Go: The Story of Education in Tennessee Copyright 2018 The Education Trust @EdTrust /edtrust edtrust www.edtrust.org

Tennessee has made some important gains over the past 15 years. Even with progress, Tennessee has a long way to go for low-income students, English Learners, and students of color who lag behind their peers in opportunity and academic success.

In 2003, only 1 in 4 4 th graders were proficient in 4 th grade reading and more than 40 percent scored below even the basic level. Since then, the percent of students who are proficient has increased and the percent below basic declined. Trends are similar in 8 th grade math. 4th Grade Reading Proficiency Rates, All Students 8th Grade Math Proficiency Rates, 2003 and 2017 100% 100% 90% 80% 26 33 90% 80% 21 30 70% 60% 50% 31 32 70% 60% 50% 38 38 40% 40% 30% 20% 10% 43 36 30% 20% 10% 41 32 0% 2003 2017 0% 2003 2017 Below Basic Basic Proficient or Advanced Below Basic Basic Proficient or Advanced Source: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer, 2003 and 2017.

Tennessee s graduation rates today are higher than they have ever been and among the highest in the nation. Tennessee's four-year high school graduation rates, 2016 1 st Nationally 2 nd Nationally 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 8 th Nationally 89% 91% 3 rd Nationally 82% 84% All Students White Black Latino Students with Disabilities 2 nd Nationally 2 nd Nationally 72% 76% English Learners 2 nd Nationally 86% Economically Disadvantaged Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Table 1. Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by race/ethnicity and selected demographic characteristics for the United States, the 50 states, and the District of Columbia: School year 2015 16.

But Tennessee has much further to go. More importantly, too few students demonstrate mastery of academic content and too many score far below expectations, especially among historically underserved student groups.

Although Tennessee has made gains for all groups of students in 4 th grade reading, disparities in achievement remain wide. 250 NAEP 4th Grade results over time, by race/ethnicity 240 230 220 220 222 224 224 221 227 225 227 210 200 190 206 188 199 195 208 192 202 201 197 198 205 203 201 199 214 201 180 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 All Students Black Latino White Source: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer, 2003-2017.

In addition to the gaps for students of color, the gap between low income and higher income students has barely changed. 300 NAEP 8th Grade math results over time, by income level 290 280 270 260 250 240 230 220 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Low Income Higher Income Source: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer, 2003-2017.

225 220 215 210 205 200 195 190 185 180 175 219 Even with small improvements in Tennessee, 4 th grade reading proficiency rates for low income students are lower than most other states. These trends are similar in math. Massachusetts Florida Indiana Wyoming West Virginia Kentucky New Jersey Ohio Virginia Kansas New Hampshire North Carolina Connecticut Vermont Idaho New York Missouri Delaware Montana Pennsylvania Maryland Utah Nebraska Rhode Island Oklahoma Georgia Arkansas Mississippi Colorado South Dakota National public North Dakota Maine Minnesota Oregon Alabama Tennessee Illinois Iowa Nevada Washington Texas District of Columbia Louisiana Michigan Wisconsin California Hawaii Arizona South Carolina New Mexico Alaska Source: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer, 2017. 4th Grade Average NAEP Reading Scores for Low Income Students, 2017 208 206 190

In 2017, Tennessee schools got less than 1 in 4 Black and Latino students to grade level in 4 th grade reading. By Race/Ethnicity 100% 90% 80% 33 14 23 41 70% 60% 29 27 50% 40% 32 33 30% 20% 10% 36 56 50 26 0% All Students Black Latino White Below Basic Basic Proficient or Advanced Source: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer, 2017.

Even worse, Tennessee schools got less than 1 in 30 English Learner 4 th graders to grade level. By Family Income, Language and Disability Status 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 19 32 47 11 18 36 3 18 35 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 49 31 22 72 33 31 79 32 33 0% Low Income Higher Income Students With Disabilities Students Without Disabilities English Learner Non-English Learners Below Basic Basic Proficient or Advanced

8 th Grade NAEP scores also show large disparities. Tennessee schools have only gotten 12% of Black student and 20% of Latino students to 8 th grade level in math. By Race Ethnicity 100% 90% 80% 30 12 20 35 70% 33 60% 37 50% 40% 38 40 30% 20% 10% 32 55 42 24 0% All Students Black Latino White Below Basic Basic Proficient or Advanced Source: National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer, 2017.

Percent of Recent High School graduates Enrolled In Tennessee, 60% of high school graduates enrolled in higher education programs nationally, 62% enrolled. But the question remains: Are Tennessee s students graduating college and career ready? Higher Education Enrollment Rate for Recent High School Graduates by State 90% 79% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% MISSISSIPPI CONNECTICUT MASSACHUSETTS NEW YORK MINNESOTA NEW MEXICO SOUTH DAKOTA NEW JERSEY ARKANSAS RHODE ISLAND GEORGIA KANSAS SOUTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA DELAWARE HAWAII LOUISIANA NEBRASKA VIRGINIA INDIANA KENTUCKY FLORIDA MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA NEW HAMPSHIRE UNITED STATES MICHIGAN MARYLAND TENNESSEE ILLINOIS OHIO PENNSYLVANIA ALABAMA COLORADO WISCONSIN CALIFORNIA MONTANA OKLAHOMA TEXAS WYOMING IOWA WEST VIRGINIA NEVADA MAINE VERMONT ARIZONA UTAH IDAHO WASHINGTON OREGON ALASKA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 60% 43% Source: Data are for 2012. National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics, Table 302.50

Tennessee got less than half of all students to the collegeready benchmark in reading. And just 10% of Black students scored at the college-ready benchmark in math. Percent of Students who Met ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, 2018 50 45 46 40 35 38 36 30 28 27 25 20 17 19 23 15 10 10 12 5 0 All Students Black Latino Native White Math Reading Source: ACT, The Condition of College and Career Readiness State Briefings and Profile Reports, 2018.

In fact, half of Black graduates and even fewer Latino graduates enroll in college. 80 Tennessee College-going Rates by Race/Ethnicity, 2014 70 69.2 60 54.3 59 50 40 41.4 30 20 10 0 Black Latino White Asian Source: Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Profile and Trends in Tennessee Higher Education, 2016 Annual Report.

Disparities in student outcomes are the direct result of disparities in opportunity to learn both outside and inside the classroom. Students of color and low-income students in Tennessee receive less of a number of important learning resources and these disparities begin early.

Latino and low-income students are less likely than their peers to be enrolled in early childhood education which is associated with higher graduation and college attainment rates, as well as secure a fulfilling career. 60% Percent of Tennessee 3 to 4-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education, by race/ethnicity and family income level, 2016 50% 40% 30% 40% 43% 30% 40% 32% 48% 20% 10% 0% All Students Black Latino White At or Below 200% Poverty At or Above 200% Poverty Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center, Young children not in school (by poverty status and by race), 2012-16.

Teachers make a big difference for kids. In Tennessee, Black students are over twice as likely to be assigned a first-year teacher for 4 th -grade reading compared to White students 16% 14% 12% 10% Percentage of 4 th -grade reading teachers in their 1 st year, 2015 8% 6% 14% 4% 2% 6% 5% 0% White students Black Students Latino students National Center for Education Statistics, Certification Status and Experience of U.S. Public School Teachers, 2017

Students of color are less likely to encounter teachers or administrators who look like them. Latino students make up 10% of the student body but are only 1% of teachers. Racial Diversity of Tennessee Students Racial Diversity of Tennessee Teachers Racial Diversity of Tennessee Administrators 1 1 5 22 11 1 18 1 10 63 87 80 Black Latino White Other Black Latino White Other Black Latino White Other Source: Tennessee Department of Education, Teacher and Administrator Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Tennessee, 2018.

In addition to having access to strong teachers, student attendance has a strong relationship with achievement and graduation rates. Simply put, students who aren t in the classroom aren t learning.

So it is concerning that more than 1 in 5 economically disadvantaged students missed 10 percent or more days of school in 2017. 25 Chronically Absenteeism, 2017 21.4 20 17.3 18.3 15 13.6 11.5 12.8 10 9.6 5 0 All Students Black Latino Economically Disadvantaged English Learners Students with Disabilities White Source: Tennessee Department of Education, State Report Card, 2017.

Across the country, Black, Latino, and low-income students are more likely to be subjected to exclusionary discipline than their white, wealthier peers Tennessee is no exception.

Black students in Tennessee are 5 times more likely to be suspended from school than their White peers. 16 14 Tennessee Suspension Rate by Race, 2017 14.6 12 10 8 6 4 6 4.1 4.4 3.2 2 0 All Students Latino Black Native White Source: Tennessee Department of Education, State Report Card, 2017.

And less access to rigorous learning opportunities.black students in Tennessee are underrepresented as AP test takers. Race and Ethnicity of High School AP Test Takers, 2018 High School Enrollment by Race, 2017 2% 2% 7% 5% 11% 8% 23% 8% 68% 66% Black Latino White Asian Other Black White Latino Asian Other Source: College Board AP Program and Performance Data, State Reports 2018.; Tennessee Department of Education, Student Membership, 2017.

These disparities matter.the relationship between educational attainment and economic well-being in Tennessee is undeniable.

In 2017, the median salary for an adult with a bachelor s degree in Tennessee was $46,000. An adult with just an high school diploma stood to earn $28,000; those who didn t complete high school just $21,800 $70,000 $60,000 Tennessee median earnings by educational level, population 25 and over, 2017 $60,242 $50,000 $46,779 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $21,842 $28,641 $33,632 $10,000 $- Less than high school graduate High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college or associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder, Table B20004 for Massachusetts, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.

The fastest growing jobs in Tennessee require at least some college but most require a bachelor s degree. Typical Education Required Typical Annual Salary Software Developers, Applications Bachelor's Degree $87,890 Operations Research Analysts Bachelor's Degree $63,440 Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects Bachelor's Degree $81,030 Statisticians Master's Degree $66,640 Computer Network Architects Bachelor's Degree $96,540 Software Developers, Systems Software Bachelor's Degree $86,890 Computer User Support Specialists Some College, No degree $45,560 Computer and Information Research Scientists Master's Degree $102,750 Source: Tennessee Occupational Projections (Long-term) for Multiple Occupations in Tennessee 2016-2026; Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Education and Training by Occupation.

The demographics of Tennessee are changing. Tennessee is projected to increase the population of people of color by 8 percentage points over the next 20 years. Tennessee Population, 2015 Tennessee Population Projection, 2025 Tennessee Population Projection, 2035 6% 4% 8% 5% 10% 7% 17% 17% 17% 74% 70% 66% White Black Latino Other White Black Latino Other White Black Latino Other Source: Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Profile and Trends in Tennessee Higher Education, 2016 Annual Report.

Tennessee s education system will have to adapt to the language, learning, and cultural differences the changing demographics present. Because as long as these disparities in opportunity to learn exist, there will be disparities in every valuable outcome in Tennessee.