Nashville, TN— This week, November 13 – 17, the Tennessee Department of Education is celebrating the 9th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), highlighting how apprenticeship programs build a stronger workforce and address labor market challenges through a combination of on-the-job training and high-quality curriculum and instruction. Across the state, there are now 45 certified pre-apprenticeship programs to support high school students in transitioning to one of seven different registered apprenticeship programs across 15 different areas of coursework.

NASHVILLE, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education is highlighting Brighton Elementary School in Tipton County Schools for being selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Downlink program to participate in a Q&A session with the astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Earth-to-space call will air live on Wednesday, November 8th at 10:45 a.m. CT. The livestream is available here.

Nashville, TN—Today, the Tennessee Department of Education highlighted the free ACT retake opportunity for public high school seniors in Tennessee to boost their scores on the ACT college entrance exam.

NASHVILLE, TN – Today, the Tennessee Department of Education, in partnership with the Niswonger Foundation, highlighted the 2023 AP Access for ALL Annual Impact Report as the AP Access for ALL (APAA) program enters the third year of providing free, online advanced placement (AP) classes to Tennessee high school students. More than 2,200 students signed up to take APAA courses this fall, an increase of more than 77% from the start of the 2022-23 school year.

Nashville, TN— As a part of Innovative School Models and National Career and Technical Education (CTE) month, the department is highlighting the advances that Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) have made in utilizing innovative postsecondary strategies and CTE skills to improve student outcomes and preparation for the workforce across Tennessee.

Nashville, TN—Tennessee has been nationally recognized by the college and career pathways initiative, Launch: Equitable and Accelerated Pathways for All, for delivering nearly a decade of strategic investments in high-demand, high-wage opportunities for students through the state’s nation-leading Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways work and high-impact, cross-sector partnerships that align K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems.

Nashville, TN— This week, the Tennessee Department of Education is celebrating the important role apprenticeships play in postsecondary preparation during the 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week, happening November 14-18. Specifically, the department is highlighting the Tennessee Teacher Apprenticeship, the first registered apprenticeship program for teaching in the country, paving the way for the future of the teaching profession.

NASHVILLE, TN - Today, the Tennessee Department of Education, in partnership with the Niswonger Foundation, highlighted the 2022 AP Access for ALL Annual Impact Report and the results of the first year of the program, which is providing free, online advanced placement courses for Tennessee high school students. More than 1,800 students signed up for classes this fall, an increase of more than 600 students from the 2021-22 school year.

NASHVILLE - Today, AP Access for ALL, a partnership between the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation, announced its enrollment numbers for the 2021-22 school year, with over 1,800 students from 192 high schools statewide now enrolled in AP Access for ALL classes- helping students prepare for college, skip introductory classes, and earn college credit while still in high school. Additionally, students are encouraged to register for fall 2022 AP Access for ALL classes, which open on March 1.