Students must be at the forefront of educational progress in Tennessee | Opinion

• Adam Lister is president and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success.

Students, teachers and parents around the state recently celebrated their 100th day of school.

This year, as I shepherded my children into their classrooms, I was joined by dozens of parents huddled around young students barely taller than their backpacks. After that last hug, our children go on their way to learn, grow and ultimately develop the skills that will enable and empower them to conquer the world.  

Tennesseans for Student Success was founded for student’s first days, last days and every day in between, because students need advocates ensuring the General Assembly protects the policies and priorities driving growth and achievement.

Since 2015 we have advocated for rigorous academic standards rooted in the knowledge and skills students will need to succeed in their post-secondary studies or careers.

We demanded a single state test aligned to those standards and challenged leaders to consistently innovate and hold each other, including themselves, accountable to improve and enhance our public schools.  

Focus on ensuring kids get a top-notch education

We celebrate where students today are achieving at higher levels when compared to their peers from only 10 years ago and we commit ourselves to making sure every student has an opportunity to succeed.

When leaders who prioritize Tennessee’s kids are at the helm, we have an opportunity to do more than ever before.

Tennessee is building a cathedral of opportunity and, with Gov. Bill Lee, we look forward to dramatically increasing the number of high-quality public school seats, the number of students who graduate on time and the number of post-secondary and career options available to every student through investment in dual enrollment, technical education and higher education.   

I know, as I am sure all parents know, that the support we offer our children does not end when they graduate from high school.

Similarly, Tennessee has an obligation to make certain every student in Tennessee has access to a top-notch education and is ready for success in their two- or four-year college, their TCAT or trade school, or their entrance into the Armed Forces.

A prerequisite to success after graduation is the development of career pathways to current and future workforce needs.  

Students are more prepared than before

As Tennesseans for Student Success continues unrelenting advocacy of the policies most directly responsible for driving improvements in student achievement, we also announce an expansion of our mission.

We will focus on protecting the opportunity of economic freedom for all Tennesseans through investment on dual enrollment, work-based learning opportunities, technical training and other strategies to increase the number of students who can access, afford and complete a post-secondary credential or degree.  

As a result of Gov. Phil Bredesen's and Gov. Bill Haslam’s leadership and the hard work of teachers across the state, students are more prepared today to seamlessly transition from high school to post-secondary success.

We can all rise to the challenge to provide them with the opportunity to make that transition and earn the ability to provide a living wage for themselves and their family.

We look forward to joining Governor Lee to help all students secure their success from their very first days. 

Adam Lister is president and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success.