K-12 Initiatives

EPSOs give me opportunities to prepare for my future that I would not have access to otherwise. Four years in career and technical education have laid an intellectual and technical base for my university studies in engineering.

Earn College Credit in High School Students who participate in Early Postsecondary Opportunity (EPSO) courses are more likely to enroll in and graduate from college.

– Sutej, Milan High School

Tennessee has the most comprehensive EPSO offerings in the nation, including local, state, national and international programs, — for a total of eight

• Dual Enrollment

WHAT ARE EARLY POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES (EPSOs)?

• Local Dual Credit

EPSOs provide students with an

opportunities:

• Statewide Dual Credit

opportunity to earn college credit in high

• Advanced Placement

school, develop confidence and skills

• Cambridge International

necessary for college success, make

• International Baccalaureate

informed decisions and decrease the

• College Level Exam Program

time and cost of completion.

• Industry Certification

Aligning K-12, Postsecondary Education and Employers Tennessee Pathways create more early college and career experiences for students and ensure a student’s pathway is seamless from high school to college to career. Regional coordinators broker new partnerships among K-12, postsecondary and employers. This work is made possible through an interagency agreement between the Tennessee Department of Education and the College System of Tennessee. Currently, 122 certified Tennessee Pathways are available representing 39 school districts and 74 high schools. Certification is recognition that strong alignment exists between high school programs of study, postsecondary partners and employers. SAILS (Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support) introduces college developmental curriculum to high school seniors who are not collegeready. The curriculum is a collaboration between high school teachers and college faculty and satisfies both high school standards and college competencies. In 2018-19, over 9,100 students completed the SAILS program.

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