Press Releases

NASHVILLE – Today, Tennesseans for Student Success released polling results displaying Tennesseans overwhelming support for vocational and alternative post-secondary opportunities for Tennessee students. This data was collected from July 9 – August 5, 2019, with 2000 respondents.

Please see the following statement from Tennesseans for Student Success President and CEO, Adam Lister:

“As Tennessee continues to lead the way for students to obtain long-term success through various post-secondary opportunities, it’s encouraging to see the broad support for policies shown to improve student learning. This data continues to build on the success we’ve seen over the past decade in Tennessee, and I’m hopeful that data like this will help shape how we move forward as a state. Ensuring students are career-ready will pave the way for more opportunities for greater economic stability in adulthood.”

Data highlights:

• 62 percent of respondents believe that skilled trades and vocational education are a great alternative to college for lifelong success.
• 82 percent of respondents believe it’s important to hold students and teachers accountable.
• 65 percent of respondents believe academic standards should be raised.
• 68 percent of respondents support public school choice.
• Our data also suggests that Tennesseans, ages 18-35, overwhelmingly prefer college but believe a high school diploma and skilled trade are a viable path to a living wage.

To view the polling data, click here.