At Scale Newsletter: April 2026
Welcome to the latest edition of the At Scale Newsletter, where we highlight the impactful programs and initiatives falling into one of our three priorities — all designed to drive our mission to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
Click to read each section!
Coaching and Completion Grants: Five Years of Evidence and Impact
“For many Tennessee students, the biggest challenge in postsecondary education isn’t tuition — it’s everything else. Unexpected costs. Work responsibilities. Life outside the classroom.” - SCORE
Thank you to SCORE, with research from the University of Tennessee’s Boyd Economic Center for Research, for its newest report on the tnAchieves COMPLETE program and Knox Promise Pilot. SCORE summed it up perfectly by saying, “The evidence is clear: intentional support matters.” That is why tnAchieves takes a human approach to Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
Key findings from the report include:
Students who receive COMPLETE Coaching and COMPLETE Grants were 11.7 percentage points more likely to persist and return to campus for their second year.
Students of color saw 20 percentage point gains in persistence rates into their second semester.
This report draws on five years of tnAchieves data from the COMPLETE program and Knox Promise pilots. The evidence shows Tennessee is seeing measurable gains in students persisting in college–especially for those facing the greatest barriers, when they are paired with consistent coaching and microgrants to address financial hurdles not covered by the Tennessee Promise scholarship.
While SCORE’s new report shows very promising results to move students from post-secondary access to degree completion, there is still more work to be done! tnAchieves will continue to ensure students stay on track to earn a credential of value before entering the workforce.
Learn More About SCORE and Our Long Standing Partnership On The At Scale Podcast
MemCOMPLETE & MEMACCESS Celebration
This month we are celebrating a successful kickoff to MemCOMPLETE and MemACCESS! These programs are an expansion into Shelby County of programs that are already showing success in other areas around the state.
The three-year pilot project features two initiatives: MemCOMPLETE, a proactive college coaching and emergency aid grant program that intends to help 900 Memphis students each year complete credentials at Southwest Tennessee Community College and TCAT Memphis and advance into high-demand careers, and MemACCESS, an effort to embed tnAchieves college access coaches in Memphis high schools to increase college milestone completion and enrollment.
Early returns show MemCOMPLETE students are significantly outperforming their peers—demonstrating a 75 percent higher graduation rate among economically disadvantaged students. Building on this momentum, MemACCESS represents the next phase of impact—focusing on increasing college-going rates among high schools across Memphis.
This work could not be done without collaboration and investment from those who believe in the potential of the Memphis community. These programs are part of a strong alliance between tnAchieves, Slingshot Memphis and MDRC with funding from FedEx, JPMorgan Chase, The Kresge Foundation and Sylvamo and partnership between Southwest TN Community College, TCAT Memphis and Memphis-Shelby County Schools. It is truly a team effort that will change the trajectory of students’ lives across Shelby County and strengthen the future of Memphis!
Check out some of the pictures at the community celebration and kickoff this month at FedEx’s Headquarters.
Summer Program Registration Deadline May 15
Registration is open for the tnAchieves Summer Bridge and Summer Institute programs! These programs are for high school graduates to get a head start on their college journey, so they can begin college more confident, supported and prepared for success–both academically and socially. What’s the difference between the two programs? We’re glad you asked!
Summer Bridge
Summer Bridge is a FREE, three-week program to help students strengthen their academic and social readiness through daily instruction in reading, math and English. It is taught by college professors, and students have the opportunity to test into college-level courses. This program is designed to support students who scored below a 19 on the ACT and may be required to take corequisite (extra support) classes before earning college credit. Any incoming college freshman who is eligible for TN Promise and planning to attend a Tennessee community college can participate. It will be held at various community college campuses statewide.
Summer Institute
Summer Institute is a FREE, six-week academic program held at Southwest Tennessee Community College. It is designed for TN Promise students who are not currently testing into college-level courses based on ACT scores. During the program, students will:
Complete three corequisite courses (reading, English, and math)
Earn credit for three college-level courses (Academic Success, English, and Math)
Receive ongoing tutoring and mentorship
Unlike Summer Bridge, students who successfully complete Summer Institute will earn NINE college credits, giving them a strong head start on their college journey.
