Eric Hilgendorf

Tennessee Department of Education

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) operates with this vision: districts and schools in Tennessee will exemplify excellence and equity such that all students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to successfully embark upon their chosen path in life. Tennessee enrolls approximately 998,000 students, and is divided into 146 districts with both significant urban and rural populations. As a department, TDOE is dedicated to the goal of dramatically improving student achievement, and committed to the belief that children from all backgrounds can succeed when given the opportunities they deserve. Based on the department's five-year strategic plan, Tennessee Succeeds, the department strives to do the following: -Tennessee will rank in the top half of states on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), or the nation's Report Card, by 2019. -The average ACT composite score in Tennessee will be a 21 by 2020. -The majority of high school graduates from the class 2020 will earn a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree. The Department of Education has approximately 1,500 employees located all over the state. The Department is also comprised of the West Tennessee School for the Deaf, Tennessee School for the Deaf, Tennessee School for the Blink, Alvin C. York Institute, and the Achievement School District. TDOE headquarters is located in downtown Nashville.