
Tennessee is working to ensure its schools are safe and supportive. This page features school climate information for Tennessee, including a list of grants the State and its communities have received; State discipline and bullying policies; data for a selection of indicators; and related news articles.
Grants Received
State Grant Programs
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015. The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program falls under ESSA, subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A. The SSAE program is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. States receive funds in the form of block grants and then fund local education agencies. To learn more, visit the T4PA Center website.
In 2014, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) received a Project AWARE grant through the Now is the Time initiative. TDOE used this 5-year grant to 1) train adults on responding to mental health issues when interacting with school-aged youth, 2) connect children, youth, and families who required support to appropriate mental health services, and 3) implement Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid in State and local training programs. For more information about this grant, go to: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-21-006.
In 2014, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services received a Healthy Transitions grant. This 5-year grant program was designed to help improve access to treatment and support services for youth and young adults, 16-25 years old, who were at high risk of developing a serious mental or behavioral health condition. The goal of the program was to expand services and supports that were culturally competent and youth guided, improve cross-system collaboration, and increase public awareness of available resources and strategies for identifying early indications of serious mental health and substance use conditions among youth and young adults. To learn more, about this grant go to: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-14-017.
In 2010, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) received a Safe Supportive Schools grant. TDOE used this 4-year grant to implement a measurement system in participating local education agencies to improve conditions for learning. Schools and districts used valid and reliable data to drive research-based prevention and intervention strategies and reduce behaviors that present barriers to learning among high-risk students, such as substance use and aggression. The comprehensive profile (21 pages) and brief snapshot (4 pages) describe the goals of the grant, participating districts, key operational partners, primary interventions and other implementation activities, outcome data, lessons learned, and plans for sustainability. In addition to the cross-grantee Executive Summary, a longer study document is available upon request (contact NCSSLE@air.org). To find out more about this grant, go to: https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/state-grantees/safe-and-supportive-school-s3-grants.
Local Educational Agency and District Grant Program
In 2014, Cheatham County School District, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, and the Shelby County Board of Education received a Project Prevent Program grant. Districts used this 5-year grant to help their schools increase capacities for identifying, assessing, and serving students exposed to pervasive violence. The award helped ensure that affected students were offered mental health services for trauma or anxiety. The award also supported the implementation of other school-based violence prevention strategies that reduced the likelihood of future violence. To find out more about this grant, go to: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/projectprevent/index.html.
Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property
Indicator 1: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon (For Example, a Gun, Knife, or Club) on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property | ||
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Year | Tennessee | US |
2009 | 7.0 | 7.7 |
2011 | 5.8 | 7.4 |
2013 | 9.3 | 6.9 |
2015 | 10.2 | 6.0 |
2017 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
2019 | 8.6 | 7.4 |
Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property
Indicator 2: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Having Been in a Physical Fight on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property | ||
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Year | Tennessee | US |
2009 | 11.3 | 11.1 |
2011 | 10.5 | 12.0 |
2013 | 10.4 | 8.1 |
2015 | 10.8 | 7.8 |
2017 | 7.3 | 8.5 |
2019 | 7.7 | 8.0 |
Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property
Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported that they Were Offered, Sold, or Given an Illegal Drug by Someone on School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not have data for this indicator in 2015.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property | ||
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Year | Tennessee | US |
2009 | 18.8 | 22.7 |
2011 | 16.5 | 25.6 |
2013 | 24.8 | 22.1 |
2017 | 23.7 | 19.8 |
2019 | 28.1 | 21.8 |
Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide During the 12 Months Before the Survey
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide | ||
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Year | Tennessee | US |
2009 | 13.6 | 15.8 |
2011 | 14.7 | 15.8 |
2013 | 15.2 | 17.0 |
2015 | 16.0 | 17.7 |
2017 | 16.5 | 17.2 |
2019 | 19.2 | 18.8 |
Indicator 5: Did Not Participate in At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Not Participating in at Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity that Increased Their Heart Rate and Made Them Breathe Hard Some of the Time on at Least 1 Day During the 7 Days Before the Survey
Data for this indicator are not available before 2011.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
Indicator 5: Did Not Participate in At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity | ||
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Year | Tennessee | US |
2011 | 14.2 | 13.8 |
2013 | 19.6 | 15.2 |
2015 | 18.2 | 14.3 |
2017 | 16.8 | 15.4 |
2019 | 19.1 | 17.0 |
Indicator 6: Did Not Eat Vegetables 7 Days Before the Survey
Indicator 6: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Did Not Eat Vegetables (e.g., Green Salad, Potatoes [Excluding French Fries, Fried Potatoes, or Potato Chips], Carrots, or Other Vegetables) During the 7 Days Before the Survey
Data for this indicator are not available before 2011.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 7, 2021.
Indicator 6: Did Not Eat Vegetables 7 Days Before the Survey | ||
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Year | Tennessee | US |
2011 | 7.5 | 5.7 |
2013 | 9.0 | 6.6 |
2015 | 9.7 | 6.7 |
2017 | 10.0 | 7.2 |
2019 | 11.0 | 7.9 |