While Tennessee students are performing better academically, many families are facing mental health struggles and rising childcare costs, according to a new state report.
Like much of the country, students in Tennessee took a hit during the pandemic. But a new report from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth shows signs of an academic rebound, particularly in math. Post-pandemic scores for students in 4th through 8th grade in the state have improved at a faster rate than the national average.
Students are also performing better on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program than they did in previous years. The state has experienced steady improvement in the percent of elementary students meeting or exceeding expectations in English language arts portion of the exam, going from 31.4% to 43.4%. Third graders who don’t perform well enough on the ELA section of the TCAP can be held back, according to state law.
“As we strive to create a brighter future for children, youth and families across Tennessee, it’s important to pause and celebrate the progress we’ve made,” said TCCY Executive Director Richard Kennedy. “At the same time, we remain committed to investing in the work that will make Tennessee the best place for every child and family.”
Mental health issues, food insecurity and financial struggles
The report also highlighted areas in which families struggled and how Tennesseans fared during the federal government shutdown in fall 2025.
The temporary suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – otherwise known as SNAP, food stamps or EBT – left thousands of Tennesseans struggling to feed their families.
Data collected from food banks across the state show the additional costs these banks incurred by comparing how many families they served in November 2025 compared to November 2024.
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank saw an increase of 70% in children served between the two years. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in Nashville also experienced a significant jump in needy families and purchased over $70,000 in hard-to-find baby formula.
Families in the state are also facing mental health and financial struggles.
Tennessee ranks number 49 in terms of providing youth, aged 12 – 17, with treatment or counseling for depression. Nearly two-thirds of teens in the state suffered a major depressive episode last year but did not get any treatment.
Parents with pre-K kids are facing a different issue – rising childcare costs.
In 2025, the annual price for childcare for infants was $13,926. For context, that’s more than the in-state tuition for all four of Tennessee’s public universities.
The report also noted the social services that the state is offering some of its most vulnerable youth – those aging out of the foster care system. Once a child in foster care turns 18, she can enroll in a state program called Bright Futures which provides additional educational and employment opportunities and safe housing.
In the fiscal year 2025, 531 youth who aged out of foster care opted to enroll in this program, representing the largest number of youth ever served.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM