WHY DO WE STUDY ECONOMIC MOBILITY?

Education presents opportunities, particularly for low-income students, first-generation learners, adults affected by economic disruption, English Learners, and rural residents in Tennessee, who often confront social and economic challenges. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were approximately 278,000 children under 18 years old in Tennessee residing in low-income households. Data from the Census Bureau also indicates that 13.6 percent of Tennessee’s population faced persistent poverty according to guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At the same time, there were 18,500 first-time college students enrolled in Tennessee community colleges between 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the count was 22,790 adults in Tennessee requiring further education through the Tennessee Reconnect Grant due to shifts in the job market or economic instability.

Access to high-quality educational opportunities holds the potential to transform the trajectories of these individuals and bolster Tennessee’s economy. Consequently, the Education Research & Opportunity Center at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is dedicated to leveraging its expertise and resources to identifying and scaling effective policies and practices that enhance students’ economic mobility. This encompasses enhancements in career and adult education, fostering industry partnerships, and refining workforce development systems.