Implementation and Impact of TNAchieves Coaching in Tennessee Community Colleges

About the Brief

This brief reports findings from an analysis of the Achieves coaching program. This includes investigation of who receives coaching, the nature and dosage of coaching received, and the postsecondary persistence of program participants. The Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) conducted this research in partnership with Achieves and the State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE) using data provided by Achieves.

Key Findings

1. Achieves coaching primarily serves community college students with high levels of financial need.
2. On average, Achieves coaches connect with students between five and six times via a variety of communication tools. However, as the program has grown to include more students, the number of coaching contacts each student receives has fallen.
3. Students who receive Achieves coaching are more likely to persist into their second year of college than otherwise similar students who do not receive coaching.

Suggested Citation

Guthrie, J. E. & Shumard, S. (2024). Implementation and Impact of Achieves Coaching in Tennessee Community Colleges. Tennessee Education Research Alliance.