Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support
Every student. College ready.
The mission of SAILS is to provide innovative programs that promote college readiness for Tennessee high school students.
The Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) program targets students who have not achieved college readiness benchmarks by introducing the college developmental curriculum into the high school senior year.
Developed by K-12 teachers and higher education faculty, SAILS embeds the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Learning Support competencies into the high school senior year math course, allowing students to begin their higher education career prepared for credit-bearing coursework.
SAILS utilizes a facilitated hybrid instructional model, combining the professional pedagogical expertise of the certified teacher with dynamic properties of multimedia and digital content. Research supports that this blended system of teaching and learning is the most effective at engaging students with their work, and increases their success rate.
SAILS Statistics
This course aligns with both the high school Statistics course standards and the Statewide Dual Credit (SDC) Introductory Statistics learning objectives, providing high schools with the opportunity to offer the course in the way that best meets the needs of their students. When offered as SDC Introductory Statistics, SAILS Statistics is an Early Postsecondary Opportunity (EPSO) for students.
Advantages to Students
Upon completion students can:
- Receive credit for their required 4th-year high school math course
- Eliminate college math remediation for Introduction to Probability and Statistics and/or Math for General Studies
- Obtain a stronger background in Probability and Statistics
- Remove financial burdens by not paying for remedial classes in college
- Save time by starting college-level math right away in college without retaking the ACT or other placement tests
If offered as a Statewide Dual Credit course, students can also:
- Meet Ready Graduate Indicator for an EPSO
- Earn early college credit for free (by passing the SDC Challenge Exam)
Eligibility
- Students must score less than a 19 on the math component of the ACT
Availability
- Available to all public high schools in Tennessee
SAILS Math
This course aligns the Bridge Math learning objectives with the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Math Learning Support competencies.
Advantages to Students
Upon completion students can:
- Receive credit for their required 4th-year high school math course
- Eliminate college math remediation
- Remove financial burdens by not paying for remedial classes in college
- Save time by starting college-level math right away in college without retaking the ACT or other placement tests
Eligibility
- Students must score less than a 19 on the math component of the ACT
Availability
- Available currently to all public high schools in Tennessee
Community College and High School Partnership
The SAILS Field Coordinators are the backbone of the SAILS initiative. They are the liaisons between the community colleges and high schools. This partnership is the most critical element to the SAILS program. Each community college will support the high schools in its service region with the implementation of the program. The student support network includes both the college and high school faculty members who will be working together to ensure student progress, learning, and success. The Field Coordinator provides technical, content and logistical support to both the college and the high school team members. Teamwork is the foundation of SAILS, and by having professionals from the community colleges and high schools work together, the project will continue to benefit thousands of students in Tennessee.
SAILS History and Impact
Since SAILS was piloted in 2012, over 83,400 students have completed the program successfully and started postsecondary work without the need for math remediation. The SAILS program is available in all 95 counties in Tennessee and is widely accepted by colleges and universities across six states. What allows this program to be successful is the partnership between the K-12 and college systems.
The SAILS program has attracted national attention for its innovative and practical solution to the college readiness problem. In collaboration with all 13 community colleges, the Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Department of Education, and the Governor’s Office, SAILS has led the way in transforming the college readiness landscape in the state.
The SAILS program was highlighted by Inside Higher Ed and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a promising best practice in reducing the need for college remediation. The Education Commission of the States awarded the State of Tennessee with the 2018 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation because of the SAILS program. The award recognizes states for enacting innovative education reforms and programs that go beyond incremental changes to improve student outcomes on a large scale.
Contact Us
Phone: 615-365-1518 | Email: SAILS@tbr.edu
SAILS Completers
Are you having trouble getting your SAILS completion recognized at your college? If so, please contact our office. We may be able to help.