Image Credit: Judy Baxter / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A new state law passed in 2021 – aimed at reversing pandemic learning loss – may hold back almost two thirds of students in 3rd grade if they fail the reading portion of the TCAP assessment.
Governor Bill Lee, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and Republican lawmakers patted themselves on the back for a job well done, when results came back from the 2021-2022 TCAP assessments.
Third grade ELA proficiency rates were 36.9% in 2019, testing was waived in 2020, and the rates are now 35.7%. Now that the new law is going into effect for the 2022-2023 school year, thousands of students could potentially be retained if they are not proficient in reading by the end of the year.
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Students that fail to read on grade level can retake the test or attend summer school to avoid being held back. There are exceptions made for English Language Learners and for any student who has already been held back a grade.
Children held back in second grade due to poor reading skills in Shelby County would not be eligible for retention in third grade. Shelby County Schools moved forward with a plan last school year to hold back second graders who were behind in reading, saying that third grade was “too late.”
The school board approved the policy in 2019 which tracks students’ reading skills throughout the school year and improves reading instruction. Only about a quarter of Memphis students meet state requirements. The district’s reading scores also subpar when compared with those of other urban school systems.
Third grade is considered to be a critical year by educators. According to research, students who aren’t on grade level by that year are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
While the state will use the TCAP to assess proficiency in reading, Shelby County Schools relies on four ways of measuring progress throughout the year before making a final determination to retain a child.
District leaders have rightly expressed alarm over the state’s stricter method as the data is shockingly plain. Unless something changes this year, the majority of all Tennessee third graders will be facing retention, retaking a dreaded test, or summer school.
Even in Williamson County Schools, recognized as the top performing district in Tennessee, 34% of third graders last school year scored Below Expectations or Approaching Expectations on the TCAP.
On Monday, August 15th, 2022, the Williamson County School Board will be considering a resolution asking the Tennessee Legislature to return retention decisions back to the school district.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
6 Responses
The same Grade the Teachers Unions think a child is mature enough to decide if it wants to change sexes or turn into Bugs Bunny.
I’m sorry for the students to which this happens but I hope the state sticks to it’s guns. I know I’m old but I remember one of my greatest fears in early schooling was being held back. As I progressed, I realized that if I did my homework and studied for tests, I had nothing to fear. All the blame doesn’t fall on the teacher or parents. The student has a responsibility from the seventh grade up. Before that, teachers and parents must insist on the assignments being done in a timely and proper manner. Administrators are a lot to blame because of their fear of losing funds. It’s been that way since I was in school. Fortunately I had teachers who said, ‘do the work or I’ll see you again next year’ and meant it.
The problem with this is that it has NOTHING to do with if students study and do their homework. We were warned by our school that this will include High Honor Roll students. Because this is based on a single test score on a single day. If they have test anxiety, are sick, or get confused on how to take a standardized test (these are 3rd graders we are talking about who have never has a standardized test) then it will affect them.
Based on last year’s scores it may affect 67% of TN students across the entire state. That means this definitely isn’t going to just effect students that “don’t try”. Also, these are the kids that were most effected by school closures during Covid-19, so they are working ridiculously hard to catch up… only for one test on one day to make them “fail a grade”. It’s honestly tragic and I hope everyone reconsiders how detrimental this is. Retention has been shown to be ineffective and increases high school dropout rate by 71% because it increases the odds of bullying and low self-esteem with absolutely no long-term benefits in grades.
If a child can’t read proficiently, how can he be promoted? If he is promoted, aren’t we passing an unprepared child into possible future failure. Leaving a child behind a year may seem drastic and I think reading intensive summer school might lessen the stigma. But whatever it takes , kids need to learn the basics and read at grade level before being promoted.
I think you misunderstood. This isn’t holding back kids that “can’t read”. They have set an incredibly high bar that will affect 67% of TN 3rd graders. Even if our kids can read proficiently and get High Honor Roll they will be retained and/or forced to attend summer school if one test on one day does not reflect those abilities. It is an incredibly unfortunate policy that has been proven ineffective. What they should be doing is testing for reading proficiency and using intervention and tutoring, not grade retention. But if you have an A student they shouldn’t have to fear retention over one test score. My High Honor Roll 3rd grader is so stressed about the possible repercussions of this test that I sincerely fear test anxiety will cause her to fail. The test isn’t until Spring and she already talks and stresses about it all the time and often cries about the idea of not being with her friends next year. It is a tragic policy.
Holding kids back isn’t the answer. They need specialized help in learning to read. After school tutoring and in school help with a multi-sensory approach is what’s needed. My husband, (52) was held back in 1st grade. He’s dyslexic and it didn’t help. Schools need better reading curriculum.