State Representative Responds As School Districts Speak Out Against Third Grade Retention
Image Credit: State Representative Scott Cepicky / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
School districts across the state continue to speak out against Tennessee’s controversial new third grade retention law.
According to the law, all third graders who do not pass the state reading test at the end of the year must repeat the grade. If students participate in a mandatory summer school and/or tutoring program, they can be moved on to the next grade level.
A number of school districts have spoken out in opposition of the new law. They argue that using a single test as the determination for a student being promoted is unfair. They also say parents should have more choice in that decision making process.
Scott Langford, Chief Academic Officer for Sumner County Schools, stated recently in a board meeting, “The goal is to always make the decision that’s best for that child, a great body of research says you should only retain as a last resort, because it doesn’t really help kids, only in extreme circumstances does retention help.”
Wilson County School Board Member Jamie Farough also said, “Our children are more than data, and I think this considers only data and does not consider any things that make a child a child.”
Several school boards – including Sumner County Schools, Williamson County Schools, Wilson County Schools, and Murfreesboro City Schools – have passed resolutions requesting that state lawmakers make adjustments to the new law.
State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka-District 64) serves as the chair of the state’s education instruction subcommittee. He recently talked with Fox 17 News about the law.
When asked if the feedback that had been given by school districts would make Cepicky open to revisiting the law and considering modifications, he responded, “Yeah, I think we can take a look at it, because the boots on the ground are telling us there’s a problem here.”
Cepicky acknowledged that changes might need to be made to the law, but he did reiterate that he wants to see school districts implementing high-level supports for students before they reach the third grade.
“I think we’ve got to bring all these supports all the way back into kindergarten, to make sure that they have the tutors, they have the summer school to take advantage of, to make the kids the best they can be,” Cepicky said.
Nearly 65% of third graders in the state did not pass last year’s state-wide reading test. Those in favor of the law believe that more students need access to resources to get them on track.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
I love the way the so-called educators cry when their ox gets gored. Just do your damn job and educate the kids to a third grade level. There will always be those who for one reason or another cannot pass the test and will need additional help but 99.9% of third graders are capable of doing reading, writing and arithmetic at the third grade level. The number of tests given is immaterial as most teachers and parents understand the third grade level. As far as the parents having more say, the school systems have effectively stifled parental input.
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If these teacher that are doing the crying did their job these children would be reading better and probably doing arithmetic better as well. So now it is not fair. We should FIRE TEACHERS IF THEY DON’T DO THEIR JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take the darn iPhones away. Assign reading tasks as homework. Too many distractions. Parents need to assert themselves and designate electronic playtime AFTER reading exercises.
As a husband of an elementary teacher. Thr comments are way off. I do agree people should do their job. But a teacher spends their time dealing with special needs kids. Behavior issues all day. I say whip them. But you can’t. Make them right off. But you can’t. Make them miss recess. You can’t. Speak to parent. Some you can. Some you can’t. They will try to get you fired. The admin will do it cause they don’t want the hassle. Most teachers don’t mind flunking anyone. But you can’t because of no child left behind. Teachers spend most of their time with paperwork and making sure everyone’s “feelings” are ok. Not that they want to. They are forced too. If you read the article it wasn’t a teacher complaining. It was admin. If you want teachers to do their job. Do yours and get rid of no child left behind. Get rid of behavior issues. Allow a teacher to remove a kid. It’s awful out there. I’m angry too. But teachers aren’t allowed to actually teach. Go visit. Every idea you give them that will probably work. They won’t be able to. Against the rules. Against the law. They will get fired. Fix that.