Tennessee’s public education reading law is getting negative reaction again, this time from families of fourth-grade students who could be retained if they score poorly on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test this spring. Despite the state-funded tutoring and summer learning programs many students used, a possible 5,000 current fourth-grade students may be affected.

The State Board of Education convened Friday and is expected to approve proposed changes that include a clear definition of “adequate growth” for fourth graders to get promoted if they don’t score as proficient readers this spring. 

Warren County Director of Schools Dr. Grant Swallows says, “Unfortunately, some of the students that were conditionally promoted last year face a tough task of showing adequate growth in this year’s TCAP test.” He estimates that it might affect about 95 of the current fourth graders.

“Those kids have worked so hard by going to summer school and attending tutoring throughout this year. We believe they will show growth,” he said.

Last year, third graders and their families and teachers across the state were concerned about retention if they did not show proficiency on the TCAP in reading. The schools provided several strategies to help these third graders pass to the fourth grade. For those same students now in the fourth grade, the state currently offers no such escape hatches to avoid retention this year if they don’t show “adequate growth.” This was legislated by a 2021 law aimed at helping pandemic-affected students with poor literacy performance.

The State Board of Education voted Friday on what is considered enough improvement for fourth graders who are at risk. While those results were not available at press time, they should help educators better determine how serious the possible retention of fourth graders will affect local school districts.

Lawmakers are getting feedback from families whose students could be held back if they score poorly on the TCAP this spring. Utilizing the state-funded tutoring and summer learning programs won’t be enough to save them as things stand.

At least 5,000 students statewide are projected to fall in that category, although some put that number higher. Many state lawmakers and educators are concerned about the increasing pressure on students and schools. On Wednesday Sen. Rusty Crowe said in a hearing on the state of education in Nashville, “I think we’re going to put so much pressure on these kids that it’s going to be a real mess.”

Eastern Tennessee legislators have introduced a policy to let a fourth-grade reader’s teacher, principal and parents decide together whether to retain the student based on a variety of factors, not just TCAP results for reading and English.

It’s uncertain whether the General Assembly is willing to revise the law again, especially after making several changes last year. Senate Education Committee Chairman Jon Lundberg has maintained Gov. Bill Lee’s literacy law sets reasonable expectations in the state’s ambition to improve reading skills.

“My disappointment in the formula discussed by the state board is that we have been waiting on this information for two years and still don’t have enough to tell parents all they need to know,” added Swallows.

Once the state reveals the new definition of “proficiency,” local schools can begin to assess what must be done in their districts to address the possible retentions if proficiency does indeed not meet expectations.

Third graders this year will face the same performance expectations they did last year. According to Swallows, they have to test proficient or at least qualify for one of the pathways outlined by the Department of Education to proceed to the fourth grade.

This year students, parents and educators will presumably be better prepared having gone through the process for the first time last year.

The Southern Standard attempted to contact State Representative Paul Sherrell and State Senator Janice Bowling regarding this law, but they did not respond before press time.