The possibility of expanding the state’s controversial third-grade retention law to include fourth-grade students is rumored to be under consideration for the upcoming session of 113th General Assembly.
TEA vigorously opposed the third-grade retention law that went into effect in the spring of 2023. The state implemented the law despite key aspects remaining undefined by the end of the 2022-2023 school year. The legislature passed a clean-up bill resulting in last- minute changes being implemented this school year.
“We will continue to oppose any efforts to expand standardized test-based mandatory retention,” said TEA President Tanya T. Coats. “We have said time and again that decisions as significant as retaining a student must be made in close consultation with the student’s educators and should never be made based solely on the results of high-stakes standardized tests.”
The State Department of Education was slow to release any data about how many third grade students were retained under the new law based on the results of the ELA TCAP, but initial reports indicated that up to 90% of appeals by parents were granted by the department.
“The third grade retention process was unnecessarily rushed and chaotic, sowing confusion, fear and distrust among parents and students,” Coats said.
“It would be highly unwise to push any similar legislation about retaining fourth-grade students in the upcoming legislative session.”
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