Manage EZ Pay
JOIN TEA
×

Ways to navigate current 3d grade retention climate

A Student Is More Than a Test Score…and So Are Educators!

 

Anxiety, confusion, and frustration abound as families across the state have received notices from their schools that their third graders are at risk of not being promoted to fourth grade based on a single test. As TEA continues to fight this bad policy, we remind educators and parents of the following ways to navigate the current environment.

 

For students who scored “approaching” on the ELA TCAP, there are currently four pathways to fourth grade.

  • Retest and score proficient on the ELA TCAP, OR
  • Maintain 90%+ attendance rate at summer camp and show improvement of at least five percentage points from the spring test to the summer posttest, OR
  • Receive mandatory TN ALL Corps tutoring during fourth grade, OR
  • Successfully appeal the retention decision within fourteen days of receiving the letter from the school (must demonstrate student growth via an approved benchmark assessment or an event that impacted students’ ability to perform).

 

For students who scored “below” on the ELA TCAP, there are currently two pathways to fourth grade.

  • Retest and score proficient on the ELA TCAP, OR
  • Maintain 90%+ attendance rate at summer camp AND receive mandatory TN ALL Corps tutoring during fourth grade.

 

The following students are exempt from third-grade retention:

  • English language learners with less than two years of ELA instruction
  • Students who have previously been retained in grades K-3
  • Students with a disability that impacts reading
  • Students with a suspected disability that impacts reading

 

TEA has been telling legislators since this third-grade retention law was passed—without input from educators or families—that this is a flawed and potentially disastrous plan. TEA continues to advocate for improvements to the law as well as the implementation policies. Unfortunately, those improvements won’t go into effect until next year.

Like Tennessee families, TEA knows that students and educators are not defined by a single test on a single day, especially when that test assesses more than just reading proficiency. TEA will continue to advocate on behalf of our students, families, and educators for laws and policies that help students, not hurt them.

 

Please review the following resources: