60% of Tennessee 3rd graders face being held back over reading scores
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Sixty percent of Tennessee third graders did not perform well enough on the literacy portion of the state standardized test to automatically qualify for fourth grade.
Why it matters: Under the state's new high-stakes testing requirement, students had to score "meets" or "exceeds" expectations on their TCAP reading test or face another year of third grade.
- Third graders who didn't meet that threshold can retake the test to try to up their score in the coming days.
- Students can also agree to interventions like a summer literacy program or extra tutoring and qualify to advance to fourth grade. A student can file an appeal within 14 days of learning of their test score as well.
- Some groups of students, such as English learners and those who have already been held back a grade, are not subject to retaking third grade.
Republican lawmakers passed the law in 2021, arguing dramatic improvement is needed on the heels of the pandemic's classroom disruptions.
- State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Memphis Democrat, bashed the state law after the test results were released.
- "There are so many student interventions we could be supporting to improve reading comprehension. High-stakes testing, with the threat of failing third grade, is not one of them," she said in a press release.
State of play: With just a few days left in the school year for most districts, administrators are scrambling to alert families to their student's status and offer retesting.
- Students who choose the summer program must have at least 90% attendance and show improvement on their literacy test to advance to fourth grade.
By the numbers: According to statewide data released Monday, 13% of Tennessee third graders exceeded expectations on the test and 27% met expectations.
- Those scores are improvements over a year ago when 10% exceeded and 25% met expectations.
- By comparison, 35% of third graders scored as approaching expectations and 25% scored below expectations.
Zoom in: Metro schools spokesperson Sean Braisted tells Axios that under guidance from the state, district-wide testing numbers aren't public information until final scores are released later this summer.
- The district estimates that between students who scored high enough or those who qualify for exceptions, up to 62% of its third graders are exempt from the state's retention law.
- That means about 38% of Nashville third graders are at risk of being held back.