New Third Grade Retention Law Will Affect 80% of Our Students
Thousands of third graders are at risk of being held back this spring after a new law was passed by the Tennessee legislature.
The new law requires school districts to hold back third graders who do not score proficiently on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test. Currently only 32 percent of Tennessee students are meeting grade level expectations in ELA and the numbers are even lower in Hardeman and Fayette counties where only 20 percent are scoring proficient.
Third graders scoring below proficiency will be given options to achieve proficiency and still receive promotion to the fourth grade. According to the law, a third grader who scores ‘approaching’ in English Language Arts proficiency has the option to participate in a learning loss bridge camp to achieve proficiency or receive high-dosage tutoring throughout their fourth-grade year. A third grader who scores ‘below’ in English Language Arts proficiency must participate in both learning loss bridge programming and high-dosage tutoring in fourth grade.
Successful completion of the summer learning loss bridge camps require students maintain a 90 percent attendance rate and show adequate growth on a post-test. Educators are still seeking clarification on exactly what defines ‘adequate growth’.
The districts will face new challenges this summer and next fall should many third graders be held back.
There is a battle brewing over the new law as many school districts, including Hardeman and Fayette, have sent resolutions back to the Tennessee General Assembly requesting amendments be made.
“Educators know that basing the decision of retention or promotion on one single test isn’t the most accurate method. However, we do what legislation tells us to do,” said Dr. Christy Smith, Director of Hardeman County Schools. “The Hardeman County School Board voted to support a resolution asking the Tennessee Legislature to return retention decisions back to the school district.”
Each Hardeman County elementary school has scheduled a parent night specifically for third grade parents to help them better understand how this legislation may effect their student. Parents should contact their individual school for specific dates and times.
Dr. Smith has suggestions for parents that may help with their child’s performance.
“Reinforce that education and literacy are important,” said Dr. Smith. “Attendance matters… hours of instruction are lost in just one day of missing school, read daily with your child, participate in tutoring programs and communicate with your child’s teacher.”
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