On Tuesday, November 1st at 5:30CT/6:30ET, Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment will host "More Than a Test: Why Tennessee's Third Grade Retention Law Harms Students and What We Can Do About It". This virtual forum will be presented by teachers and parents from across Tennessee who will share details about TCA 49-6-3115, who it will impact, and why they believe that retention and remediation should be based on overall student performance, not a single standardized test. Invitations have been sent to all Tennessee state house and state senate representatives.
Join us on November 1st at 5:30CT/6:30ET via Zoom to hear directly from frontline educators.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 1st at 5:30CT/6:30ET
WHERE: Zoom & Facebook Live
ZOOM REGISTRATION: bit.ly/morethanatestmtg
FACEBOOK EVENT: www.facebook.com/events/1302528243818695
CONTACT: austin@socm.org; 615-809-4448
MORE INFORMATION:
State law, TCA 49-6-3115, effective this year, requires all third graders who do not pass a single standardized reading test to be held back and repeat third grade. While this law may be rooted in good intentions, those who work with students day in and day out have significant concerns. There has been overwhelming backlash from educators, parents and school administrators. Over 380 letters from concerned parents and educators have been sent to state representatives, local school boards have passed resolutions asking for amendments to the law, and a petition started by a Hamilton County teacher and parent has drawn almost 2,300 signatures. A few of the main concerns raised are outlined below:
Remediation should be determined by the student's overall performance, along with the recommendation of their teachers; a child's fate should NOT be determined by a single test.
2021 statistics suggest that statewide, over 70% of 3rd and/or 4th graders could be held back and forced to repeat 3rd or 4th grade with this new law. Our buildings, teachers, staff, students and tight budgets of local school districts cannot sustain this.
Retention alone, especially by third grade, does not improve student outcomes. There is no data to support this law.
We need policies and funding that actually address student academic, social and emotional needs, not another high stakes standardized test.
Summer school has been proposed as a way for 3rd graders who don’t pass the test to get a second chance. However, school districts have not been given funding or a concrete plan for what this would look like. Furthermore, there is no evidence showing that a few weeks of summer school will have a significant impact on test results.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING:
The General Assembly should amend TCA 49-6-3115 to allow retention to be based upon all school district information on each student, not a single standardized test. Our legislators should focus on providing more skills-based reading intervention for K-2nd grade students, hiring more support staff, increasing teacher pay, and partnering with community agencies to meaningfully address student and staff mental/physical wellbeing.