Tennessee 3rd grade Retention law
Tennessee 3rd grade Retention law
The Issue
Let’s start off with the details regarding the Tennessee 3rd grade retention law. The law states “Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, a student in the third grade shall not be promoted to the next grade level unless the student is determined to be proficient in English Language Arts.” While we can all absolutely agree that a child would/should be retained if they’re not efficiently meeting the standards that are upheld by our local schoolboards-this should in no way be a decision that should be based off of ONE standardized exam. The bigger picture needs to be examined before such a life changing decision is made in regards to our children.
According to a college research study from UCLA (2012)- 40%-60% of elementary grade students could be 100% ready and prepared to take an exam, but the student is quickly debilitated as soon as the test is handed out. This is not a learning disorder. Children are no different than us(as adults). I’m a college student myself, and I can personally study and gain all the knowledge required for an exam, but as soon as that adrenaline rush hits me-everything that I once knew is diminished to the bare minimum.
After the outpouring amount of support from local teachers and after speaking to individuals in a “higher up” position, I now understand that this is something that MUST be done in order to show our Tennessee governor (Bill Lee) and our Tennessee senator (John Lundberg), that we are willing to take whatever measures necessary to protect the integrity of our children. With that being said…
Now is our time to stand up, to be heard, to be the voice for our children! Let’s get enough signatures on this petition to present to our state legislators to let them know that this needs to be handled in other ways! Many parents have no clue about this and possibly may not know until it’s too late-we need to educate! Parents, it’s not only the current third graders in danger of this law, it’s every single student in the upcoming years that will be affected by this!
Thank you for the support thus far and for everyone who has signed the petition-together we will all make the difference for our children! ❤️
-Heather Dutton and Alexandria Couch
278
The Issue
Let’s start off with the details regarding the Tennessee 3rd grade retention law. The law states “Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, a student in the third grade shall not be promoted to the next grade level unless the student is determined to be proficient in English Language Arts.” While we can all absolutely agree that a child would/should be retained if they’re not efficiently meeting the standards that are upheld by our local schoolboards-this should in no way be a decision that should be based off of ONE standardized exam. The bigger picture needs to be examined before such a life changing decision is made in regards to our children.
According to a college research study from UCLA (2012)- 40%-60% of elementary grade students could be 100% ready and prepared to take an exam, but the student is quickly debilitated as soon as the test is handed out. This is not a learning disorder. Children are no different than us(as adults). I’m a college student myself, and I can personally study and gain all the knowledge required for an exam, but as soon as that adrenaline rush hits me-everything that I once knew is diminished to the bare minimum.
After the outpouring amount of support from local teachers and after speaking to individuals in a “higher up” position, I now understand that this is something that MUST be done in order to show our Tennessee governor (Bill Lee) and our Tennessee senator (John Lundberg), that we are willing to take whatever measures necessary to protect the integrity of our children. With that being said…
Now is our time to stand up, to be heard, to be the voice for our children! Let’s get enough signatures on this petition to present to our state legislators to let them know that this needs to be handled in other ways! Many parents have no clue about this and possibly may not know until it’s too late-we need to educate! Parents, it’s not only the current third graders in danger of this law, it’s every single student in the upcoming years that will be affected by this!
Thank you for the support thus far and for everyone who has signed the petition-together we will all make the difference for our children! ❤️
-Heather Dutton and Alexandria Couch
278
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Petition created on January 30, 2023