Tennessee New Law -- Must pass 3rd grade reading test to move up to 4th grade (school, illiteracy)

[tnff]

Tennessee has a new law coming into effect next year. If a child cannot pass the annual 3rd grade TCAP reading test, they child must be held back and not go to fourth grade.

The argument in favor of this is that if the child can't read at a 3rd grade level, then it's doing them a disservice to move on to fourth grade where they will just fall further behind plus get impacted in other courses that require basic reading skills.

The argument against it seems to be "it's not fair." With fairness being blamed on the impact of COVD on schools. The other argument being "it's one test on one day."

I could see some value in the one data point argument if the child has a track record of reading well, then the one data point could be an off day. On the other hand, if the child has a track record of not reading well, then why would you want to push the child ahead?

My point of view is, while there may need to be some tweaking to resolve the single data point issue, that pushing a child ahead when they lack the fundamentals is not doing them any favors and is setting them up for failure later on.

[PAhippo]

I don't know what the test involves exactly but assuming it's a fair test then I agree.



It seems rather than working on the problem (not reading well), the focus for some making excuses and rationalizations.


If the problem is a child not being able to read 3rd grade level, do something to help him. or her.


and kudos to TN for trying to do something about illiteracy early.

[tnff]

Some additional information. This year's test results where highly touted by the state education department as:
(emphasis theirs)
Proficiency gains were reflected in all tested grades.
Overall proficiency in ELA has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, with more students scoring Met and Exceeded than 2019.
Tennessee is demonstrating learning acceleration and will continue to focus on doing what’s best for our kids


Actual numbers: Only 35.7% 3rd grade students scored at or above the minimum. That means 64.3% failed to meet the minimums.

If those numbers hold and the law performs as stated, roughly 64% of third graders will be held back. I suspect that's why so many educators are against this law. They will have a lot of explaining to do.

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by tnff

Some additional information. This year's test results where highly touted by the state education department as:
(emphasis theirs)
Proficiency gains were reflected in all tested grades.
Overall proficiency in ELA has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, with more students scoring Met and Exceeded than 2019.
Tennessee is demonstrating learning acceleration and will continue to focus on doing what’s best for our kids


Actual numbers: Only 35.7% 3rd grade students scored at or above the minimum. That means 64.3% failed to meet the minimums.

If those numbers hold and the law performs as stated, roughly 64% of third graders will be held back. I suspect that's why so many educators are against this law. They will have a lot of explaining to do.

This sounds like a good law as long as the student who fails the test is given an opportunity DURING THE SUMMER to improve their reading ability in order to pass the test prior to the next school year.

Just testing and pigeon holing a student once is not right. There has to be a concerned follow up effort to get this now subpar in reading child up to speed.

[PAhippo]

Originally Posted by jmgg

This sounds like a good law as long as the student who fails the test is given an opportunity DURING THE SUMMER to improve their reading ability in order to pass the test prior to the next school year.

Just testing and pigeon holing a student once is not right. There has to be a concerned follow up effort to get this now subpar in reading child up to speed.

agree. Finding out there's a problem is only the 1st step.

[Ceece]

Does anyone ever get held back these days? I haven't heard of that happening for a long time.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by Ceece

Does anyone ever get held back these days? I haven't heard of that happening for a long time.

It rarely happened when I was in school, but students knew the possibility was real. We might have one or two out of an elementary class of 30-35.

The Tennessee law seems reasonable to me - if they get "social promotions" they'll always be behind. Fix the problem while it still can be fixed.

[JaxRhapsody]

I like it. I was reading very well before I was in third grade. Covid ain't an excuse because nobody didn't want to teach their kids anything for that time most was exiled from public.

[TMSRetired]

When I was in school you had to pass the end of year tests to be promoted otherwise it was summer school for you and then possibly being left back.

And pretty much no one wanted to be "left back".

But today..doesn't seem to be an issue...they fail and do get passed on by the school board based on "potential".

I think today's system lets them fail and just passes them on to the next grade.
And I also think the driving force is Federal $$$$.

[psikeyhackr]

Give 3rd graders boring crap to read so they don't practice enough.