At the Board of Education meeting held last night in Cumberland County, three women volunteered to speak under Community Comments.

Two of the three ladies voiced their opinion about the Third Grade Retention Law.  Their concern is that it is not fair for a student to be held back due to failing one standardized test.

The law, passed by state lawmakers in 2021, will require third graders who don’t do well on their English Language Arts TCAP to be held back or be required to go to summer school. About two-thirds of students across Tennessee are considered at risk.

The Cumberland County BOE said they have sent a resolution requesting they amend.

There are three basic ways to communicate your point of view to your legislator: by letter/email, by phone, or by visit.

Cameron Sexton told a TV news channel last week that feedback from parents and educators has been heard.

Sexton stated “It needs to be clarified and changed, holding students accountable for a two-day test at the end of the year, the TCAP, we probably need to have a test included that they’re currently doing throughout the school year,” Sexton said. “So we can see how they’re performing. If they have a bad day at the end of the school year, for some reason, but they may have done well all throughout the year we need to take that into account.”