NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In 2021, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law that requires 3rd-grade students to “meet or exceed” expectations on the ELA portion of TCAP testing, or receive intervention services provided by the school district, in order to be promoted to the 4th grade. Most students in Tennessee (nearly 65% in 2022) do not “meet or exceed” expectations on this test due to the difficult standards, so it is a law that will impact many families across the state.

Approximately 40% of kids have met or exceeded grade-level expectations. Those children will be able to move on to the fourth grade with no intervention. However, 60% of the state’s children will either have to retake the test, go to summer school or appeal the decision based on the Third Grade Retention Law. The law as it it’s written will affect this year’s third graders primarily as the legislature amended the current language. But it won’t go into effect until next school year.

The data is broken down by:

• 13% exceeded
• 27% met expectations
• 35% approached expectations
• 25% below expectations

Students who score in the “below” or “approaching” categories on the 3rd grade ELA portion of TCAP will be provided a re-take examination at their schools between Monday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 24, for a chance to improve their score before the end of the school year.

On Friday, individual ELA scores for third graders were shared with Tennessee school districts, which are responsible for communicating with families about their student’s scores and pathways to fourth-grade promotion, including the TCAP retake opportunity, free summer camp, and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year.

Third-grade students who scored “below” or “approaching” are eligible and will be prioritized for these supports, although some students may meet certain exceptions outlined in the law.

Families can find critical timeline information posted on the department’s website and should coordinate with their student’s schools to ensure they can make informed decisions about their student’s education.