Tennessee reading law: What to know as TCAP scores released, third graders face retention
The widespread effects of the Tennessee reading and retention law will be felt again this year for thousands of public school third and fourth graders and their families.
The Tennessee Department of Education will release third grade results on the English language arts portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP, to districts on May 20. That sets off a fast-moving timeline that will ultimately determine if third graders who fall short on the test will move on to fourth grade or be held back. Thousands of fourth graders who opted for yearlong tutoring to avoid retention last year are also affected by the law.
Here's what parents need to know about navigating the implications of the law.
Tennessee reading law: Less than 1% of third graders held back in 2024
The standardized TCAP test, also known as TNReady, was administered in April for Grades 3-5. Testing dates varied by district.
TCAP scores are typically released in two waves over the summer and early fall each year. However, the Tennessee Department of Education will release some scores and data early for third and fourth graders affected by the reading law.
English language arts scores for third graders will be released to districts on May 20 . Growth data for fourth graders will be released by July 1. It will be up to districts to relay that information to parents and legal guardians and inform them of next steps.
In 2024, 60% of third graders fell short of the state's reading benchmark. That number does not factor in automatic exemptions. After exemptions, retakes, summer school and the appeal process all unfolded, less than 1% of last year's third graders were held back under the reading law, which totaled 655 students.
The law also affects nearly 7,500 fourth graders who qualified and opted into yearlong tutoring to avoid retention last year. Those students must pass the English language arts section of this year's TCAP or meet an individualized growth goal set by the state. If they do not, their school must call a conference with the student's parent or guardian, English language arts teacher and school principal to determine if the child will be held back or move on to fifth grade with academic supports, including tutoring.
'Not a reading proficiency test': TN parents, experts question TCAP use in third grade law
Yes.
Some third graders whose scores fall short can move on to fourth grade without any further action. Those students include:
English language learners who have received less than two years of English language arts instruction
Those who were held back in a previous grade
Students with disabilities or suspected disabilities that impact their literacy development
It is up to the districts to sort out those students and inform parents.
Try a TCAP practice test: See how Tennessee measures third grade reading
Third graders who score as approaching proficiency must complete one of the following to move on to fourth grade:
Retest and score on grade level, with a retest window of May 21-30
Enroll in summer school, meet 90% attendance and show adequate growth
Have a free state-provided tutor for the entirety of fourth grade
Additionally, third graders who scored at or above the 50th percentile on their spring reading screening test can also move on if they enroll in tutoring for the entirety of fourth grade.
The State Board of Education defines "adequate growth" for third graders as a student scoring at least five percentage points higher on a post-summer school test than their baseline score. The baseline can be either their initial TCAP English language arts score or their retake score.
Third graders who score as below proficiency have the following options to move on:
Retest and score on grade level, with a retest window of May 21-30
Enroll in summer school with 90% attendance rate and have a free state-provided tutor for the entirety of fourth grade
Retake scores will be given to districts within two days of testing. Retesting and summer school dates vary by district. Students who opt for fourth grade tutoring must demonstrate adequate growth on their TCAP the following spring to avoid possible retention or extra steps to advance to fifth grade.
To move on to fifth grade with no additional steps, fourth graders who enrolled in tutoring under the reading law must either pass the English language arts section of the TCAP or reach an "adequate growth" goal. The state's formula for adequate growth for fourth graders factors in the student's English language arts score on the TCAP and the probability that they will eventually reach proficiency. The growth goal is individualized to each student.
Adequate growth data will be sent out to districts by July 1. If fourth graders do not meet either benchmark, the next steps are up to the student's parents, English language arts teacher and principal.
There is an appeal process for third graders who scored as approaching expectations and faced a catastrophic event that impacted their ability to perform on the TCAP. The appeal window will be open from May 28-June 27. Once parents and legal guardians are notified of a retention decision, they have 14 days to file the appeal. Authorized school personnel are also allowed to file an appeal on behalf of a parent or legal guardian.
Final retention notifications will be made sometime in July and will vary by district. For students enrolled in summer programming, decisions must be relayed to parents within 10 calendar days of the first day of school. Decisions for students who are not in summer programming may be made sooner.
Here are all the key dates in one place for 2025:
May 20: English language arts TCAP scores for third graders released to districts
May 21-May 30: Third grade English language arts TCAP retake window
May 28-June 27: Appeal window for third graders
By July 1: Adequate growth data for fourth grade students released to districts
In July: Final retention notifications made, including for students who participated in summer programming
Summer programming dates will vary by district.
More information on the third grade reading and retention law from the Tennessee Department of Education can be found at tn.gov/education/learning-acceleration.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee reading law: What to know as third grade TCAP scores released
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