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Third-grade retention law sends students to summer academies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state's third-grade retention law is forcing thousands of students back in the classroom during their break if they want to advance to fourth grade.
As vacation season gets underway, thousands of families across the state and those in the MSCS district are having to postpone their summer plans for tutoring sessions, all because of Tennessee's Third Grade Retention Law.
'I am very concerned because third-graders need to know how to read early,' said Stephanie Love/MSCS Vice-Chair. 'I agree with Mark White (State Representative/(R) Memphis). We need to state early on in kindergarten in the first grade. Third grade is too late for them to know.'
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A state law enacted in 2021 says students who fail the English portion of the TCAP exam must choose between summer school and tutoring just to advance to fourth grade.
According to MSCS, approximately 9,000 students are enrolled to attend the Summer Learning Academy, and the number that attend will vary.
MSCS is offering a Summer Learning Academy for grades kindergarten through 9th grade, and it's required for many third-grade students. About 10 thousand spaces are available.
Across Tennessee, the state Department of Education says only 40% of third-grade students were proficient in English in the 2023 to 2024 school year.
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'Proficiency is when you get above a certain level in reading proficiency,' said Rep. White. 'The latest scores at our MSCS schools is 23% reading proficiency for our third graders. That's not acceptable.'
As some students are back in the classroom for summer learning academies. Parents are also appealing to TCAP for third graders facing retention, as some call for changes in the state law.
'The state needs to take in all considerations all tests in academic levels, besides the TCAP,' said Love.
MSCS told WREG that all 2025 TCAP testing results are under embargo by the state, so they cannot share results.
School Board Vice Chair Stephanie Love said she and Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond will tour the summer learning academy at Woodstock Middle School on Thursday to see how students are progressing.
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