Tennessee reading law: Bill that would hold back fewer fourth graders still in limbo

Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean
Updated ·4 min read

A Tennessee bill that could curb how many fourth graders are held back under a state reading law remains in limbo over a disagreement between the House and Senate.

The reading law requires third graders who fall short on state reading benchmarks to meet exemption standards, pass on a retake, enroll in summer school or win an appeal. Additionally, students who score as "approaching" proficiency could also enroll in tutoring for the entirety of fourth grade — something around 12,000 students chose for the current school year.

But if those fourth graders do not pass the English language arts section of Tennessee's standardized test or hit an individualized growth goal set by the state, the law requires them to be held back. The Tennessee Department of Education projected that up to 6,000 fourth graders may be retained if nothing changes.

What to know: How Tennessee reading law affects third, fourth graders

The proposed bill seeks to put that decision back into the hands of schools and parents, with tutoring requirements if the child moves on to fifth grade. The House version also adds a reading screener test as a second benchmark to consider in retention decisions, along with a summer school option.

While the measure has drawn wide bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, lawmakers can't agree on the exact terms of the bill.

After volleying between the two chambers several times, it will likely head to a conference committee where lawmakers will attempt to reconcile their differences over the measure. With the end of the session nearing and several other high-profile bills at play, it's not clear if the two chambers will negotiate a deal.

Fourth grader Myleigh Eason, 11, reads a book at the kitchen table in her Spring Hill home on Monday.
Fourth grader Myleigh Eason, 11, reads a book at the kitchen table in her Spring Hill home on Monday.

The disagreement comes as standardized Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests are being administered for grades 3-5 statewide.

Haley Eason, a Williamson County mother whose 11-year-old daughter Myleigh is in fourth grade, said the wait is excruciating as her daughter takes her TCAP this week. She said her daughter is a straight-A student but has struggled on the test, which put her at risk of retention last year. They opted for tutoring. Now Myleigh is facing the risk of retention once again.

"I just don't understand when everyone pretty much seems like they are for a change, and we keep going back and forth," Eason said Wednesday. "I'm just really frustrated."

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Where the House and Senate disagree

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill leave retention decisions up to school leaders and parents or legal guardians and include language on tutoring in fifth grade. A district or public charter school must call a conference with the student's parent or guardian, English language arts teacher and school principal to determine one of the following things:

  • Promote the child to fifth grade with interventions and academic supports in place, including tutoring

  • Retain the child in fourth grade

Third grade students work on an English language arts assignment at Dodson Elementary School on June 6 in Nashville. The students were part of Promising Scholars, the Metro Nashville Public Schools summer program.
Third grade students work on an English language arts assignment at Dodson Elementary School on June 6 in Nashville. The students were part of Promising Scholars, the Metro Nashville Public Schools summer program.

But a Senate amendment by Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, limits the measure to only two years, meaning this year's fourth graders and those in fourth grade in the 2024-25 school year would benefit from it. He said the intent was to focus on children whose early schooling was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. That means the original version of the reading law would go back into effect for the 2025-26 school year.

Lundberg has voiced opposition to the measure in the past, and ultimately voted against it Wednesday, even though his amendment passed.

That amendment was one of the reasons House sponsor Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, ultimately rejected the Senate version of the bill Thursday. He also cited the following disparities in the Senate bill:

  • No consideration of a reading screening test as an additional benchmark in retention decisions

  • No choice for parents between summer school and tutoring for their child to avoid retention

  • The high cost attached to using TNAllCorps tutoring for fifth graders

Children cannot be retained in fourth grade more than once, according to the reading law.

See how TN measure third grade reading: Try a TCAP practice test

What's next for Tennessee third, fourth graders

TCAPs kicked off April 15 for grades 3-5 and will conclude by April 30. Exact testing dates vary by district.

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 and growth data for fourth graders will be released by July 1. It will be up to districts to relay information to parents and legal guardians.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee reading law change to hold back fewer fourth graders in limbo