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3rd Grade Retention Law
The Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act was approved in January 2021 and was implemented in the 2022-23 school year. This law states that third-grade students who score below "proficient" on their TCAP ELA (reading test) scores could be held back if they do not attend summer school with 90% attendance or commit to a year of intensive tutoring in fourth grade. There are exceptions for students with a reading disability, less than two years of English instruction, and students who score proficient on a retake. We currently have no provisions for TCAP retakes, so we are unsure what that now looks like for students.
At the end of the school year, your child will take the statewide assessment (test) called the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). This test gives us important information and data that provides us with an idea of how your student is progressing towards exceeding academic standards.TCAP lists proficiency scoring as Below Expectations, Approaching Expectations, Met Expectations, or Exceeded Expectations.
Our encouragement, along with PCSS elementary faculty and staff, to Kindergarten through 3rd grade parents is for:
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Parents and caregivers be proactive with their child’s reading. We preach reading 20 minutes a day to your children and how that makes a difference, and it does.
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Do not feel defeated, and do not give up. We have professionals in our district that are here to help your child.
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Take advantage of any opportunities to help your child increase their reading abilities. If you are unsure of those opportunities, reach out to your school. There is a team there to guide you.
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Remember, we are all in this together.
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What is taking place in third-grade English Language Arts (ELA)?
In third grade, students have a goal to master their ability to read fluently and comprehend what they read. By the end of third grade, we want them to be ready to apply their reading skills to standards-based tasks, such as determining the main idea of a text and explaining how the details support the main idea. This additional layer of learning can be challenging for students in third grade.
At the end of the school year, your child will take the statewide assessment (test) called the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). This test gives us important information and data that provides us with an idea of how your student is progressing towards exceeding academic standards.
TCAP lists proficiency scoring as Below Expectations, Approaching Expectations, Met Expectations, or Exceeded Expectations.
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What will PCSS do for your child in third grade?
We will continue to keep you informed about your child’s progress throughout third grade, and we encourage you to support your child’s learning in third grade in several ways. One way is to know what areas we are working on throughout the year and practice these areas when you can at home or in the car:
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Letter names (the alphabet)
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Letter sounds and word parts (phonological awareness) Reading 360 Resource
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Sounding out words (decoding) Decodable Resource
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Reading words and sentences in the same way as you speak (fluency)
Spelling (encoding)
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How has PCSS Been Proactive?
The PCSS approved sending a resolution to lawmakers asking them to place the decision to retain (hold back) students at the local level. Many districts throughout the state are sending letters as well. We all want our students to be reading by third grade. We want to see changes to this law, but please understand that, at this time, this is state law, and we must follow the guidelines. We will continue to communicate with you if any changes to the law occur.
Read the PCSS resolution here.
