The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) released data on the results of third-grade retention appeals filed with the state. Parents of third-grade students who did not meet the criteria for promotion to 4th grade based on Spring TCAP results are provided an opportunity to appeal that decision. The released data comes with approximately two weeks left in the appeals window.
Since the appeals window opened on May 30th, the department has received 9,205 appeals forms, representing 8,206 individual students.
Of the students who appealed, 6,698 have won their appeal and will be heading to fourth grade. That translates to a roughly 82 percent success rate for parent-filed appeals.
On the flip side, 642 students had their appeals denied, with 434 student applications still pending. There were an additional 432 submitted appeal forms that were not considered applicable due to student eligibility.
The total number of students that will ultimately be retained remains unknown. Initial results, based on scores from Spring’s TCAP testing, indicated 60% of the state’s students were at risk to be retained. That number has shrunk considerably as students and their families have availed themselves of exemption opportunities provided by the state.
“Parents across the state are engaging in their child’s education and choosing the best pathway to ensure they are set up for success,” said Interim Commissioner Sam Pearcy. “We will continue to provide resources and supports as districts and schools have essential conversations with families of students who are not yet proficient and may benefit from additional learning supports like summer camp or tutoring throughout next school year.”
The appeals process is just one of the multiple pathways available to fourth-grade promotion, along with, free summer camp and/or tutoring in the upcoming school year. Any student who scored either “approaching” or “below” were also eligible for a retake of the TCAP exam.
On June 7th, the department released data about student participation in the TCAP retake opportunity. The data released included district-level percentages of third-grade students who were eligible to take the retake, who participated in the TCAP retake, and who improved their performance on the TCAP retake.
Of 44,395 Tennessee third-grade students eligible to participate in the TCAP retake, 26,239 eligible students took the TCAP retake assessment. Statewide, 12.77 percent of retakers scored proficient and successfully completed the requirements of this pathway to promotion to fourth grade.
Statewide, June marked the beginning of district-offered summer school options. Classes for MNPS students began on June 1, with more than 17,000 students enrolled in the district’s month-long summer program, “Promising Scholars.” Roughly 25 percent are third-graders at risk of being held back. Students must maintain a 90 percent attendance rate, and at the end of the summer session take a test to demonstrate adequate growth for it to count towards requirements for promotion.
The new law increased the number of third-grade students enrolled in summer school programs, potentially limiting the number of seats available for other students.
“We have a lot more third-grade students this summer. In the past, we’ve kind of been a little bit equal with our summer camp students, but this year our third-grade group is large,” Stefanie Edgell, who is working inside Walter Hill Elementary School this summer, explained to WKRN. “It’s not been a big problem, but I definitely think that there were some other students that might have wanted to be at summer camp, and our third-grade spots may have been taken for those positions or kids’ spots.”
Lawmakers have promised to examine data as it becomes available, in order to amend the law where needed.
State Senate Education Chair State Senator John Lundberg (R-Bristol) told The Tennessee Star, “There is more work to be done, but I do think there is evidence that we are on the right track. We will continue to evaluate as data comes in.”
Numbers for students who are exempt due to meeting certain exceptions outlined in the law have not been provided by the TDOE.
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TC Weber is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. He writes the blog Dad Gone Wild. Follow TC on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]. He’s the proud parent of two public school children and the spouse of a public school teacher.
Photo “Students” by Pavel Danilyuk.
