Third Grade Parents,
The Tennessee General Assembly updated the state's third grade retention law, TCA 49-6-3115, which requires third grade students to demonstrate proficiency on TCAP in English Language Arts. This law, beginning with the 2022-23 school year, states that a student in the 3rd grade shall not be promoted to the 4th grade unless the student is determined to be proficient in English language arts.
In April of the third-grade school year, your child will take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP. In May, your child will receive one of the four assessment scores for TCAP: below expectations, approaching expectations, met expectations, and exceeding expectations. For a child to be promoted, he or she must achieve a performance level of “met expectations” or “exceeding expectations” on the ELA portion of the TCAP. If your child scores "approaching expectations" or "below expectations" you will receive notification from your child's teacher to plan for the pathways to promotion/retention.
As we continue preparing for the test this spring, we want to remind you of the importance of attendance. Research shows that students – regardless of gender, socioeconomic status or ethnicity – fall behind academically when they are chronically absent. The attendance rate is important because students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school—and themselves. To better prepare your child for the upcoming TCAP, we request that your child be present at school each day.
If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call to our office.