State Board of Education asks Tennessee lawmakers to rethink holding back third graders in unanimous vote – By Rachel Wegner (Nashville Tennessean) / March 5, 2024
The State Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Monday asking Tennessee lawmakers to consider shifting the state’s reading and retention law to focus on students in kindergarten through third grade.
The resolution, proposed by board member Ryan Holt, praises Gov. Bill Lee and state lawmakers for the expansion of resources under the state’s third grade reading and retention law, among other measures. However, the resolution pointed out that research shows earlier intervention is better — especially before third grade. The board discussed the resolution during a special-called, virtual meeting.
The reading law was passed with a suite of other measures under the Tennessee Literacy Success Act of 2021, which also mandated reading screening tests be give three times a year in grades K-3. Those screeners created a new set of literacy data that could be put to good use, according to the resolution.
