Tennessee Senate Bill SB0920

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to student retention.

Impact

The legislation is expected to influence how local education authorities (LEAs) and public charter schools approach student retention. With the addition of specific provisions related to growth measurements, the bill promotes a more balanced view of student achievement, which could potentially lead to a greater number of students being promoted despite not meeting traditional benchmarks. It also emphasizes the importance of growth over strict adherence to testing thresholds.

Summary

Senate Bill 0920 seeks to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated by enhancing the framework around student retention policies. Specifically, the bill outlines criteria whereby a student may be retained based on demonstrated growth not only through standardized testing but also through performance on a state-approved universal reading screener. The intent is to ensure that retention decisions are informed by a comprehensive evaluation of students' academic progress, rather than solely test scores.

Enactment

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2023, providing a timeline for LEAs and public charter schools to adapt their policies in accordance with the new measures regarding student retention and assessment. The implementation will require significant adjustments in existing frameworks for assessing student performance and making retention decisions.

Contention

While the bill aims to improve educational outcomes, there may be points of contention among educational policymakers and stakeholders. Some may argue that easing retention requirements could dilute academic standards, while others may contend that it is a necessary step towards accommodating varied student learning paces. Furthermore, the reliance on universal reading screeners as a measure of competency could spark debate regarding the adequacy of such assessments in reflecting a student's true abilities.