Tennessee Senate Bill SB1306

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 proposed bill notably shifts the responsibility of adopting retention policies to individual LEAs and schools, which could create variation in implementation across different jurisdictions. Additionally, it introduces options for students who may not progress to their next grade, allowing them to attend remediation programs or receive tutoring. This structured approach is geared towards providing support to students at risk of being retained, ultimately fostering their academic development preceding any retention decisions.

Summary

Senate Bill 1306 aims to amend Tennessee Code Annotated regarding the retention policies for third-grade students demonstrating insufficient proficiency in English language arts (ELA). The bill mandates that local education authorities (LEAs) and public charter school governing bodies must establish and enforce a retention policy applicable to third-grade students who score at 'approaching' or 'below' on their most recent TCAP assessments. Thus, retention decisions will hinge on these assessment results, though other indicators of academic performance can be considered.

Contention

Despite its supportive measures, the bill raises various points of contention among educators and policymakers. Critics may argue that the focus on retention based on standardized testing scores could unfairly impact students who are English language learners or those who have not received adequate instruction in ELA. By emphasizing retention as a primary consequence for poor performance without sufficiently considering the broader context of a student's educational journey, opponents may express concerns about the long-term effects on children's confidence and educational outcomes.