AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to student performance.
Impact
If enacted, SB2291 mandates that LEAs and charter schools conduct regular assessments to gauge students' growth in ELA. If a student does not demonstrate adequate growth based on these assessments, the bill requires that a conference be held among the student’s parents or guardians, the ELA teacher, and the school principal. The outcomes of this conference may result in the provision of extra academic support such as a learning loss bridge camp or personalized tutoring. Importantly, the bill includes a provision that prohibits the retention of a student in the fourth grade more than once, potentially altering how educational institutions approach grade retention policies.
Summary
Senate Bill 2291 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Title 49, Chapter 6, which relates to student performance in public education. The bill focuses on the assessment of students who have been promoted to fourth grade by outlining specific performance measures that local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools must utilize. These measures include performance on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of standardized tests and other classroom performance metrics that reflect the students' growth in ELA throughout their fourth-grade year.
Contention
While SB2291 intends to improve educational outcomes for students, it may raise concerns regarding the implications of standardized testing in younger grades and the pressure it places on students, teachers, and schools. Some may argue that the bill's requirements could result in an increased emphasis on test scores at the expense of broader educational experiences. Moreover, the implications of defining 'adequate growth' could lead to debates regarding what measures are used and how successes are validated, which could foster contention among educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in the education system.
Exempts certain students with disabilities from requirement to take college credits during Bridge Year Pilot Program; modifies age eligibility criteria under program.