Third & Fourth Grades: The Pathway Forward

(check back often for updates )

Based on Tennessee law, T.C.A. 49-6-3115, passed in 2021, third-grade students who do not have a score of proficiency on the English Language Arts (ELA) section of the Tennessee Comprehensive Program (TCAP) may have requirements related to summer school and/or tutoring to be promoted to fourth grade.

This means current Henry County School System third-grade students who score Below Expectations or Approaching Expectations on TCAP this school year may be required to participate in summer school and/or tutoring to move to the next grade.

Students that are promoted to fourth-grade as part of the required tutoring pathway will be required to show adequate growth on the ELA section of the fourth grade TCAP before being promoted to fifth grade. 

TDOE Learning Acceleration

Pathways to promotion

Adequate Growth Target

Adequate Growth Target for the Summer Camp Post-Test

Adequate growth on the summer camp post-test is defined as a student improving scores between a baseline assessment and the post-test by at least five (5) percentage points. The baseline assessment is the ELA portion of the 3rd grade spring TCAP, unless a student moves into the “approaching” performance level as a result of the 3rd grade TCAP retest, in which case the baseline assessment for that student is the 3rd grade TCAP retest score.

Adequate Growth Target for Fourth Grade ELA

FAQ on the Fourth Grade Adequate Growth Requirement

Literacy Resources for Families

Family Reading Resources

The Interactive Decodable Book Series is now available for free for all Tennessee families of K–2 children to encourage at-home reading practice to help young learners become stronger readers. This launch is part of the family component of the state’s Reading 360 initiative to help boost strong reading skills amongst Tennessee students. 

Supporting Literacy At Home

A toolkit for families for the Tennessee Department of Education.