MSCS third, fourth grade TCAP reading scores increase. What it means for students

The Tennessee Department of Education has released third- and fourth-grade scores for the English Language Arts section of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests. And scores for Memphis-Shelby County Schools students in both grades increased, though there is still significant room for improvement.

According to the state, 26.6% of third graders scored proficiently or higher on the ELA section, while 28.5% of fourth graders did the same. In the 2022-23 academic year, 23.6% of third graders and 26.7% of fourth graders reached this mark. Statewide, 40.9% of third graders and 46.9% of fourth graders hit the proficiency mark.

"Literacy is the anchor to the success that our 110,000 students deserve to experience," said Superintendent Marie Feagins in a press release. "Thus, these data further support the need to direct more district resources directly to classrooms with a targeted emphasis on a comprehensive literacy approach at every grade level."

For MSCS, the increases come after a heavy focus on strategies like high-dosage tutoring, and the third-grade proficiency rate this year is just shy of the 29% target the district had set. By 2030, the district wants that number to be 52%.

The new scores come about a year after the implementation of a reading retention law that still has implications for third- and fourth-grade students today.

In 2023, a statewide law focused on third-grade reading rates took effect. It stipulated that third graders who didn’t earn a proficient score on the ELA portion of TCAP tests would be held back if interventive measures weren’t taken.

Thursday's data release does not factor in the accountability measures that make adjustments for English language learners, special education students, and students who were enrolled in MSCS less than 50% of the year. Those adjustments usually improve MSCS scores.

Students who earn an “approaching” score ― the category just beneath proficiency ― had to attend summer classes and show 5% improvement on a posttest to move forward. If they didn’t meet that mark, they could still go to the fourth grade, but they would be expected to receive year-round tutoring. And students who earned a “below” score ― the bottom category ― had to attend summer school and agree to year-round tutoring to move on to fourth grade.

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Last year, about 40% of third graders in Tennessee scored proficiently, which meant that roughly 44,000 of the state’s third graders were at risk of being retained. Ultimately, just 898 third graders were held back, thanks to the tutoring options and other exemptions.

During a Memphis media check-in on June 4, Feagins said that about 2,000 third graders this year are required to attend the MSCS Summer Learning Academy ― the summer school equivalent ― per the state law, and nearly 5,000 had signed up. At the time, she expected more to sign up.

The retention law also has implications for fourth graders this year, as fourth graders who fell short on last year's test but opted into tutoring must pass the section of the test or hit an individualized growth goal. If they don’t, it's up to parents and school leaders to decide if they are held back or sent to fifth grade, with more tutoring and academic support in place.

All TCAP student test results are expected to be made available to families in mid-July.

John Klyce covers education and children's issues for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MSCS English TCAP scores released for third- and fourth-grade students