The Tennessee Department of Education released TCAP average scores for third grade English Language Arts (ELA) last week showing that 60 percent of third-graders in the state scored "approaching" or "below" proficiency in the English Language Arts section of TCAP. DeKalb was reported with a 42.26 percent total proficiency, better than the state average, but DeKalb County School officials say that actual numbers are around 50 percent.
DeKalb County was reported with 24.88 percent below proficiency and 32.86 percent approaching, which means that students show some third grade skills, but have not mastered it as of yet. Data shows that 28.64 percent of local students meet requirements and 13.62 percent exceeding proficiency. But, according to Supervisor of Instruction Michelle Burklow, the data does not take in account students with exemptions.
Burklow said that exemptions include; English learners with less than two years of English Language Arts instructions, students who have been previously held back a grade, and students with a disability or suspected disability that impacts literacy development. With the exemptions, the true numbers are closer to 50 percent, much better that the 26 percent that passed the test last year.
According to the new law set by the state, students who meet or exceeded the standards are automatically promoted to the 4th grade, while students that meet an exemption are also promoted.
Students who are approaching proficiency have the option of attending summer school, receive free tutoring during the fourth grade, or their parent/guardian can appeal the retention decision based on criteria established by the state.
Students below the standard need to attend summer school and receive free tutoring during fourth grade to be promoted.
“We had a lot of growth from last year’s third graders to this year’s third graders,” said Burklow. “We had a lot of students that scored higher. The thing that many people don’t realize is that this group of kids were in Kindergarten the year we shut down for COVID. We had a half a year in Kindergarten, then when they were in first grade the kids could be taught virtually or in person at home.”
DeKalb seems to fall in line with surrounding counties as far as average scores. In White County, 43.12 percent of third graders are proficient to advance to the fourth grade, while in Warren County, 33.8 percent of third grade students have scores that Meet or Exceed proficiency to move on to fourth grade. Cannon reports 27.93 percent proficiency, Wilson 50.18 percent, Smith 44.04 proficiency, and Putnam at 42.49 percent.
Burklow said that because summer school is beginning next week, the number of third graders enrolled is still not known, though some have already retested. “We had multiple students retest on Monday,” said Michelle Burklow.
