Across the state right now, students’ academic skills are being put to the test. This time, Tennessee’s end-the year-of-year assessments, typically known as TCAP, are new and more rigorous than ever.
State officials worry that students won’t score as well as in the past and that more schools statewide will be perceived as failing.
Under the No Child Left Behind law, students must take the annual tests to show how many are proficient in math, reading, and other subjects. Due to this year’s revamped, more difficult tests, the state is asking the U.S. Department of Education for a favor – temporarily lower the bar to help ease the transition.
Paul Changas oversees standardized testing in Metro Nashville schools. He says in the past, for example, 89 percent of kids had to test proficient in reading.
“After this year if the appeal is successful it might be that it was 70 percent or 75 percent. The number looks lower but it actually is indicating mastery of much tougher standards.”
A decision on the state’s request for leniency is expected this summer.
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