What to know about student testing
Tennessee children learning virtually still will have to take Tnready in person
Tennessee students will still take annual state tests this spring, despite months of disruption to learning and school closures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though thousands of students are still learning from home this semester, those students will have to go to schools in person to take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) assessments, also known as Tnready.
Some educators and advocates called for the state to cancel testing completely this spring, like lawmakers did last year at the beginning of the pandemic. Lawmakers did not do so.
Here's what you need to know about student testing this spring.
Students have to take tests in-person
Any student participating in Tnready this spring is required to test in person.
After years of technical difficulties, Tennessee's student assessments will be given via paper and pencil this year so students would not be able to take the tests via online delivery anyway.
Districts are required to administer tests sometime between April 12 and June 10. The state also is requiring at least 80% of eligible students in each district participate in testing this year.
State tests are required by law
Both state and federal law requires all students enrolled in public schools complete annual assessments. Any cancellation of annual testing at the state level has to pass the Tennessee General Assembly as it did in the spring of 2020 while schools were closed thanks to the pandemic.
Since the federal government requires exams be offered, the U.S. Department of Education also has to approve any changes to how many students participate.
President Joe Biden's administration has been clear that tests have to take place this year, arguing that there must be some way to measure student performance and understand where there are learning gaps. But schools will not be held accountable for test results or participation rates.
Not all students are tested
In Tennessee, students in grades 3 through 8 take Tnready tests covering English language arts, math, science and social studies.
Some high school students also take end-of-course exams for select subjects including English I through III, Algebra I and II, geometry, biology and U.S. History.
A handful of school districts also optin to optional testing for second grade.
Parents cannot 'opt-out' of testing — technically
Parents cannot refuse or opt a child out of participating in state assessments, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. Only eight states allow parents to officially opt-out of testing. But some Tennessee parents have been refusing to let their children participate for years.
The Save Our Schools Tennessee political action committee advises parents to make their requests in writing and explain to their child why they will not be taking the test.
Students who refuse to finish their tests or purposely don't attempt any part of their tests are reported as a "refusal" by their school.
Most parents just don't send their children to school on the days they are scheduled to test as a way of opting out — a practice likely made easier since some students are already learning remotely at home.
Students might be counted absent if they refuse to take the tests
The state education department directed districts to handle absences from testing the same way they would any other absence from a mandatory school function, but how districts will actually count absences will vary.
Metro Nashville Public Schools, for instance, will not mark a student as absent for attendance purposes if they don't show up for their tests but are actively involved in virtual instruction on the day of the test.
Other districts have informed parents that their child will be counted as absent, even if they complete virtual coursework that day.
Some argue test results 'won't count' or don't matter
During a special legislative session on education in January, state lawmakers decided that schools and teachers couldn't be negatively affected by student test results this year. Student achievement or growth can't be used as part of a teacher's evaluation this year and schools can't be flagged for underperformance based on test results.
The state has also been trying to roll out an A-F grading system for schools for several years, but those grades will also be delayed another year.
Some parents and educators worry that since the test results won't have direct consequences, students might not take them seriously or the results won't actually be reflective of how students are performing.
Schools could still be negatively impacted if students don't participate
Though the federal government typically requires 95% of all eligible students to participate in annual testing, the Tennessee Department of Education is only requiring 80% in each district participate this year.
If 80% or more participate, accountability measures based on student test results (like being added to the state's priority school list or being flagged for underperformance) will be waived.
The department has not specifically stated what will happen if a district do not reach 80% participation, though state officials have hinted that there could be consequences for schools and districts.
Student testing is controversial
Parents, educators, lawmakers and even community advocates are split on the importance of standardized testing and whether students should take these assessments at all.
The state argues that test results help inform educators and families of their student's progress and can identify learning gaps, and results are also used to trigger school-wide improvement efforts and to make sure schools and teachers are doing their jobs.
Some have argued that thanks to pandemic-related disruptions, it is more important than ever for educators to know where students are academically . But others consistently argue testing is a waste of time. Parents worry that teachers are only "teaching to the test" and some teachers argue that standardized testing hampers their ability to teach creatively.
Tnready specifically has had a history of problems, stemming from the assessment's inception in the spring of 2016. That year, the state's testing vendor experienced server problems. Since then, the state has changed vendors but testing has been disrupted or canceled numerous times since.
Schools can offer alternative dates or times; plans will vary
Districts can administer tests anytime during four testing windows between April 12 and June 10. Most students in grades 3-5 will likely only tests up to four or five days.
The state has allowed districts some flexibility for scheduling students and make-up days, including using evenings or weekends to test students who are learning virtually or testing smaller groups of students to allow for more social distancing.
Most schools will schedule specific test dates for each subject and communicate those dates to families. Check with your local school district and/or your child's school for their testing schedule.