Tennessee’s efforts to increase early literacy appear to be paying off according to the latest review by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.
The Comptroller released its second annual review of the implementation of the Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA), which aims to ensure that students are on track to becoming proficient readers by the end of third-grade.
The review found that Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) scores in English language arts (ELA) are increasing along with the universal reading screener results showing positive trends.
Universal reading screeners are administered three times a year to all K through third-grade students.
The results from the 2022-23 school year show that students scoring at, or above grade level expectations increased over the course of the school year according to the Comptroller report.
These increases are important as students typically experience some learning loss over the summer.
The Comptroller also found that most teachers are receiving the TSLA-required foundational literacy skills training.
More than 49,000 licensed educators received the science-based training designed to help teachers improve student literacy. As of August 30, 2023, more than 84 percent of K through fifth-grade district teachers and 78 percent of charter schoolteachers met the professional development requirement.
TSLA requires public schools to use phonics-based foundational literacy skills instruction for early reading. The law requires districts and charter schools to:
- Administer a universal reading screener to students in grades K-3 to identify students that need additional help with reading.
- Use ELA textbooks and instructional materials aligned with Tennessee standards and approved by the State Board of Education unless the district or charter school has been granted a waiver.
- Develop foundational literacy skills plans that describe the time devoted to aspects of core literacy instruction, include additional student interventions and supports, and their use of screeners, instructional materials, and training for teachers. These plans must be posted on their websites and submitted for state approval every three years.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed TSLA in 2021.
