Lessons learned from the pandemic continue to guide Tennessee school strategy this summer

This month school districts across the state are continuing a learning strategy that saw success during the pandemic.Summer learning camps played a valuable role in 2021 and in 2022 helping Tennessee students regain ground they lost during virtual learning. Education leaders considered the camps such a success, the Tennessee General Assembly made them permanent with legislation this year.The state credits summer learning camps with positive reading gains of 5.74 percentage points in 2021, and 2.77 percentage points in 2022.“We have an incredible moment to learn and grow together as a state this summer by supporting students in strengthening lessons learned during the regular school year,” said Interim Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Sam Pearcy. “I’m extremely grateful to the districts, educators and staff who have made extended learning opportunities possible for students this summer.”This year the camps will be available to rising kindergarten through 9th graders and they will additionally play a role in the state’s new Third-Grade Retention Law.Non-exempt third-graders who failed to test proficient on the English language arts section of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) will have the option of attending summer school and/or fall tutoring to advance to the fourth grade.Last week Governor Bill Lee toured those learning camps and defended the student achievement strategy behind the Third-Grade Retention law. Some critics have argued the law does more harm than good potentially holding students back for results on a test.“Over the past two years, summer learning camps have resulted in promising reading gains for Tennessee students,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “As we continue to prepare students for success in the classroom and beyond with a strong K-3 literacy strategy, I commend Tennessee’s dedicated teachers for providing this key support as a pathway for student achievement.”