A new report on last month’s Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results shows the positive impact of legislation passed during 2021’s special legislative session on education.¶
According to the report produced by Tennessee SCORE, Tennessee students are continuing a trend of increased English-Language Arts (ELA) proficiency in grades three through five on the TCAP that began the year after the Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) was passed.¶
What is the TLSA?
The TLSA required school districts and charter schools to create a foundational literacy skills plan (FLSP) for students in grades K-5 and submit it to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) by June 1, 2021. It also compelled all school districts to use ELA textbooks and instructional materials from a 2019 state-approved adoption list by January 1, 2023.¶
The TLSA includes parameters that are designed to make a real difference in students’ education, such as focusing on using science-backed phonics to teach children to read, providing for three annual screeners to gauge educational progress, and providing professional development training and support for teachers.¶
The act also includes student retention policies and was subject to three straight evaluations by the Comptroller’s Office from its inception in 2022 through 2024. The findings were then reported to the chairs of the Senate and House education committees and the State Board of Education.¶
2026 Results
Before the TLSA’s implementation, statewide ELA outcomes were declining among third- through fifth graders. Since then, ELA proficiency rates for third graders have gradually increased.¶
In 2021, the ELA proficiency rates for students in grades three through five were 32.1 percent, 33.3 percent, and 29 percent. In 2026, those rates have risen to 44.9 percent, 47.4 percent, and 42.7 percent, a 12.8 percent increase for third graders, a 14.1 percent increase for fourth graders, and a 13.7 percent increase for fifth graders.¶
While fourth-grade ELA proficiency decreased by 0.4 percent from 2025 to 2026, third-grade proficiency increased by 3.2 percent, and fifth-grade proficiency rose by 2 percent.¶
In its report, SCORE acknowledged that while improvements have been steady, there is still more work to be done.¶
“Strong policy and consistent implementation are helping more students reach proficiency,” the release stated. “At the same time, proficiency is still too low for too many students, persistent gaps remain, and improved outcomes are not yet reaching every student. Tennessee must use this moment to sharpen our sense of focus and urgency.”¶
