Figure 6. TCAP 3-8 Reading Language Arts Results, 2011-15 119
Percent Proficient or Advanced
100
80
60
40
44.8%
47.5%
49.9%
50.5%
49.5%
48.4%
2012
2013
2014
2015
20
0
2011
2012
In response to these reading scores, the Tennessee
in grades K-2. Like the SAT-10, the new test will be
Department of Education has made literacy
optional. Unlike the SAT-10, however, the new test
instruction a top priority and launched multiple
will align with Tennessee’s State Standards and only
innovative initiatives to support the development
focus on second grade.
of reading and literacy skills. These initiatives are
described below.
As a first step in implementing Ready to Read,
the Tennessee Department of Education recently
Ready to Read and Read to Be Ready. During the
selected a group of educators to serve on an Early
first meeting of Governor Haslam’s Teachers Cabinet
Literacy Council. Members of this council will help
on July 16, 2015, Education Commissioner Candice
state officials decide how to define “third-grade
McQueen announced a new early literacy initiative
readiness,” how to assess early literacy, and what
called Ready to Read.120 Spurred by Tennessee’s
to include in upcoming teacher trainings on early
stagnant reading scores, which Commissioner
literacy.122
McQueen calls “a true ethical and moral dilemma,”
the Tennessee Department of Education will partner
While Ready to Read will focus on infancy through
with other state agencies to ensure that Tennessee
second grade, its companion program, Read to
students enter kindergarten ready to read. The
be Ready, will concentrate on preparing students
department will pursue this g oal by providing parents
in grades three and higher for the new TNReady
and caregivers with more resources about reading
reading assessment. Compared to the previous
and by creating and implementing higher standards
TCAP reading assessment, TNReady will include
for literacy in public pre-kindergarten programs and
more rigorous texts and require students to support
private childcare centers.121
their answers with evidence.123 Read to be Ready
will provide teachers with materials to help prepare
The Tennessee Department of Education is also
students for the new test. The initiative will also
developing literacy assessment tools for grades K-2
involve expanding literacy instruction courses for
that will help teachers understand their students’
teachers and relying on literacy coaches to model
literacy skills. These tools include a new second grade
lessons and help create lesson plans. State officials
standardized test to replace the SAT-10, the test
are also working on rewriting literacy standards for
that some districts currently use to assess students
teacher preparation programs.124
38