Department of Education ‘Actively Reviewing Options’ to Delay State Testing

Stock photo of student taking a multiple choice test (Photo by Unsplash)

The Tennessee Department of Education confirmed to the Tennessee Firefly that it is “actively reviewing options” to provide school districts with flexibility on when their students will take annual state tests, following the impact of Winter Storm Fern.

Multiple school districts shut down for more than a full week of classes following the storm, and the state’s largest school district shut down for even longer.

Professional Educators of Tennessee Executive Director JC Bowman is among those calling for the flexibility to push back testing dates. Bowman sent a letter to TDOE Commissioner Lizette Williams earlier this month, encouraging the department to extend the testing window for districts impacted by the storm.

“Many schools and districts have struggled to maintain consistent instructional time, which is crucial for preparing students for high-stakes assessments like the TCAP,” wrote Bowman. “There is growing concern among educators, parents, and members of Professional Educators of Tennessee about the fairness and validity of the TCAP tests, given the lost instructional time.

Testing Schedule

Elementary and middle school students take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) during a mid-April testing window, and high school students take end-of-course (EOC) assessments on the following schedule:

• Grades 3-5: Take TCAP in math, English language arts (ELA), and science

• Grades 6-8: Take TCAP in math, English language arts (ELA), science, and social studies

• Grades 9-12: Take End-of-Course (EOC) exams in English I and II; Algebra I, II, and Geometry or Integrated Math I, II, and III; along with U.S. History and Biology.

The Professional Educators of Tennessee shared a letter on Thursday from Commissioner Reynolds acknowledging the challenges posed by Winter Storm Fern for testing.

“We recognize the challenges these disruptions pose and understand that they may require adjustments to the state testing window and could impact established accountability data deadlines,” wrote Reynolds. “We are actively reviewing options to provide districts with flexibility, including the potential for extending the assessment window, to ensure all students and educators are supported during this time.”

Potential Impacts of Extending Testing Window

The department has not indicated how far it may allow the testing window to be stretched.

Bowman acknowledged in his letter that extending the TCAP testing window beyond April could impact Advanced Placement (AP) testing schedules, which begin in early May. Bowman also noted that extending EOC exams could create additional challenges, as the tests are essential for graduation and often have tight score-reporting turnaround times.