News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
State Representative Ryan Williams said school systems will have the option of administering TCAP tests this spring but requirements will be waived.
And so should the ties of test results to a county’s funding as well as the grading of teachers.
“It will hold teachers and schools harmless as it relates to this year’s data,” Williams said. “They can administer the test if they want to. If the data helps them, then they keep it. If it doesn’t help them, then they won’t have to use it.”
The senate joined the house in approving the moves Thursday because of COVID-19.
The TN-Ready tests, TCAP assessments and end-of-course tests are all included in the legislative bill. Test scores will also not adversely affect final grades for the spring semester.
This provision does not prohibit a school from continuing classroom instruction after being issued a waiver from the commissioner;
The bill also includes the opportunity for the Commissioner Of Education to waive the 180-day school requirement. Systems can continue classroom instruction once they receive a waiver from the state. State funding will not be affected by the inability to get 180 days of instruction.
“If we can, we’re going to try to cram 180 days into 155 or so,” Williams said.
The bill passed Thursday gives local school systems to right to makeup school days as they desire.
