TN Ready Will Not Be Included In End Of Course Grades

The TN Ready Testing will not count towards the final course grade for Putnam County students this year.

At the recommendation of Director of Schools Jerry Boyd, the board of education voted Thursday night to assign zero percent of the test outcome to a students final course grade.

“They have been faced with great adversity and our students and teachers pushed through that very well,” Boyd said. “Given the fact that it’s assigning a percentage to be calculated into a students end of course grade, my recommendation will stand as zero percent for this school year.”

After numerous issues with the test last month, state lawmakers passed legislation that would hold teachers and students harmless of the test outcomes this year. The bill gave local boards the option to set a certain percentage of the test score that would be calculated into the end of course grade.

Last night, the board had to amend a policy stating that the test would have counted for 15-percent of a students final course grade. The 2018-2019 school year will remain at 15-percent.

The board had the option to include some percentage, but it would have only been used if it benefited the student.

Boyd emphasized that the TN Ready data is still useful and guaranteed that it would be used to compare districts across the state.

“If we can get anything positive from the data to help improve our teaching, learning, and resources, we want to do that,” Boyd said. “The best effort is always the best approach.”

Board members agreed and thanked Boyd fro keeping a positive spin throughout the testing issues.

“That is why is is so important, even in the most frustrating situations, that we always keep it positive in the classroom,” board member Lynn McHenry said. “Although it doesn’t count, it counts.”