Pandemic set Southeast Tennessee school districts back in learning

Tennessee Valley school districts averaged 25% proficiency on spring 2021 standardized tests, down from 33% in 2019, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Education's Report Card released last week.

Proficiency, measured by combining scores in the "on track" or "mastered" levels, declined across subjects statewide and in most Tennessee Valley school districts, primarily in English and math.

District and school-wide data typically showed lower proficiency rates in most subject areas for students in one or more subgroups identified by the department: Black, Hispanic or Native American students, students with disabilities, English language learners and economically disadvantaged students.

Statewide data released in August showed one in seven economically disadvantaged students read on grade level, lower than the statewide average of about one in three students.

Most subgroups saw declines in math from 2019, with two-thirds of Black students scoring "below" grade level in 2021 compared to 46% in 2019.

In August the department said declines were anticipated due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it highlighted elementary school English and middle school math as target areas for improvement.

Schools in Hamilton County saw declines in English and math proficiency on the tests, including the district's seven priority schools that showed proficiency percentages in the single digits for the subjects. Sixty-five schools in the district saw a decrease in math proficiency from 2019, with 35 of those schools seeing double-digit declines.

In Hamilton County, Chief Schools Officer Neelie Parker said math proficiency tends to decline more quickly than English because math concepts build on one another, and that engaging students in remote learning was more challenging in math compared to English.

"It's very different when you're trying to write problems on a Zoom than if you're trying to just pull up a text to just show this text and highlight with a tool," Parker told the Times Free Press Friday. "The tool, even the access to tools with mathematics, was very different, and we believe that had an impact with the stopping and starting."

The district maintained academic growth on the tests, according to Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System scores, and two schools, Woodmore Elementary and Clifton Hills Elementary, exited the priority list this year - the list of the schools performing in the bottom 5% of the state.

The district outpaced state averages on the exams and saw declines in most subject areas at lower rates than the state average.

Asked what families concerned by low proficiency scores can do to help students get back on track, Hamilton County Schools Literacy Officer Breckan Duckworth told the Times Free Press the district is building a library of short videos that will help families address certain learning skills. It will be available on the district's website at the end of the fall semester, Duckworth said.

Parker said the district wants to partner with families and that communicating concerns in their children's learning with the school enables them to intervene quickly.

"We know what everyone is dealing with is complex, we know that parents work, we know that parents have to take care of their families and it's our job as educators to help you with that lift," Parker said.

Gaining ground

Although English and math scores tended to trend downward compared to 2019, some schools were exceptions to the rule.

In Hamilton County, the district saw a slight increase in English proficiency among third graders. At Battle Academy, English proficiency increased by 12 percentage points from 2019, while Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences-Lower increased English proficiency on the test by 13.1 percentage points.

Across the region, other school districts saw double-digit gains in elementary school English. In Grundy County, Palmer Elementary and Pelham Elementary increased English proficiency by 17.5 and 11.5 percentage points each, while Sewanee Elementary in Franklin County increased English proficiency by 12.8 percentage points.

Early literacy remains one of the most discussed areas in need of improvement in the state, with about one in three elementary school students reading on grade level.

Increased tutoring opportunities in English and math will soon be available through the TN Accelerating Literacy and Learning Corps program, under which the Tennessee Department of Education will provide funds to 79 participating districts that the districts will match with federal funding.

Tutoring through the program will take place in small groups for 30-45 minutes per session, two or three times per week, according to a news release from the department.

Participating districts include most districts in Southeast Tennessee:

- Athens City Schools.

- Bledsoe County Schools.

- Bradley County Schools.

- Cleveland City Schools.

- Etowah City Schools.

- Franklin County Schools.

- Hamilton County Schools.

- Manchester City Schools.

- Marion County Schools.

- Rhea County Schools.

Duckworth said the state initiative will build on tutoring programs launched by the district at 67 schools last month using federal coronavirus relief money.

She said current tutoring programs vary by school, taking place before or after school, and are funded through federal coronavirus relief money the district specifically allotted for tutoring.

"Receiving this Tennessee ALL Corps grant will allow us to expand those opportunities and bring in more teachers as well as more students starting in January," Duckworth said.

Contact Anika Chaturvedi at achaturvedi@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.