Every third-grader in Memphis-Shelby County Schools is being told to sit back down for the English language arts portion of the TCAP this month, unless they already have a predetermined exemption. District officials say the across-the-board retest is necessary because of when the state plans to release initial proficiency results. They add that the extra round of testing will help shape promotion decisions, summer learning placements and tutoring plans for students headed into fourth grade.
As reported by Local Memphis, the state retesting window opens May 20, 2026, and MSCS has asked families to make sure every third-grader is present and available to retake the ELA section. The district has clarified that students with predetermined exemptions, such as some English learners and students with qualifying disabilities, are not required to test again. While the state processes scores, MSCS says it will rely on students' original ELA assessments to assign an initial proficiency status.
District says it followed state guidance
MSCS maintains that it is sticking to the testing windows and guidance laid out by the Tennessee Department of Education and has scheduled retakes to line up with those state timelines. The district assessment calendar already includes a Grade 3 TCAP ELA retake in May for students who do not yet have a qualifying score, and district materials note that retake results factor into promotion decisions. Per the MSCS assessment calendar, those retake scores help determine each student's promotional track.
What this means for families
Under state policy, the retest is one of several options that can help a third-grader move on to fourth grade. A qualifying retake score, participation in a state-approved summer learning program or district tutoring can each play a role in the final decision. According to the Tennessee Department of Education, those routes are paired with an appeals process for families whose children score "approaching" or "below" proficiency on the ELA test. Districts control local timelines and notifications, so parents should expect their schools to lay out specific next steps in the coming weeks.
Why the district put every student on the schedule
MSCS has told families the blanket retest order comes down to timing. With the state not releasing initial proficiency results until late in the school year, some students might not have an official score before classes end. By putting every third-grader on the ELA retake schedule, the district says it can avoid scrambling at the last minute and make sure any student who needs the retest can take it without delay. MSCS made that argument in a statement to Local Memphis.
Legal implications
Under Tennessee law, third-grade promotion is tied directly to performance on the TCAP ELA. The statute sets out multiple promotion pathways and good-cause exemptions, including for some students with disabilities and some with limited English proficiency. State reports and guidance underline that districts must offer retakes, tutoring, summer programs and an appeal process, while final promotion calls are made locally under those state rules. For a deeper look at how the policy works and who qualifies for exemptions, see the Tennessee Comptroller review of the retention policy.
What families should do next
Families are being urged to watch for emails and letters from their child's school that will spell out exact retest dates, locations and instructions. Parents who believe their child should be exempt or who know their student needs accommodations are encouraged to contact the school as soon as possible. MSCS has said it will reach out directly to parents about proficiency status and promotion pathways, and school staff are expected to walk families through appeal options and summer learning placements using district guidance.
Parents who plan to appeal a promotion decision should be ready to pull together documents the school may request, such as universal screening data, IEP records or other academic information. The district has outlined similar steps in its parent guidance for TCAP retakes, so families can expect a process that leans heavily on existing records and data when they sit down to talk next steps with school staff.
