School Test Scores Plummet Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, school test scores have experienced a significant decline. Math scores for 4th and 8th graders last year witnessed their most substantial drop since the initial assessments conducted in the 1990s. Similarly, reading scores reached a 30-year low, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
High-Dosage Tutoring to Combat Learning Loss
Cane Ridge Elementary in Nashville has taken proactive measures to counteract the adverse effects of the pandemic on students. They have implemented a program called "high-dosage tutoring," where hundreds of students gather in small groups three days a week. These sessions commence as early as an hour before the start of the regular school day.
Republican Tennessee Governor, Bill Lee, expressed his concerns about the well-being of the students. "In my view, the kids were at stake and their lives were at stake," he told CBS News.
Addressing Failing Test Scores
In January 2021, Governor Lee called for a historic legislative session to tackle the declining test scores in Tennessee. This move came at a time when many students across the country were still attending school virtually due to the pandemic.
Reflecting on the situation, Lee stated, "It's kind of one of the redemptive stories of the pandemic, for me is, we implemented things that we weren't doing before that will produce better outcomes than we had before the pandemic."
Tennessee's Innovative Approach to Education
By combining federal pandemic relief funds with a grant-matching program, Tennessee has revolutionized its education system. The state has been able to provide three years of tutoring, four years of summer camps, and an enhanced literacy program to its students.
Kelly Koishor, an English teacher, has been actively involved in tutoring three sessions a week since the program's inception in 2021. She believes that without this high-dosage tutoring, her students would be "very low academically" and ill-prepared for middle school.
One student, Ruqayah Woods, shared her success story with CBS News. She initially received 2 Fs in ELA but thanks to the tutoring, she was able to improve her scores to Bs and As.
Remarkable Results
Prior to the pandemic, only about one-third of Tennessee third graders were reading at grade level, according to the state's Education Department. However, after two years of intensive tutoring, statewide test scores among third to eighth graders have shown significant improvement. English scores have increased by more than eight points, while math scores have increased by nearly 10 points.
Tennessee Governor Lee expressed his satisfaction with the program's success, stating, "It's working, and the evidence is showing it. We will likely continue it, and we hope it's a model for others."
