Tennessee’s strong foundation of research-based strategies — including early literacy standards, interventions, teacher training, and high-quality instructional materials — have contributed to significant English language arts (ELA) proficiency gains for young readers.

Key points:

Students who are not proficient in reading by third grade tend to experience decreased opportunities for success later in life, so Tennessee has prioritized early literacy as a key milestone for student achievement.
Implementation of Tennessee’s strong literacy policy foundation has yielded record-breaking ELA student outcomes, with Tennessee’s third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students reaching record highs on TCAP performance in 2024.
Continued advancement and evaluation of these foundational policies and student supports are critical to ensure that more of Tennessee’s future readers are set up for lifelong opportunities and success.