Review of Literacy Success Act: First year implementation
November 2022
Authors: Linda Wesson, Erin Brown, Kim Potts
During its 2021 Special Session on Education, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Tennessee Literacy Success Act (LSA), which seeks to ensure that students in early grades are on track to become proficient readers by the end of grade 3. In 2022, the General Assembly passed a law requiring the Comptroller’s Office to annually review the implementation of the LSA and report its findings to state education leaders. This report is the first such review, and it also includes the second annual review of district and charter school foundational literacy skills plans required by the LSA.
In summary, the Tennessee Department of Education and local districts and charter schools are implementing the major directives of the Literacy Success Act. A few items remain in progress. A small sample of districts and schools contacted by OREA suggested some improvements, but they were generally positive about implementation of the LSA’s requirements.