Currently, the State of Tennessee contracts with Pearson, a national leader in large-scale assessment, to develop and administer state assessments in grades 2-12. The purpose of state assessments is multi-faceted. Assessments provide feedback about students’ academic progress and how that progress aligns with grade-level expectations, builds confidence and transparency about student readiness for college and the workforce, and helps educators strengthen instruction and reflect on practice.
The TCAP assessment is a fully aligned assessment that captures the depth and breadth of what students are learning--and have been learning--in the classroom every day. The information from this year’s assessment will provide educators, parents, and students with a perspective on how students are progressing academically compared to their peers across Tennessee, and better information about a student’s strengths, needs, and areas for growth.
TCAP has been Tennessee’s testing program since 1988 which includes assessments in math, English language arts, social studies, and science. It also includes alternative assessments like MSAA and TCAP-Alt for students with special needs. With high expectations for academic progress, our tests have become better aligned to what educators are teaching. The assessments include rigorous questions that measure students' writing, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, not just memorization skills. This assessment process provides schools, teachers, and parents with valuable information about college and career readiness and is an important factor in determining what our students know and what we can do to help them succeed in the future.
Additional information about state assessments can be found on the Tennessee Department of Education's testing page.
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