Taylor Reed, senior director at the Tennessee Department of Education, presented results for the Tennessee Early Literacy Assessment (TELA) and the department’s analysis of participation and pass rates.

Reed said the TELA was launched in 2023 as a free, 25‑item assessment aligned with the Tennessee Literacy Success Act and designed to evaluate educators' understanding of evidence‑based literacy instruction and the use of high‑quality instructional materials. "For overall past time rate for year 2 was 35 percent down, from the 40.2 percent in year 1," Reed said, noting that more than 11,000 educators have completed the TELA and more than 65,000 completed the foundational literacy training course.

Board members pressed for reasons the first‑time pass rate is relatively low. Reed and department staff said several factors likely contribute: the availability of multiple attempts reduces urgency on first attempt; some educator‑preparation providers (EPPs) vary in how they monitor and support candidates; small cohort sizes (results reported only for groups of 10 or more) can skew percentages; and reporting practices differ across programs. Reed said the department has an action plan to meet with EPPs showing lower performance to identify supports and improvement strategies.

On licensing consequences, board members asked whether failing the TELA creates an insurmountable barrier. The department clarified that TELA is one approved pathway for meeting literacy training requirements and is not a substitute for licensure exams; candidates who don't pass the TELA may pursue approved literacy training or other qualifying options tied to licensure endorsements. The department also reiterated that some endorsements still require a minimum 80% proficiency for final licensing thresholds.

What the department will do next: Reed said staff will continue to monitor participation and pass rates, convene with EPPs that show lower first‑time pass rates, and report back to the board with follow‑up actions. Board members encouraged the department to examine whether additional oversight or communication could raise first‑time pass rates and to track outcomes by provider and by endorsement type.

The item was presented for informational purposes; no board action was required.

Quotes attributed in this article are from meeting presenters and board members recorded in the official meeting transcript.