Every year, thousands of Tennessee third graders face being held back under a state reading law. While most advance to the next grade, they must navigate a fast-moving timeline to avoid retention.

After years of declines, scores for 9-year-olds improved in reading and mathematics from 2022 to 2025, while scores for 13-year-olds showed no significant change, according to a federal assessment ...

Despite decades of legislation meant to boost children’s reading levels, literacy scores have remained relatively stagnant across the U.S. over the past 30 years. Educators, policymakers and parents ...