The Tennessee General Assembly passed a law in 2021 that third-grade students must meet reading benchmarks or risk being held back. The law aims to address a problem that has not been addressed yet: too many children moving through school without the ability to read proficiently. According to the Tennessee Department of Education, just over 40% of third graders statewide are reading at a proficient level, which means a majority are not meeting expectations at a grade considered a critical turning point in education. Critics argue that holding students back at such a young age can lead to emotional and social consequences. However, supporters argue that moving students forward without foundational skills creates a greater risk later on.