Monroe County board approves 2025–26 TISA report; district fell short on third-grade ELA goal

The Monroe County Schools Board of Education on Nov. 12 approved the district's 2025–26 Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) accountability report following a presentation by Miss Strickland.

Miss Strickland told the board the TISA report is an annual state requirement and said the statewide goal is that 70% of third graders be proficient on the TCAP ELA test by 2028. "So you guys received a copy of this in your packet. It is a requirement every year since Tennessee started with the TISA program," she said. She added the district did not meet its 2025 ELA goal but "we did make progress," while noting the district met the math goal and "exceeded quite a bit" on the ready-graduate metric.

During a brief exchange, a board member asked whether the state had changed the requirements for third-grade proficiency; Miss Strickland replied, "Not since the establishment of this rule. No. It's still the same and of course a 70% goal is pretty lofty." After discussion, a motion to approve the TISA accountability report was made, seconded and approved.

The approved report establishes the district's near-term targets and documents actions the district will take to pursue the state proficiency goals. The board did not specify additional funding or new policy changes during the meeting. The approval records the district's formal submission and signals continued work on ELA proficiency ahead of the 2028 statewide target.

The board recorded the approval and moved on to other business.