Because the administration has instructed you to continue with the third-grade curriculum, I would alter the assessments used! It's very possible there are students who understand the material, but don't succeed in a stressful testing setting! Maybe consider offering your students a survey where they can list their strengths and weaknesses. This can let you know what areas might need more support and which should be utilized to enhance student learning.

The first question I would ask myself as a teacher is why are the students not doing so well? Are they not comprehending the topics they are learning? I would modify the curriculum to the needs of my students. I’m not saying we should make it easier for the students so they won’t feel but maybe look in to why the students are not understanding the curriculum they are being taught.

Although it may offer temporary relief, inflating grades to make up for falling competence levels compromises the grading system's credibility and ignores underlying problems. On the other hand, promoting differentiated education based on students' present comprehension levels can better assist their long-term development. Promoting student success without sacrificing educational integrity requires working with colleagues and administration to investigate different approaches to competency gaps and maintaining standards.