School Vouchers

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and there is uncertainty about future actions or impacts.

Tennessee Education Savings Account and Individualized Education Account Programs

This bill changes testing requirements for students in Tennessee's ESA and IEA programs to align with those of public school students and requires participating schools to publish certain information on their websites.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the testing requirements for ESA and IEA program participants so they must take the same tests as public school students of the same grade or course subject.
• Requires 11th-grade ESA and IEA participants to take an exam that assesses readiness for postsecondary education, similar to what public school students take.
• Requires K-3 ESA and IEA participants to be tested annually using Tennessee universal reading screeners during specific administration windows.
• Requires participating schools in both programs to publish lesson plans, syllabi, library materials lists, and academic standards on their websites.
• Ensures that all educators at participating schools hold valid teaching licenses issued by the state board of education.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students participating in Tennessee's ESA and IEA programs
• Private schools participating in these programs

Terms To Know

Education Savings Account (ESA)

A program that provides funds to families for educational expenses outside of traditional public schools.

Individualized Education Account (IEA)

Similar to ESA, but tailored to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities or other special circumstances.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was last active in a K-12 Subcommittee.
• It is unclear how many schools will participate in these programs due to its pilot nature.

Official Summary Text

TENNESSEE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PILOT PROGRAM

T
esting

As a condition of participating in the Tennessee education savings account
(ESA)
pilot program, present law requires participating students in grades 3-11 to be annually administered the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program (TCAP) tests for
math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts. This bill removes these provisions and requires, instead, as a condition of participating in the progra
m:



Participating students must be annually administered the TCAP tests, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education, that are administered to a public school student in the same grade or same course subject as the participating student.



Participating students in
11
th
grade must be administered the examination that is administered to public school students in 11
th
grade to assess student readiness for postsecondary education.



Participating students in grades K-3 must annually be administered each of the three Tennessee universal reading screeners, or universal reading screeners approved by the state board of education, during each of the three administration windows established by the department of education.

Communications

To ensure the safety and equitab
le treatment of participating students,
present law requires
participating schools
to meet certain requirements. This bill adds to that list of requirements that a participating school must
publish the school's lesson plans and syllabus for each class
offered by the school, a current list of materials in the school's library collection including materials available through course curricul
a
, and the academic standards for each class offered by the school on the school's website.

Licensure

This bill
also requires a participating school to ensure that all educators of the participating school hold a valid license to teach in a public school that is issued by the state board of education.

INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION ACCOUNT PROGRAM

Testing

For studen
ts in grade
s
3-8 participating in an individualized education account (IEA) program, present law requires a parent to ensure that the student is annually administered either a nationally norm-referenced test identified by the department
of education
or the
TCAP tests or any future replacements of the TCAP tests. The tests should, at a minimum, measure learning in mathematics and English language arts. This
bill
removes these provisions and requires, instead, that a parent ensure their student adheres to
t
he
above outlined testing schedule
set out for students participating in the ESA
pilot program
. However, students with disabilities who, under present law, would have participated in the alternate assessment, as determined on the student's IEP, remain exe
mpt from this requirement.

Communications

This bill also requires
participating
IEA program
school
s

to publish the same information and materials lists to their websites as stated above for ESA program schools
.

Licensure

This bill also requires
a
participating school
to
ensure that all educators of the participating school hold a valid license to teach in a public school that is issued by the state board of education.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1249
By Yarbro

HOUSE BILL 1214
By Johnson

HB1214
002044
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-10-1403, is amended by deleting
subsection (e) and substituting:
(e)
(1) A parent of a participating student:
(A) Shall ensure that the participating student is annually
administered all Tennessee comprehensive assessment program (TCAP)
tests, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education, that
are administered to a public school student in the same grade or same
course subject as the participating student;
(B) In grade eleven (11) shall ensure that the student is
administered the examination that is administered to public school
students in grade eleven (11) pursuant to § 49-6-6001(b)(1); and
(C) In any of the grades kindergarten through three (K-3) shall
ensure that the participating student is annually administered each of the
three (3) Tennessee universal reading screeners, or universal reading
screeners approved by the state board of education, as described in § 49-
1-905(c), during each of the three (3) administration windows established
by the department of education pursuant to § 49-1-905(c)(1).

- 2 - 002044

(2) A participating student's results on the tests administered pursuant to
this subsection (e) must be reported to the parent of the student.
(3) Students with disabilities who would have participated in the alternate
assessment, as determined on the student's IEP, are exempt from the
requirements in this subsection (e).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-10-1404, is amended by adding
the following as new subsections:
(d)
(1) A participating school shall publish the school's lesson plans and
syllabus for each class offered by the school, a current list of materials in the
school's library collection, and the academic standards for each class offered by
the school on the school's website.
(2) As used in this subsection (d):
(A) "Library collection" means the materials made available to
students by the participating school, including materials made available to
students as part of a course curriculum; and
(B) "Materials" means books, periodicals, newspapers,
manuscripts, films, prints, documents, microfilm, discs, cassettes,
videotapes, video games, applications, and subscription content in any
form.
(e) A participating school shall ensure that all educators of the participating
school hold a valid license to teach in a public school that is issued by the state board of
education.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2607(e), is amended by adding
the following as new subdivisions:

- 3 - 002044

(6)
(A) Publish the school's lesson plans and syllabus for each class offered
by the school, a current list of materials in the school's library collection, and the
academic standards for each class offered by the school on the school's website;
and
(B) As used in this subdivision (e)(6):
(A) "Library collection" means the materials made available to
students by the participating school, including materials made available to
students as part of a course curriculum; and
(B) "Materials" means books, periodicals, newspapers,
manuscripts, films, prints, documents, microfilm, discs, cassettes,
videotapes, video games, applications, and subscription content in any
form; and
(7) Ensure that all educators of the participating school hold a valid license to
teach in a public school that is issued by the state board of education.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2606(a)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(1) As a condition of participating in the program:
(A) Participating students must be annually administered the Tennessee
comprehensive assessment program (TCAP) tests, or successor tests authorized
by the state board of education, that are administered to a public school student
in the same grade or same course subject as the participating student;
(B) Participating students in grade eleven (11) must be administered the
examination that is administered to public schools students in grade eleven (11)
pursuant to § 49-6-6001(b)(1); and

- 4 - 002044

(C) Participating students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3) must
annually be administered each of the three (3) Tennessee universal reading
screeners, or universal reading screeners approved by the state board of
education, as described in § 49-1-905(c), during each of the three (3)
administration windows established by the department of education pursuant to §
49-1-905(c)(1).
SECTION 5. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.