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HB2257 • 2026

Education

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

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
White, Akbari
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide detailed information on how other requirements for the endorsement will be established.

Tennessee Dyslexia Interventionist Endorsement Act

This bill requires the state board of education to establish an endorsement for educators who are trained to help students with dyslexia and updates when educational laws are reviewed.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Tennessee State Board of Education to establish a new endorsement called 'Qualified Dyslexia Interventionist'.
  • Educators must hold a C-SLDI credential from CERI, in partnership with IDA, to be eligible for this endorsement.
  • The bill does not prohibit educators without this endorsement from providing support to students with dyslexia if they are otherwise authorized by law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Educators in Tennessee who want to work with students who have dyslexia
  • The Department of Education and State Board of Education

Terms To Know

C-SLDI credential
A special certificate from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI), in partnership with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), that shows an educator is trained to help students with dyslexia.
Qualified Dyslexia Interventionist endorsement
An official recognition given by Tennessee's State Board of Education to educators who are specially trained to work with students who have dyslexia.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the state board will decide other requirements for getting this new endorsement.
  • It is unclear what specific changes will be made to the list of educational laws each year.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2257

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee law that requires educators to get special training and certification to help students with dyslexia.

  • Adds a new endorsement for qualified dyslexia interventionists who can provide targeted support to students showing signs of dyslexia.
  • Requires educators seeking this endorsement to hold a specific credential from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) and meet additional requirements set by the state board.
  • The amendment does not specify what other requirements beyond the C-SLDI credential might be needed, such as additional coursework or assessments.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2377

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee law that requires educators to get special training and certification to help students with dyslexia.

  • Adds a new endorsement for qualified dyslexia interventionists who can provide targeted support to students showing signs of dyslexia.
  • Requires educators seeking this endorsement to hold a specific credential from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) and meet additional requirements set by the state board.
  • The exact nature of other requirements established by the state board is not specified in the amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  4. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0819)

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/31/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 4/1/2026

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026

  16. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/18/2026

  20. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Committee

  21. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  24. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2377, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 r
ewrites this bill to require
t
he state board of education
to
establish a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement to allow an educator to provide targeted instructional intervention, academic support, behavioral support, or related services to students demonstrating characteristics of dyslexia.

To be eligible to receive a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement, an educator must:

(1) Hold a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) credential issued by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI), in partnership with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA); and

(2) Satisfy any other requirements established by the state board.

This
amendment
does not prohibit an educator who does not hold a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement from providing targeted instructional intervention, academic support, behavioral support, or related services to students demonstrating characteristics of dys
lexia if the educator is otherwise authorized to do so.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2377
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 2257
By White
HB2257
012536
- 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 49-1-227(a), is amended by deleting
the second sentence of the subsection and substituting:
The department shall update the list by July 1 each year.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.