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SB0709 • 2026

Education

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

Education Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Massey, White
Last action
2025-03-26
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about the impact on funding or other similar programs, leaving these points uncertain.

Ending an Old Education Program

This bill removes a pilot program that aimed to improve parent-teacher communication in early grades of Tennessee's public schools.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes a pilot program designed for kindergarten through second grade.
  • The program was meant to increase parent involvement with teachers.
  • It ends the section of law related to this program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public school students in kindergarten through second grade
  • Teachers and parents involved in these early grades

Terms To Know

Pilot program
A small-scale test of a new idea or method before full implementation.
Parent-teacher engagement
Activities that help parents and teachers work together to support students' learning.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen with the funds previously used for this program.
  • It is unclear if there are other similar programs in place that might be affected.
  • There's no information on how schools will replace or continue parent-teacher communication efforts.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB0709

Plain English: The amendment adds new definitions and establishes a grant program to help students get credentials for high-demand, high-wage jobs without needing traditional college credits.

  • Adds definitions for terms like 'competency-based', 'eligible institution', and 'noncredit workforce credential'.
  • Creates the Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program to support training in high demand fields.
  • Establishes rules for administering grants, including requirements for eligible institutions and periodic assessments.
  • The full text of the amendment is truncated, so some details are missing or unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee

  2. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 1/21/2026

  3. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

  4. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/26/2025

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to First Calendar of 2026

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  8. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  9. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  10. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  11. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  12. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  13. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  15. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  16. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 663
By White

SENATE BILL 709
By Massey

SB0709
000064
- 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 49-6-308, is amended by deleting the
section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.