Students

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on what constitutes 'certain measures' before suspensions or the exact nature of conversations required between school staff and parents.

Tennessee Student Discipline Act for Pre-K to Grade 2

This bill stops schools from suspending or expelling students in pre-kindergarten through second grade unless their behavior is dangerous, and requires conversations with parents before any suspension happens.

What This Bill Does

• Prohibits local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools from suspending or expelling a student enrolled in grades pre-K-2 unless the student's behavior endangers the physical safety of others.
• Allows LEAs and public charter schools to suspend such students for no more than three days if certain measures are taken before the suspension.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students in pre-kindergarten through second grade
• Local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools

Terms To Know

local education agency (LEA)

The organization that manages a school or group of schools.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill only applies to students in pre-K through second grade.
• It does not specify what happens if the student's behavior is dangerous but they are suspended for more than three days.

Official Summary Text

Starting with the 2025-2026
school year, this bill prohibits a local education agency ("
LEA
")
or public charter school
from
suspend
ing
or expe
lling
a student from school if the student is enrolled in any of the grades pre-K-2
,
unless the student's behavior endangers the physical safe
ty of other students or school personnel, as determined by the LEA's director of schools or the director of the public charter school, as applicable.

If the behavior of a student enrolled in the LEA or public charter school in any of the grades pre-K-2 en
dangers the physical safety of other students or school personnel, as determined by the LEA's director of schools or the director of the public charter school, as applicable, then the student may be suspended for no more than
three
days.

Before a student
is suspended pursuant to
the provisions above
,
this bill requires
the student
to
be provided an opportunity for the student's anger, fear, or anxiety to subside and for the student's teacher, principal, school counselor, or school psychologist to have a c
onversation with the student and the student's parent or legal guardian concerning the student's behavior and any underlying issues that may have precipitated the student's behavior. The principal of the student's school
must
notify the student's parent o
r legal guardian of the student's suspension on the day the suspension occurs.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1005
By Hakeem

SENATE BILL 1161
By Akbari

SB1161
003068
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 34, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Notwithstanding § 49-6-3401, an LEA or public charter school shall not
suspend or expel a student from school if the student is enrolled in any of the grades
pre-kindergarten through two (pre-K-2) unless the student's behavior endangers the
physical safety of other students or school personnel, as determined by the LEA's
director of schools or the director of the public charter school, as applicable.
(b) If the behavior of a student enrolled in the LEA or public charter school in any
of the grades pre-kindergarten through two (pre-K-2) endangers the physical safety of
other students or school personnel, as determined by the LEA's director of schools or
the director of the public charter school, as applicable, then the student may be
suspended for no more than three (3) days.
(c)
(1) Before a student is suspended pursuant to subsection (b), the student
must be provided an opportunity for the student's anger, fear, or anxiety to
subside and for the student's teacher, principal, school counselor, or school
psychologist to have a conversation with the student and the student's parent or
legal guardian concerning the student's behavior and any underlying issues that
may have precipitated the student's behavior.

- 2 - 003068

(2) The principal of the student's school shall notify the student's parent
or legal guardian of the student's suspension on the day the suspension occurs.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it,
and applies to the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter.