Teachers, Principals and School Personnel

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact number of licenses that will be issued or what happens if a candidate doesn't meet all criteria after four years.

Creating an Alternative Path for School Leaders

This bill allows the state board of education to issue alternative instructional leader licenses to candidates who meet specific criteria and have leadership experience in certain settings.

What This Bill Does

• Allows the state board of education to give out alternative instructional leader licenses to candidates who meet set criteria.
• Requires candidates for these licenses to hold an advanced degree, provide proof of at least three years of leadership experience, score well on a test made by the state board, and not already have another educator license.
• Makes the alternative instructional leader license valid for four years but does not allow renewal.
• Automatically qualifies someone with this license after four years to get an instructional leader license without meeting additional requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

• The state board of education
• Candidates seeking alternative instructional leader licenses
• Schools and educational institutions that might hire these licensed individuals

Terms To Know

alternative instructional leader license

A special type of teaching license for school leaders like principals or assistant principals, given to those who meet specific criteria.

educator licensure

The process by which the state board of education grants permission to teach or lead in educational settings.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how many licenses will be issued.
• Doesn't detail what happens if someone doesn't meet all criteria after four years with an alternative license.
• The bill does not provide information on the cost of implementing this new licensing pathway.

Official Summary Text

This bill authorizes the state
board of education
to
issue an alternative instructional leader license to a candidate who meets the requirements of this
bill
for the person to serve as a principal, an assistant principal, or an instructional supervisor. A
n alternative instructional leader license may be issued to a candidate who
meets all of the following criteria:



H
olds a master's degree, a doctorate or other degree conferred by an eligible postsecondary institution upon completion of a unified program of study at the graduate level, from an institution of higher education in an education-related or human development-related field, including, but not limited to, higher education administration, school administration, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, and teaching
.



H
as, and can provide, documentation evidencing, at least three years of experience in a leadership position at a Category I, II, or III private school
;
an LEA
;
a public charter school
;
or a postsecondary institution
.



E
arns a qualifying score on an assessment, as defined and determined by the state board of education by rule
.



S
ubmits documentation demonstrating the candidate's completion of the foundational literacy skills standards
.



D
oes not currently hold an educator licensure.

ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER LICENSE

This bill provides that an
alternative instructional leader license issued pursuant to this
bill
is valid for four

years and is not renewable.

A person who holds an alternative instructional leader license
for four years is automatically eligible to be issued an instructional leader license regardless of whether the person meets the requirements for an instructional leader license as established by rules promulgated by the state board.

This
bill
does not p
rohibit the state board from creating other pathways for a person to obtain an instructional leader license.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1117
By Carringer

SENATE BILL 1917
By Seal
SB1917
002887
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 5, relative to educator licensure.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The state board of education may issue an alternative instructional leader
license to a candidate who meets the requirements of this section for the person to serve
as a principal, an assistant principal, or an instructional supervisor. An alternative
instructional leader license may be issued to a candidate who:
(1) Holds an advanced degree, as defined in § 49-4-902, from an
institution of higher education in an education-related or human development-
related field, including, but not limited to, higher education administration, school
administration, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, and teaching;
(2) Has, and can provide, documentation evidencing, at least three (3)
years of experience in a leadership position at a Category I, II, or III private
school, an LEA, a public charter school, or a postsecondary institution;
(3) Earns a qualifying score on an assessment, as defined and
determined by the state board of education by rule;
(4) Submits documentation demonstrating the candidate's completion of
the requirements in § 49-5-5619(c); and
(5) Does not currently hold an educator licensure.
(b) An alternative instructional leader license issued pursuant to this section is
valid for four (4) years and is not renewable.

- 2 - 002887

(c) A person who holds an alternative instructional leader license for four (4)
years is automatically eligible to be issued an instructional leader license regardless of
whether the person meets the requirements for an instructional leader license as
established by rules promulgated by the state board.
(d) This section does not prohibit the state board from creating other pathways
for a person to obtain an instructional leader license.
(e) The state board may promulgate rules to effectuate this section in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter
5.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-5-5619(c)(4), is amended by
adding the following as a new subdivision:
(G) Effective on July 1, 2025, a candidate seeking an alternative instructional
leader license pursuant to SECTION 1.
SECTION 3. For purposes of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2025, the
public welfare requiring it.