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SB2317 • 2026

Education

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

Education Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Watson, Martin G
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details about other potential updates or deletions beyond the specified test formats.

Removing Old Test Rules

This bill removes outdated rules about specific test formats from Tennessee state laws.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes old language from state laws that talks about the format of TCAP tests in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Schools in Tennessee that used TCAP tests during the specified years.
  • State officials who manage education laws and policies.

Terms To Know

Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP)
A set of standardized tests given to students in Tennessee schools.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify new rules for future test formats.
  • It is unclear if there are other outdated sections that will be removed later.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2422

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that establishes a pilot program for reducing mandated assessments in certain high-performing school districts.

  • Adds a pilot program where up to ten eligible local education agencies (LEAs) can limit state and district mandated assessments for students who score above the 40th percentile on initial reading and math screenings, starting from the 2027-2028 school year.
  • Specifies that participating LEAs must report assessment results to parents of K-3 students involved in the pilot program.
  • Requires the Department of Education to review the effectiveness of reducing mandated assessments by comparing student success before and during the pilot period.
  • The amendment text does not specify how many LEAs will actually participate or which ones they might be.
  • It is unclear what specific criteria beyond those listed in (b) are used to select the ten participating LEAs.
Amendment 2-0 to HB2422

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that establishes a pilot program for schools to test if reducing mandated assessments can lead to better academic success.

  • Adds a pilot program where up to ten school districts will reduce the number of state and district-mandated tests given to students who score above the 40th percentile on certain initial screenings in English language arts and math for two consecutive years (2027-2028 and 2028-2029).
  • Specifies that participating districts must limit assessments to one universal screener, one TCAP test per subject, or additional benchmark tests as outlined.
  • Requires school districts to report assessment results to parents of students in grades K-3 who are part of the pilot program and submit these results to the state education department by June 15, 2029.
  • The amendment does not specify how many schools will participate or provide details on how academic success will be measured beyond assessment scores.
  • It is unclear from the text what happens if a school district fails to meet the criteria for participation in subsequent years.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2317

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that establishes a pilot program for reducing mandated assessments in certain schools to see if fewer tests lead to better academic success.

  • Adds a pilot program where up to ten school districts can reduce the number of state and district-mandated assessments for high-performing students in grades K-8, starting from the 2027-2028 school year.
  • Specifies that participating schools must limit certain standardized tests like TCAP and universal screeners for eligible students who score above the 40th percentile on initial screenings.
  • The amendment does not specify how many districts will actually participate or provide details about the criteria used to select them.
  • It is unclear what specific changes, if any, will be made beyond the pilot program based on its results.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  18. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  19. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  21. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee

  22. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  23. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  24. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  27. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2422
By Martin G

SENATE BILL 2317
By Watson
SB2317
012470
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-6013, is amended by deleting
the section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.