Education, Dept. of

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details about including eighth-grade grades in the high school grading system or K-8 coursework in the K-8 grading system, so these claims were removed.

Math Pathways in Tennessee Education

This bill amends Tennessee's education laws to establish new pathways for eighth grade math teachers to teach Algebra I and requires advanced math courses for high-achieving seventh graders.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the state board of education, with help from the department of education, to allow eighth grade math teachers to teach Algebra I or a similar advanced course without extra costs.
• Asks the standards recommendation committee to include advanced math standards for grades 5-7 in their final recommendations.
• Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, requires schools to enroll seventh graders who score 'exceeds expectations' on their TCAP math test into Algebra I or a similar course unless parents request otherwise. These students must take an end-of-course exam.

Who It Names or Affects

• Eighth grade math teachers
• Students who score 'exceeds expectations' on their seventh-grade TCAP math test
• Parents of students eligible for advanced math courses

Terms To Know

TCAP

Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, a set of tests used to measure student achievement.

LEA

Local Education Agency, which refers to public school districts and charter schools.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the additional math courses will be funded.
• It is unclear if all eighth grade students will have access to advanced math courses or only those who score 'exceeds expectations' on their TCAP test.

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2375, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to make the following additions to present law concerning math education:

(1) Requires t
he state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to establish a pathway for an educator who currently holds a license or endorsement to teach eighth grade mathematics to also teach Algebra I or an equivalent mathematics cours
e to students in eighth grade at no additional cost to the educator;

(2) Requires the standards recommendation committee to include in their final recommendation for the academic standards for mathematics to the state board of education advanced mathematics academic standards for students in an advanced mathematics cours
e in grades 5-7; and

(3) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires LEAs and public charter schools, after notifying a student's parents, to enroll a student who achieves a performance level rating of "exceeds expectations" on the mathematics portion of the student'
s seventh grade TCAP test in Algebra I or an equivalent mathematics course, as determined by the state board of education, instead of enrolling the student in the eighth grade mathematics course, unless the student's parent or legal guardian submits a wri
tt
en request to the LEA or public charter school to remove the student from the course. A student who is enrolled in Algebra I or an equivalent mathematics course pursuant to this amendment must be administered the end-of-course examination for the course.
If the successful completion of an Algebra I course or the equivalent mathematics course is required by the state board of education for students to receive a full high school diploma, then a student's successful completion of the Algebra I course or th
e
equivalent mathematics course in the eighth grade also satisfies the Algebra I or the equivalent mathematics course requirement for high school.

ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 2375 FOR HOUSE BILL 2276, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2375, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 adds a requirement that the state board of education, in developing and adopting a uniform grading system for students in grades 9-12 which LEAs must adopt and use pursuant to present law, to include in such system the high school course gra
des achieved by students in eighth grade.

This amendment also specifies that the uniform grading system for students in grades K-8 must include K-8 coursework.

ON APRIL 16, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 2276
By Cepicky

SENATE BILL 2375
By Hensley
SB2375
012671
- 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 49-6-1012(g), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(g) The department of education shall submit an annual report to the education
committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having
jurisdiction over academic acceleration, on the implementation of this section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.