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SB2377 • 2026

Education

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

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, White
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not mention any provisions about yearly updates to a list of laws related to student rights, which was included in the candidate explanation. This information is from another bill (HB2257) and should be removed.

Tennessee Dyslexia Interventionist Endorsement Act

This bill requires the Tennessee State Board of Education to establish an endorsement for educators who can provide targeted instructional intervention and support to students with dyslexia.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Tennessee State Board of Education to create a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement.
  • Specifies that educators must hold a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) credential from CERI and IDA to receive this endorsement.
  • Allows educators without the endorsement to still provide support to students with dyslexia if they are otherwise authorized.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Educators in Tennessee who work with students showing signs of dyslexia
  • The Tennessee State Board of Education

Terms To Know

Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI)
A credential given to educators by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction and the International Dyslexia Association, allowing them to help students with dyslexia.
Endorsement
An official recognition or approval from a state board that allows an educator to provide specific services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an educator fails to meet the requirements for the endorsement.
  • It is unclear how many educators will be eligible for this new endorsement.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2257

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that requires the state board of education to establish an endorsement for educators who can provide specific support to students with dyslexia.

  • Adds a new section in Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 1 of Tennessee Code Annotated to create a 'qualified dyslexia interventionist' endorsement.
  • Specifies that educators must hold a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) credential from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction and International Dyslexia Association to be eligible for this endorsement.
  • Allows other requirements set by the state board of education, such as additional coursework or assessments.
  • The exact nature of 'other requirements' established by the state board is not detailed in the amendment text.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2377

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee law that requires educators to get special training and certification to help students with dyslexia.

  • Adds a new endorsement for qualified dyslexia interventionists who can provide targeted support to students showing signs of dyslexia.
  • Requires educators seeking this endorsement to hold a specific credential from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) and meet additional requirements set by the state board.
  • The amendment does not specify what other requirements beyond the C-SLDI credential might be needed, leaving some details unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  4. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0819)

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/31/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 4/1/2026

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026

  16. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026

  19. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  24. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2377, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 r
ewrites this bill to require
t
he state board of education
to
establish a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement to allow an educator to provide targeted instructional intervention, academic support, behavioral support, or related services to students demonstrating characteristics of dyslexia.

To be eligible to receive a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement, an educator must:

(1) Hold a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) credential issued by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI), in partnership with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA); and

(2) Satisfy any other requirements established by the state board.

This
amendment
does not prohibit an educator who does not hold a qualified dyslexia interventionist endorsement from providing targeted instructional intervention, academic support, behavioral support, or related services to students demonstrating characteristics of dys
lexia if the educator is otherwise authorized to do so.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2257
By White

SENATE BILL 2377
By Akbari
SB2377
012536
- 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 49-1-227(a), is amended by deleting
the second sentence of the subsection and substituting:
The department shall update the list by July 1 each year.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.