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TennesseeHB 1373114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Mark White (Republican)

Became Law

Education, Dept. of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Permanent turnaround program for priority schools

Tennessee now runs a permanent school turnaround program for priority schools, aligned to the state’s ESSA plan. Each year, the department may pick up to five schools, with no more than 15 in the program at once, and at least one from each grand division. A school has a planning year, then up to three years to carry out its plan, for a maximum of four straight years. The department checks progress every year and a school exits when it meets the ESSA exit rules. The law removes “pilot” labels and applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.

Pay tied to results for experts

Local boards must pay 50% of each turnaround expert’s contract over the term and hold back 50%. The held-back amount is paid only if the school meets the state’s priority exit criteria by the end of its final year in the program. If a school exits early under the law, the expert is paid for work done through the written exit notice date, but not after. The department may offer incentives to experts and schools for meeting exit criteria early, if funds are available.

Annual report on turnaround results

By October 1 each year, the department reports to state education committees on how the program worked the prior school year. After each four‑school‑year cycle, the report compares outcomes for participating and non‑participating priority schools and recommends whether to copy successful plans.

Local committees and planning deadlines

By September 30 of the first year, each participating school must form a turnaround committee. Members include the local board member, the principal, three parents, four teachers (two named by the board, two by the director), one community member, and one business leader. By November 30, the board must hire an independent turnaround expert from the state’s list. The committee sends a recommended plan by March 1; the board submits the final plan by April 1. The department reviews plans within 30 days. Members serve until the school exits; replacements fill seats if members change.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark White

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 164 • No: 25

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 4/21/2025

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 73 • No: 21

House vote • 4/16/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 23 • No: 2

House vote • 4/14/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 10 • No: 2

House vote • 4/2/2025

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 19 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

HOUSE K-12 SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 525

    5/27/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/21/2025

    5/27/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/21/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/9/2025House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/8/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    4/24/2025House

  8. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/21/2025Senate

  9. Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

    4/21/2025Senate

  10. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    4/17/2025Senate

  11. Passed H., Ayes 73, Nays 21, PNV 0

    4/16/2025House

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    4/16/2025House

  13. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    4/15/2025House

  14. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/15/2025

    4/15/2025House

  15. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2025

    4/15/2025House

  16. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

    4/14/2025House

  17. Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025House

  18. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

    4/9/2025House

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

    4/8/2025House

  20. Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

    4/2/2025House

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

    3/26/2025House

  22. Placed on cal. Education Committee for 4/1/2025

    3/26/2025House

  23. Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/25/2025

    3/19/2025House

  24. Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/25/2025

    3/18/2025House

  25. Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/18/2025

    3/12/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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