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TennesseeSB 1273114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Jack Johnson (Republican)

Became Law

Education, Dept. of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

How Tennessee identifies and improves priority schools

A school is a priority school if it is in the bottom 5% statewide, if a high school fails to graduate at least one‑third of students, or if certain student groups stay low after extra help. The commissioner gives schools in the bottom 10% an early warning by October 1 before public lists. Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, each district must create an evidence‑based improvement plan for every priority school, get state approval, and include parents and stakeholders. Within 30 days after tier assignment, the district must submit a detailed implementation procedure with a stakeholder feedback process. The state reviews each priority school every year and may keep the plan, change it, move the school to a stronger tier, or remove the priority label. The department publishes ranked school lists statewide and by county and district. Districts may use federal funds to carry out these required interventions.

Three-tier fixes for struggling schools

The state uses a three‑tier system for priority schools. First‑time priority schools start in tier one; repeat schools may be placed in tier two or tier three. Districts pick an approved option in tier one or two; in tier three, the department chooses. Tier one allows a district‑run turnaround, hiring a state‑approved expert, or using a higher‑tier option. Tier two requires a local intervention committee with parents and staff, a contract with an approved expert, a written plan, leadership or staff changes as needed, and monthly progress reports to the state; it can also include a charter conversion or transfer to a public college operator. Tier three can require leadership and staff replacement or closing the school and reassigning students to higher‑performing schools.

Charter conversions for priority schools

If a priority school converts to a public charter as an intervention, the first charter term lasts five years and the school may open the next school year. The charter agreement expires five academic years after the first day of instruction. When a district‑authorized charter is named a priority school, the district must follow state charter procedures during intervention.

Achievement School District ends by 2026

The state closes the Achievement School District and releases its schools before the 2026–2027 school year, returning control locally. Charter sponsors of ASD schools can ask to skip some charter application timelines to move faster with the local district. The law also removes ASD references from statutes and makes the ASD ineligible for certain grants or loans.

Charter authorizers and code updates

An "authorizer" is now either a local school board or the state public charter school commission, effective July 1, 2025. The law also deletes and edits certain charter and accountability code language and updates legal cross‑references to match the reorganized system. These technical changes clarify who decides charter approvals and align statutes with the new structure.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jack Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Todd Gardenhire

    Republican • Senate

  • Ferrell Haile

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 195 • No: 36

House vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025

Yes: 75 • No: 15

House vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025

Yes: 69 • No: 21

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/15/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 464

    5/15/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/09/2025, 07/01/2025

    5/15/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/9/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    5/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/29/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/28/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/21/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0235)

    4/21/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 75, Nays 15, PNV 2

    4/21/2025House

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

    4/16/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0377)

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0272)

    4/15/2025Senate

  14. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    4/15/2025Senate

  15. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/15/2025Senate

  16. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/15/2025Senate

  17. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/11/2025Senate

  19. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 10, Nays 0 PNV 0

    4/8/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  21. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    3/26/2025Senate

  22. Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  23. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  24. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

    3/12/2025Senate

  25. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

Bill Text

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