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TennesseeSB 1273114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

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

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Education, Dept. of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Achievement School District closes before 2026–27

The Department of Education must close the Achievement School District and release all its schools before the 2026–27 school year. When an affected charter sponsor requests it, the commissioner must waive charter application timelines, including the letter-of-intent requirement. This lets the sponsor apply to the local school district. The law removes Achievement School District references from charter rules and excludes it from the council’s grant and loan recipients. School systems and public charter schools remain eligible for those awards.

Struggling schools face support or closure

Tennessee assigns priority schools to three intervention levels; first-time priority schools enter tier one. Schools listed more than once may enter tier two or three. Tier one offers district-led improvement, an approved turnaround expert, or an approved higher-tier option. Tier two allows approved intervention programs, leadership or staff replacement, public-college operation, charter conversion, or an approved tier-three option. Intervention programs require a committee including parents and staff, an independent expert, and an approved plan. Districts select tier-one and tier-two options; the department selects tier-three options. Tier three requires closure and an approved plan to move students to higher-performing schools. When closure is not feasible, the department directs leadership and specified teaching-staff replacement in consultation with the district. Districts must provide written implementation procedures within 30 days of assignment, including community feedback and timelines, for department approval. Tier-two schools report monthly; annual department reviews can continue, revise, intensify, or end interventions, including exit from priority status.

Struggling schools need parent-focused support plans

Starting with the 2025–26 priority-school list, districts must develop and carry out support plans with each priority school. Plans must assess school needs, identify an evidence-based intervention, and review school and district resources. They must also address parent notice and community input. The Department of Education approves each plan and checks it annually. Districts may use federal funds where appropriate to carry out the plans.

Converted charter schools get five-year terms

Schools approved for charter conversion as a priority-school intervention receive a five-year initial charter agreement. It expires five academic years after the first day of instruction following conversion. The converted school may open in the academic year immediately after conversion, and charter fiscal and contract requirements still apply. Beginning July 1, 2025, charter authorizers include local school boards and the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Both approve, renew, and revoke charter applications or agreements.

New school watchlists and public rankings

Tennessee’s priority-school list includes the bottom 5% of schools and high schools that fail to graduate one-third or more of students. It also includes schools with chronically struggling student groups that do not improve after added targeted support. These schools face required interventions. By October 1 of the year before public identification, the commissioner must notify bottom-10% schools and their districts. When publishing the priority list, the department must rank all public schools by success rate, statewide and within counties and districts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

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

    5/15/2025

  2. Pub. Ch. 464

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

    4/21/2025House

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

    4/21/2025House

  10. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/21/2025House

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

    4/16/2025House

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/15/2025Senate

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

    4/15/2025Senate

  15. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0272)

    4/15/2025Senate

  16. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0377)

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

    3/19/2025Senate

  23. Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 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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