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TennesseeSB 2441114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

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

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Local Education Agencies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

School warnings limit families’ enrollment options

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee districts must warn providers and enrolled students’ parents or guardians about struggling virtual schools. Notice is required after two straight years of schoolwide TVAAS growth rated “significantly below expectations,” counting periods starting in 2025–26 or later. Notice is also required for schools in the bottom 10% under State Board performance standards. The notice must explain the school’s performance and that closure is required if it reaches a closure trigger. Once the district issues the notice, the school cannot enroll new students in the current or upcoming school year.

Virtual school closures bring family protections

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee school districts must close virtual schools that meet either academic performance rule. Priority-school identification triggers closure, starting with the first priority list released after the 2025 list. Closure also follows three straight years of schoolwide student growth rated “significantly below expectations” under TVAAS, Tennessee’s student-growth measure. Those three-year periods start with 2025–26 or later, and closure takes effect at the school year’s end. The school must notify parents or guardians in writing within one calendar week after it is identified for closure. Districts must share eligible enrollment options within 30 days of their closure decision. Closing schools cannot enroll new students, and contracted providers cannot withhold student records from the school’s establisher or transfer schools.

Public list identifies closed-school providers

Beginning July 1, 2026, virtual-school establishers may contract with nonprofit or for-profit providers to run and manage schools. Tennessee’s Department of Education must maintain and publish a list on its website of providers whose virtual schools closed under the performance rules. The list covers contracted providers that operated or managed those schools.

District funding excludes departing virtual students

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee changes district funding after a virtual school closes under the performance rules. Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement payments exclude students who attended that virtual school the prior year and leave the district after closure. This reduces the district’s payment; it does not require families to pay or repay money.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Rusty Crowe

    Republican • Senate

  • Bo Watson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 127 • No: 32

Senate vote • 4/16/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/16/2026

Yes: 27 • No: 1

House vote • 4/13/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/13/2026

Yes: 69 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/19/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/19/2026

Yes: 26 • No: 6

Senate vote • 3/4/2026

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 5 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

    5/18/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 905

    5/18/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/5/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/23/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/21/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/20/2026Senate

  8. Concurred, Ayes 27, Nays 1 (Amendment 1 - HA1014)

    4/16/2026Senate

  9. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/16/2026

    4/15/2026Senate

  10. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/16/2026

    4/14/2026Senate

  11. Passed H., as am., Ayes 69, Nays 21, PNV 2

    4/13/2026House

  12. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1014)

    4/13/2026House

  13. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/13/2026House

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

    3/23/2026House

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/19/2026Senate

  16. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/19/2026Senate

  17. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 6

    3/19/2026Senate

  18. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0611)

    3/19/2026Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/19/2026

    3/17/2026Senate

  20. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 5, Nays 4 PNV 0

    3/4/2026Senate

  21. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/3/2026Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

    2/26/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  24. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

  25. Filed for introduction

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • HA1014 (Substitute)

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0611

    PDF

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