TennesseeTennessee schools report schedules for locally chosen tests
Public schools report their locally chosen tests and schedules to the education department, which makes the information available online by July 1, 2027.
What it does
Public schools send the education department a yearly list and schedule of their locally chosen tests. State-required tests and classroom-only assignments are excluded.
The education department and certain reading screener vendors estimate students' English language arts proficiency on TCAP. The department publishes the percentage at each projected level.
Nine public school teachers review each year's TCAP tests and student results, including test items most students answered incorrectly, to look for patterns and concerns.
Argument forFamilies could plan around school tests more easily when schools report their schedules and the department puts them in a public database.
Argument againstAccess to student scores and test questions could raise privacy concerns, especially if the department does not require board members to sign confidentiality agreements.
More detail
Each public school sends the education department a yearly list and schedule of its local assessments. This applies to schools managed by local education boards and public charter schools. A local assessment is a standardized test chosen by a local education agency or public school and given at its direction. The list gives each assessment's name or purpose, subject, grade level, and schedule. It leaves out state-required tests and classroom-only quizzes, assignments, projects, or tests given at a teacher's direction. The education department sets the reporting deadline and must make the information public online by July 1, 2027.
The education department and certain reading screener vendors create ways to estimate students' expected English language arts proficiency on TCAP, and the department publishes the results. The estimates and published percentages concern the English language arts part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). The department's estimate uses each student's reading screener performance during the school year. Vendors use students' screener results and must send their framework to the department. A vendor's duty applies if it provides a state-approved screener used by a local education agency or public charter school to meet state requirements. The department publishes the percentage of students at each projected proficiency level. These requirements take effect July 1, 2026, and apply starting with the 2026–2027 school year.
A board of nine public school teachers reviews the latest year's TCAP tests and student results under the education department's direction. Board members are public school classroom teachers from grades 3–12. The board has access to student performance, results, and scores, and to test items that at least 65% of students answered incorrectly, to look for patterns or concerns that may call for changes to teaching. The governor, Senate speaker, and House speaker each appoint three teachers. Each appoints one teacher from each of the state's three grand divisions for each of grades 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12. The department may require confidentiality agreements. The education commissioner convenes the first meeting and at least three meetings each year. This section took effect when the act became law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1132Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026, 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- May 6Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- May 5Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 23Senate refused to concur in amendmentMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Senate refused to concur in amendmentMinor
- Apr 23H. refused to recede from adopting H am. no. 2 & 3
- Apr 23Senate refused to recede from its non-concurrence.
- Apr 23Conference Committee appointed (White, Powers, Oliver)
- Apr 23H. Placed on Message Calendar 2 for 4/23/2026
- Apr 23Conf. comm. appointed. (Reps. Cepicky, White, Carringer, McKenzie)
- Apr 23Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 23, Nays 4
- Apr 23Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 68, Nays 18 PNV 3
- Apr 22Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/23/2026
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 3 BY BULSO PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1018)Minor
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1153)Major
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 3 - HA1156)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 54, Nays 31, PNV 3Passed House
- Mar 26Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 23Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0686)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 23Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0528)
- Mar 23Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 3Passed Senate
- Mar 23Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 23Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 20Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026
- Mar 11Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/11/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
- Feb 25Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Education Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Education Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0 2/25/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 2/25/2026
- Feb 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Government Operations CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionMinor
- Feb 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationIntroduced
Education