TennesseeTennessee ESA schools test students and report results yearly
Starting July 1, 2026, participating schools must test students who receive education savings accounts, give parents results, and report test data to the state.
What it does
To receive an education savings account, students in grades 3 through 11 must take one of two approved tests each year at their participating school.
Schools must provide parents with the test results for their participating students.
The education department must select a yearly sample of participating students in grades 3 through 8 who took Tennessee tests the year before, to assess academic performance.
Schools must send student test results to the state accountability office each year, and the office must report them to lawmakers. Schools may send combined data that does not identify students.
Argument forParents may better understand their children’s learning, and yearly reports could help lawmakers review test results across student groups.
Argument againstGrouping results by grade, income, sex, and race could raise privacy concerns, even when schools send data that does not identify students.
More detail
Participating schools must give students the required yearly tests. This applies to students in grades 3 through 11 who participate in the education savings account program. Students must take either a nationally standardized achievement test aligned with the school’s instructional plan under state board rules, or Tennessee math and English language arts tests. The tests must be given annually.
Participating schools must give parents their students’ test results. This applies to parents of participating students enrolled in the school. Schools must provide the results of tests given under this section.
The education department must select a statistical sample of students each year to assess academic performance. The sample must come from participating students in grades 3 through 8 at participating schools who took Tennessee comprehensive assessment tests in the prior school year. The state board must adopt rules to carry out the sampling. The sample is selected annually and covers tests taken in the prior school year.
Participating schools must send test results to the Office of Research and Education Accountability, which must report results to lawmakers each year. The school reports cover tests given to participating students under this section. The office reports to the Senate education committee and the House committee responsible for elementary and secondary education. Schools may send combined data that does not identify students, using the office’s form and a format that allows grouping by grade, household income, sex, and race. Schools must provide results by June 30, 2027, and by each June 30 after that. The office must submit an annual report.
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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. 1069Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 24Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 23Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 22, Nays 11Passed House
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 7 BY PEARSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 8 BY PEARSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 6 BY BARRETT PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 23Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Apr 23Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1025)Minor
- Apr 23Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - HA1229)Minor
- Apr 23Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 3 - HA1230)Minor
- Apr 23Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 4 - HA1240)Minor
- Apr 23Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 9 - HA1252)Minor
- Apr 23Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 5 - HA1246)Minor
- Apr 23Passed H., Ayes 54, Nays 39, PNV 0Passed Senate
- Apr 22Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0787)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/22/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Upper
- Apr 22Failed to pass Senate, Ayes 16, Nays 14
- Apr 22Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/23/2026
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 20Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 23Re-refer to S. Cal Comm
- Mar 23Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 20Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026
- Mar 18Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/18/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 12Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/18/2026
- Mar 11Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/18/2026
- Mar 5Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
- Jan 14Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education CommitteeMinor
- Jan 13Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 12Filed for introductionIntroduced
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