Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. C, the official text

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                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1069

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1585

                       By Johnson, Lowe, Bailey, Bowling, Gardenhire, Seal, Stevens

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 1881

                                                      By Slater, Maberry

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title
         67, relative to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2606, is amended by deleting
subsection (a) and substituting:

                   (a)(1)(A) As a condition of receiving an ESA, participating students in grades three
                   through eleven (3-11) must be annually administered:

                                                 (i) A nationally standardized achievement test that is aligned to
                                       the respective participating school's instructional plan, as determined
                                       by rules promulgated by the state board; or

                                                 (ii) The Tennessee comprehensive assessment program
                                       (TCAP) tests for math and English language arts.

                                       (B) Each participating school shall annually administer the test or tests
                             required in subdivision (a)(1 )(A) to participating students enrolled in the
                             school. Each participating school shall provide the results of the test or tests
                             administered to participating students pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) to the
                             participating student's parents.

                             (2)(A) In order to assess academic performance, the department shall
                             annually select a statistical sample of participating students enrolled in
                             participating schools in any of the grades three through eight (3-8) who were
                             administered TCAP tests for the prior school year.

                                       (B) The state board shall promulgate rules in accordance with the
                              Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, to
                             effectuate this subdivision (a)(2).

                             (3) By June 30, 2027, and by each June 30 thereafter, each participating
                    school shall provide the results of the tests administered to participating students
                    pursuant to this section to the office of research and education accountability (OREA)
                    in the office of the comptroller of the treasury. A participating school may provide the
                    test results required pursuant to this section using aggregated, de-identified data;
                    provided, that the data must be provided on a form developed by the OREA and in a
                    manner that allows the OREA to group and analyze the results by participating
                    student grade level, household income level, sex, and race. The OREA shall submit
                    an annual report to the education committee of the senate and the committee of the
                    house of representatives having jurisdiction over elementary and secondary
                    education detailing the results of the tests administered to participating students.

          SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 1585

PASSED:  April 23, 2026

                                      RANDYrcNALLY
                         SPEAKER OF TH SENATE

                         CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

?.:J. APPROVED this..,.J.               2026

                      day of ry'\~

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                    BILL LEE, GOVERNOR