Education - As enacted, revises law concerning math education; requires the state board of education, in developing and adopting a uniform grading system for students in grades 9-12, to include in such system the high sc, the official text

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                                PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 901

                                         SENATE BILL NO. 2375

                                By Hensley, Akbari, Yarbro

                                Substituted for: House Bill No. 2276

                                   By Cepicky

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

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

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by adding

the following asa new section:                           •                  •

         The state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, shall
promulgate rules, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in
title 4, chapter 5, to establish a pathway for an educator who currently holds a license or
endorsement to teach eighth grade mathematics to also teach Algebra I or an equivalent
mathematics course, as determined by the state board of education, to students in eighth
grade at no additional cost to the educator.

         SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-312, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

         (d) The standards recommendation committee shall include in their final
recommendation for the academic standards for mathematics to the state board of education
advanced mathematics academic standards for students in an advanced mathematics
course in grades five through seven (5-7).

         SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 3, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

         (a) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, each LEA and public charter school
shall enroll a student who achieves a performance level rating of "exceeds expectations" on
the mathematics portion of the student's seventh grade Tennessee comprehensive
assessment program (TCAP) test in Algebra I or an equivalent mathematics course, as
determined by the state board of education, instead of enrolling the student in the eighth
grade mathematics course, unless the student's parent or legal guardian submits a written
request to the LEA or public charter school to remove the student from the course in
accordance with subsection (b).

         (b) An LEA or public charter school shall notify, before the beginning of the school
year, the parent or legal guardian of each student who achieved a performance level rating of
"exceeds expectations" on the mathematics portion of the student's seventh grade TCAP test
that the student will be enrolled in Algebra I or an equivalent mathematics course in the
eighth grade pursuant to subsection (a). The notice must inform the student's parent or legal
guardian that the parent or legal guardian may remove the student from the Algebra I or
equivalent mathematics course by submitting a written request to the LEA or public charter
school no later than thirty (30) days after the first day of the school year.

         (c) A student who is enrolled in Algebra I or an equivalent mathematics course
pursuant to this section must be administered the end-of-course examination for the course.

         (d) If the successful completion of an Algebra I course or the equivalent mathematics
course is required by the state board of education pursuant to § 49-6-6001 (a) for students to
SB 2375
          receive a full high school diploma, then a student's successful completion of the Algebra I
          cour$e or the equivalent mathematics course in the eighth grade also satisfies the Algebra I
          or the equivalent mathematics course requirement for high school.
          SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-302(a)(14), is amended by adding

the following immediately following the first sentence of the subdivision:
          The uniform grading system must include the high school course grades achieved by
          students in eighth grade.
          SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-407(a), is amended by adding "and

for students enrolled in eighth. grade for the grades achieved on high school courses" after "grades
nine through twelve (9-12)" wherever it appears.

          SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-407(b), is amended by adding "for
kindergarten through eight (K-8) coursework" after "in kindergarten through grade eight (K-8)"
wherever it appears.

          SECTION 7. Sections 4-6 of this act take effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
All other sections of this act take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2375

PASSED:  Apri I 16, 2026

                          _               RANDY McNAL~

                          SPEAKER OF THE SENA 1i

                          CAMERON~TON,SPEAKER
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

5-tt.. APPROVED this  day of ~            2026

                         lb._

                      BILL LEE, GOVERNOR