House Bill 30, sponsored by Clemmons, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-6001, to enhance language assistance for English language learners (ELL) during standardized testing. The bill designates the existing language as subdivision (1) and introduces a new subdivision (2), which mandates that ELL students who have received language assistance services in the classroom must also be allowed to access these services during TCAP tests or end-of-course assessments. This provision is contingent upon ensuring that the assistance does not invalidate the assessment results.

Additionally, the bill defines "language assistance services" as those tailored for non-English speakers, which can be provided by a teacher with an English as a second language endorsement or through appropriate accommodations by a general education teacher, provided that the student's parent or guardian has waived the more intensive services. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law and will apply to the administration of the TCAP test starting in the 2025-2026 school year and in subsequent years.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-6001(j), 49-6-6001