Senate Bill 386, also known as the "Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act," aims to enhance the monitoring and reporting of early warning signs related to student safety, health, and behavior in Tennessee's local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools. The bill mandates the implementation of a computer-based system for teachers and school staff to input data on early warning signs, which include indicators of harassment, bullying, threats of violence, and mental health issues. Additionally, it requires training for staff to identify these signs and input data into the system, which must align with existing school safety plans and notify threat assessment teams when a warning sign is recorded.

The bill also includes provisions for annual reporting to the Department of Education summarizing the collected data and interventions provided. It emphasizes compliance with privacy laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and grants the commissioner of education the authority to withhold state funds from non-compliant LEAs or public charter schools. Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws to explicitly include public charter schools in various sections related to student behavior and safety protocols. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-2701, 49-6-2702(b), 49-6-2702