Senate Bill 415 amends the Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance the evaluation processes for teachers and principals, as well as to modify instructional hour requirements and student assessment protocols. A new subsection is added to Section 49-6-3004, which mandates the state board of education to establish rules that enable local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to meet instructional hour requirements. Additionally, Section 49-1-302 is revised to provide comprehensive guidelines for evaluating educators, including annual evaluations, a local grievance procedure, and the incorporation of student achievement data. The bill also introduces alternative growth models for non-tested grades and subjects and adjusts tenure eligibility based on evaluation scores.

Moreover, the bill revises student assessment requirements, particularly for grades K-2, by prohibiting statewide standardized assessments and limiting assessments for grades 3-12 to specific subjects. It emphasizes the importance of high-dosage, low-ratio tutoring for students needing intervention while ensuring compliance with federal education laws. The bill also stipulates that to receive a full diploma, students must meet state board requirements without additional assessments beyond those mandated in Section 49-6-6002. Local education agencies are required to develop policies for incorporating standardized assessment scores into final grades, with provisions for excluding scores if they are not received timely. Overall, the bill aims to streamline assessment requirements and improve educational outcomes for Tennessee students.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-3004, 49-1-302, 49-5-503, 8-27-303(a)(1), 8-27-303, 49-6-6002, 49-6-6001, 49-6-6011, 49-1-617, 49-5-114(c), 49-5-114, 49-6-6006