Senate Bill 827 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, by introducing a new section that outlines specific exemptions for Category III nonpublic schools that provide fully online, self-paced educational programs and are regionally accredited. The bill stipulates that such schools will not be required to adhere to certain regulations that apply to public schools, including class size requirements, minimum instructional days or hours, vaccination mandates for students, and the administration of standardized achievement tests in English language arts and math for students in grades three through eleven.

The bill is set to take effect upon becoming law for the purpose of rule promulgation, while all other provisions will be effective starting July 1, 2025, and will apply to the 2025-2026 school year and subsequent years. This legislation aims to provide greater flexibility for online nonpublic schools in Tennessee, allowing them to operate without the same constraints as traditional public schools.