Senate Bill 1311, also known as House Bill 1323, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to teacher licensure. The bill emphasizes the importance of staffing K-12 teaching positions with fully licensed personnel and introduces provisions for emergency teaching credentials when qualified teachers are unavailable. Specifically, it allows directors of schools or public charter schools to certify to the commissioner of education when they cannot secure a qualified teacher, enabling the issuance of temporary academic permits, temporary clinical permits, and license endorsement exemptions under certain conditions. The bill also establishes guidelines for the evaluation and reporting of temporary teaching permits, particularly for courses requiring end-of-course examinations.

Additionally, the bill modifies eligibility requirements for limited occupational teaching licenses, allowing individuals with relevant work experience or industry credentials to qualify. It mandates training in classroom management and ethics, and it requires mentorship for those holding limited licenses. The bill also stipulates that teachers without the appropriate subject-specific endorsements cannot teach courses with end-of-course examinations unless they demonstrate sufficient content knowledge or possess a license endorsement exemption. Several sections of the existing law are deleted or replaced to streamline the licensure process and ensure that teachers meet specific qualifications. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with provisions for rule promulgation effective immediately upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-5-106, 49-5-110, 49-5-112(a), 49-5-112, 49-5-114, 49-5-115, 49-6-1021(e), 49-6-1021, 49-6-6006