House Bill 1896 amends Tennessee Code Annotated to establish new requirements for nonpublic schools regarding standardized testing. Specifically, it designates the existing language in Section 49-50-807 as subsection (a) and adds a new subdivision (4) that mandates the administration of a nationally standardized achievement test in English language arts and mathematics to each student annually. Additionally, the bill introduces a new subsection (b) that requires Category III nonpublic schools serving students in grades nine through twelve to administer the same standardized test to students aged eighteen or younger who have completed at least fifty percent of their high school program, as well as to those who have completed ninety percent of the program. However, if a student completes the entire high school program within a twelve-month period, they are only required to take the test once.

The bill outlines that these changes will take effect upon becoming law for the purpose of rule promulgation, while all other provisions will take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to the 2026-2027 school year and subsequent years. This legislation aims to enhance the accountability and educational standards of nonpublic schools in Tennessee by ensuring that students are assessed through standardized testing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-50-807