Senate Bill 2403, also known as House Bill 2277, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to education, specifically focusing on local assessments and the Tennessee universal reading screener. The bill introduces a new section requiring public schools to submit an annual list of all local assessments administered to students, including details such as the name, subject area, grade level, and administration schedule. This information must be compiled by the Department of Education and made publicly available through an online database, allowing for transparency and informed decision-making by students and parents. Additionally, the bill establishes an assessment review board tasked with reviewing the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program (TCAP) tests to identify areas for instructional improvement.

The bill also modifies existing provisions regarding the use of assessment results for evaluating teacher performance. It allows local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to use results from state-adopted benchmark assessments and the Tennessee universal reading screener as measures of student achievement and teacher growth. Key amendments include the requirement for annual administration of the Tennessee universal reading screener for students in kindergarten through grade three, with results submitted to the Department of Education while ensuring compliance with privacy laws. The bill's provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, for certain sections, while others will become law immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-1-302(d)(2)(B)(iii), 49-1-302, 49-1-302(d)(2)(B), 49-1-903(8)(A), 49-1-903, 49-1-905, 49-5-5619(a)(3)(F), 49-5-5619, 49-6-903(a), 49-6-903, 49-6-1502, 49-6-1508, 4-29-249(a), 4-29-249