Senate Bill 2385, also known as House Bill 2485, amends Tennessee Code Annotated to redefine "economically disadvantaged" students. The new definition includes students who are homeless, foster, runaway, or migrant, as well as those eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through direct certification. Additionally, it includes students who are Medicaid beneficiaries or from households receiving benefits from programs like SNAP or TANF, provided they are also eligible for free school meals through direct certification.

The bill also introduces a new provision that mandates additional funding for local education agencies (LEAs) if their TISA allocation decreases due to a reduction in the number of economically disadvantaged students. This funding must be state-funded and prioritized before other funding calculations. Furthermore, the Department of Education is required to request an amendment to the state's ESSA plan to broaden the definition of economically disadvantaged students to include those directly certified for free lunch. The bill's provisions will take effect on July 1, 2026, with the exception of the amendment request, which takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-3-104(10), 49-3-104, 49-3-108