Bill > HB0410

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Education to create a working group dedicated to improving educational support for English Language Learner (EL) students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The working group will be composed of diverse stakeholders including EL program directors, state board of education members, education department representatives, EL experts, and state legislators. The group's primary responsibilities include studying best practices from other states, seeking input from EL education experts, and examining strategies to enhance EL student outcomes and support EL educators. These strategies include expanding professional development, creating an EL teaching endorsement, implementing instructional techniques like scaffolding and collaborative learning, providing explicit vocabulary instruction, conducting regular assessments, and encouraging family involvement through language-accessible resources. By January 1, 2026, the department must submit a comprehensive report to the Senate and House education committees detailing their findings and potential legislative recommendations. Importantly, working group members will serve voluntarily without compensation or travel reimbursement, highlighting the collaborative nature of this educational improvement initiative.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0410&ga=114