Bill > HB0877

This bill transforms Tennessee's school turnaround pilot program into a permanent program for priority schools, increasing the maximum number of participating schools from 5 to 15. The bill modifies several key aspects of the existing program, including how schools are selected, how they develop and implement turnaround plans, and how they are evaluated. Under the new provisions, the Department of Education will select up to 15 priority schools at a time, ensuring geographic diversity by choosing at least one school from each grand division of Tennessee. Each selected school must develop a comprehensive turnaround plan in its first year and implement it for the subsequent three years. The department will annually evaluate these schools' progress using criteria from the state's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and will be required to submit an annual report to legislative education committees. The report must compare student performance outcomes, analyze the differences between schools that meet and do not meet exit criteria, and recommend potential strategies for improving other priority schools. The bill also establishes detailed requirements for school turnaround committees, their composition, and the process of developing and approving school improvement plans. Importantly, the changes will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year and subsequent years, providing a structured approach to supporting and improving underperforming schools.

Education

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0877&ga=114