Bill > HB1881

This bill revises the testing requirements for students participating in Tennessee's Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which provides public funds to eligible students to use for private school tuition and other educational expenses. Specifically, students in grades three through eleven (3-11) who receive an ESA must now take either a nationally standardized achievement test aligned with their school's curriculum or the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests for math and English language arts each year. Participating schools are responsible for administering these tests and providing the results to parents. Additionally, the Department of Education will select a sample of students in grades three through eight (3-8) who took the TCAP tests to further assess academic performance. By June 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, participating schools must submit test results to the Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA), part of the Comptroller of the Treasury, which will then report on these results to the state legislature. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2026.