Bill > HB1977

This bill, titled the "Tennessee Teacher Residency Program Act," establishes a program to support aspiring educators by creating a structured pathway to become licensed teachers. The program, administered by the department of education, will award grants to approved residency programs, which are defined as organizations that partner with local education agencies (LEAs) or institutions of higher education to train new teachers. These residency programs must include at least one full academic year of coursework combined with a full academic year of supervised classroom experience under a mentor teacher, and they must have competitive admission and clear criteria for selecting effective mentors. A key component is that teacher residents commit to teaching for at least three consecutive years in a public school within the partnering or a high-need LEA after completing the program and obtaining their license, with provisions for reimbursement if this commitment is not met. The bill also specifies that successful completion of a residency program will satisfy the clinical experience requirement for educator licensure and mandates reporting on program outcomes.

Budget and Finance, Education, Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1977&ga=114