Bill > SB2448

This bill, known as the "Tennessee Career Readiness Enhancement Act," mandates that by the 2026-2027 school year, all public high schools must integrate "career readiness tools" into at least one career and technical education (CTE) course for 11th and 12th graders. These tools are defined as digital platforms and assessments that help students explore careers based on their interests and local job market data, earn credentials in essential soft skills, employability skills, and digital literacy, and connect with work-based learning opportunities, which are structured experiences linking classroom learning to real-world jobs. Students will not incur any cost for these credentials, and earning them can count towards high school graduation, with a potential for up to three elective credits. Furthermore, students who earn three such credentials will be eligible for a $100 stipend through a new micro-grant program. The bill also requires the Department of Education to provide training for educators and counselors on using these tools and establishes a pilot program for at least ten school districts to integrate these tools into work-based learning, with a focus on gathering feedback from businesses to ensure the credentials align with workforce needs, with findings to be reported to the General Assembly by July 1, 2029. The Department will also be responsible for collecting and reporting data on credential attainment annually starting July 1, 2027.