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SB 1215

Education - As introduced, creates the school safety grant fund to be administered by the department of education; requires that school safety grants be used to support local education agencies and public charter schools with prevention, reduction, and response efforts with regard to school shootings. - Amends TCA Title 9 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Charlane Oliver

Tennessee creates a school safety grant fund to help schools prevent, reduce, and respond to shooting threats through dedicated Department of Education funding.

Failed in Senate Education Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1215

Legislative bill overview

SB 1215 establishes a dedicated school safety grant fund administered by Tennessee's Department of Education to provide financial support to local school districts and charter schools. These grants would fund prevention programs, risk reduction strategies, and emergency response protocols specifically targeting school shooting incidents.

Why is this important

School safety funding directly affects how prepared educational institutions are to prevent tragedies and respond to active threats. The bill addresses a significant public concern by creating a focused funding mechanism rather than requiring schools to compete for general education dollars or seek private donations for safety measures.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source unclear: The bill doesn't specify where grant fund money comes from, raising questions about whether this requires new state appropriations, redirects existing education budgets, or uses other revenue sources
  • Definition gaps: "Prevention, reduction, and response efforts" is broad language that could fund anything from metal detectors to counseling programs, potentially leading to inconsistent implementation across districts
  • Implementation details missing: The bill lacks specifics on grant application processes, award amounts, eligibility criteria, and whether preferences exist for certain school types or geographic areas
  • Effectiveness metrics absent: No requirement for tracking outcomes or demonstrating that funded programs actually reduce school shooting incidents

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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