WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 30

Education - As enacted, empowers a student who is an English language learner and who received language assistance services in the classroom during the school year to receive the same language assistance services while taking a Tennessee comprehensive assessment program test or an end-of-course assessment, as long as the receipt of language assistance services does not invalidate the assessment. - Amends TCA Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by John Clemmons

Allows ELL students to use classroom language assistance during state standardized tests if accommodations don't compromise assessment validity.

Comp. SB subst.
#education
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 30

Legislative bill overview

HB 30 allows English language learner (ELL) students who receive language assistance services during regular classroom instruction to continue receiving those same services while taking state standardized assessments, provided the accommodations don't compromise test validity. The bill modifies Tennessee's assessment rules under the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) and end-of-course exams.

Why is this important

This directly affects how fairly ELL students' academic knowledge is measured. Without classroom-equivalent accommodations on high-stakes tests, language barriers can mask actual subject mastery, potentially impacting placement decisions, school ratings, and student futures. The policy recognizes that assessment accommodations reflect real classroom practice rather than lowering standards.

Potential points of contention

  • Test validity concerns: Disagreement exists over whether language assistance during testing measures content knowledge or English proficiency, and whether results remain comparable across student groups for accountability purposes
  • Implementation inconsistency: Defining which classroom accommodations are "the same" and which ones invalidate assessments could create administrative complexity and regional variation in how accommodations are applied
  • Scope of "language assistance services": Unclear whether this includes translation, simplified English, extended time, or other supports, and whether some accommodations may benefit non-ELL students and raise equity questions

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

Sign in to ask a question.