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HB 522

Education - As introduced, enacts the "Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act"; clarifies that public charter schools are required to have a threat assessment team in the same manner as required of local education agencies. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 37 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Jay Reedy

Tennessee bill mandating charter schools establish threat assessment teams identical to traditional public schools to identify and intervene with at-risk students.

Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
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Bill Summary · HB 522

Legislative bill overview

HB 522 requires public charter schools to establish threat assessment teams with the same authority and procedures as traditional public schools under Tennessee law. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee code to clarify that charter schools must comply with these safety protocols, which are designed to identify and intervene with students exhibiting behavioral warning signs.

Why is this important

Threat assessment teams help schools identify students at risk of harming themselves or others, enabling early intervention before incidents occur. This bill addresses a potential gap where charter schools—which serve increasing numbers of Tennessee students—may have operated under different safety requirements than traditional public schools, creating inconsistent student protection standards across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Charter school autonomy: Charter operators may argue that state-mandated team requirements limit their operational flexibility and increase administrative burden and costs
  • Implementation costs: The bill may require charter schools to hire additional staff or develop new protocols, raising questions about funding mechanisms and financial feasibility
  • Effectiveness evidence: Questions about whether standardized threat assessment teams effectively prevent incidents versus addressing root causes like mental health services and counseling access

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

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