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HB 1016

Education, Dept. of - As introduced, establishes October 15 of each year as the date by which the department must submit an early grades reading report; updates the committees for which the department must submit the early grades reading report to be the education committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over education. - Amends Chapter __ of the Public Acts of 2025 (1st Ex. Sess. – SB 6001 / HB 6004); and TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Mary Littleton

Tennessee requires the Department of Education to submit an annual early grades reading report to legislative education committees by October 15 each year.

Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
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Bill Summary · HB 1016

Legislative bill overview

HB 1016 establishes October 15 as the mandatory deadline for Tennessee's Department of Education to submit its annual early grades reading report and specifies that this report must go to the Senate Education Committee and the House Education Committee. The bill amends existing education statutes and references previous education legislation from the 2025 special session.

Why is this important

Early grades reading proficiency is a critical indicator of long-term academic success and literacy outcomes. By codifying a specific reporting deadline and clarifying which committees receive this data, the bill aims to ensure consistent legislative oversight of reading instruction programs and performance metrics in Tennessee's elementary schools.

Potential points of contention

  • Timing flexibility: The fixed October 15 deadline may not align with when school districts complete comprehensive data analysis, potentially requiring preliminary or incomplete data submissions
  • Report scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what metrics, grade levels, or performance benchmarks must be included in the "early grades reading report," leaving interpretation to the Department of Education
  • Implementation burden: Without additional funding or staffing provisions, the Department of Education must absorb the administrative costs of meeting this specific reporting requirement

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

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