Education, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to provide at least one professional development course that provides asynchronous instruction on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom and that is made available, at no cost, to teachers in grades 6-12; requires such teachers to complete at least one department-approved professional development course on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom by August 1, 2027, or within two years of becoming licensed as a teacher in this state, whichever is later. - Amends TCA Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Mark Cochran

Tennessee requires all grades 6-12 teachers to complete free AI training by August 2027 to prepare classrooms for artificial intelligence use.

Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

#dept.of #education

Legislative bill overview

HB 545 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to develop and offer free asynchronous professional development courses on artificial intelligence use in classrooms, with a mandate that all grades 6-12 teachers complete at least one such course by August 1, 2027, or within two years of initial licensure. The bill amends Tennessee's education code to formalize AI literacy training as a requirement for public school educators.

Why is this important

As AI tools increasingly influence education and workplace readiness, equipping teachers with practical knowledge about classroom AI applications directly impacts student preparedness for future careers. The no-cost requirement and asynchronous format attempt to make training accessible across varied teacher schedules and district resources, addressing a potential equity gap in AI competency across schools.

Potential points of contention

Implementation costs and timeline: Developing quality asynchronous courses and ensuring all teachers complete training by the deadline requires significant Department of Education resources; unclear who funds course development or what happens if teachers miss the August 2027 deadline

Mandate scope and content: Requiring all grades 6-12 teachers to take AI training regardless of subject area may be seen as either necessary modernization or administrative overreach; no specification of course content or learning standards raises questions about consistency and rigor

Effectiveness and accountability: The bill mandates completion but not demonstrated competency; unclear whether asynchronous-only delivery adequately addresses hands-on AI integration needs or how training effectiveness will be measured