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SB 1132

School Vouchers - As introduced, increases the required assessments of students participating in the education savings account program or the individualized education account program to include all Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests, Tennessee universal reading screeners or universal reading screeners approved by the state board of education, and the assessment administered to public school students in grade 11 that assesses student readiness for postsecondary education and approved by the commissioner of education. - Amends TCA Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Jeff Yarbro

Tennessee ESA/IEA students must take TCAP tests, grade 11 postsecondary readiness, and K–3 reading screeners annually, mirroring public school testing.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1132

Summary of SB 1132 / HB 1213 (Tennessee, 114th Session)

Title

School Vouchers – As introduced, increases required assessments for students participating in Education Savings Account (ESA) or Individualized Education Account (IEA) programs to include all TCAP tests, Tennessee universal reading screeners or state-board-approved screeners, and the grade 11 postsecondary readiness assessment. Amends TCA Title 49.

Purpose and Intent

  • To require students participating in the ESA and IEA programs to take a broader set of annual assessments that mirror those given to public school students.
  • Specifically, mandating administration of TCAP tests, grade-11 postsecondary readiness assessment, and universal reading screeners for qualifying students, with certain exemptions for students with disabilities.

Key Provisions and Changes

Section 1: Requirements for participating students (ESA/IEA)

  • Parents must ensure annual administration of:
    • All TCAP tests (or successor tests) that would be administered to a public school student in the same grade or subject.
    • Grade 11 postsecondary readiness examination (the same test administered to public school 11th graders).
    • For K–3 students: annual administration of all three Tennessee universal reading screeners (or state-board-approved screeners) during each of the three administration windows established by the Department of Education.
  • Results must be reported to the parent.
  • Exemption: Students with disabilities who would participate in the alternate assessments per their IEP are exempt from these requirements.

Section 2: Eligibility/participation condition updates

  • Replaces the current eligibility language to require:
    • Annual TCAP tests for participating students, matching the public-school grade/subject.
    • Grade 11 postsecondary readiness exam for 11th graders.
    • K–3 universal reading screeners, in line with the three annual windows.

Section 3: Effective date

  • Effective July 1, 2025.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Students enrolled in the ESA or IEA programs in Tennessee.
  • Parents/guardians of participating students.
  • Kentucky: Not applicable; this is Tennessee law.
  • State Agencies Impacted:
    • Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) – administers and coordinates testing requirements and vendor contracts.
  • Vendors/Contractors:
    • NC Pearson, Inc. (existing TCAP vendor) and any new or re-procured contracts for TCAP administration and reporting.
  • Students with Disabilities:
    • Exemption from the added assessment requirements if they would participate in the alternate assessments per their IEP.

Fiscal Impact

  • Estimated increase in state expenditures: $33,616 in FY2025-26 and subsequent years.
    • Breakout components:
    • $20,363 to add administration of additional TCAP components (including paper-based and computer-based formats for specific grades/subjects and the Grade 11 ACT option).
    • $13,253 for the administration of Tennessee universal reading screeners (as required for K–3), based on 1,767 affected students (1,610 ESA and 157 IEA).
  • Assumptions:
    • TCAP testing for 6–8 and end-of-course (9–12) remains online.
    • DOE may need to modify vendor contracts to incorporate added tests (Science, Social Studies, and Grade 11 ACT).

Timeline & Process

  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Ongoing: Annual administration and reporting of the expanded assessment requirements for ESA/IEA participants, subject to any further guidance and contract adjustments by the DOE.
  • Legislative action history shows committee referrals in 2025; the bill is under consideration with fiscal notes prepared.

Notes

  • The bill aligns ESA/IEA assessment requirements with those for public school students, with specific exemptions for certain students with disabilities.
  • The fiscal note indicates a modest increase in state costs tied to expanded testing administration and reading screeners.

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

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