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Bill

SB 2449

Schools, Private - As introduced, prohibits the state board of education from requiring a private school that provides a fully online, self-paced educational program to annually administer a nationally standardized achievement test in English language arts and mathematics to each student each year; directs the state board to require such private schools that provide a high school program to administer a nationally standardized achievement test in English language arts and mathematics to certain students based on the percentage of their high school program that the student has completed. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 50.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

SB 2449 exempts Tennessee private online schools from annual standardized testing, replacing it with milestone-based assessments for high school programs, reducing educational accountability and transparency.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 2449

Legislative bill overview

SB 2449 exempts private schools offering fully online, self-paced programs from annual standardized testing requirements in English language arts and mathematics. For private high schools, it replaces annual testing with milestone-based testing tied to completion percentages of the high school program rather than grade level.

Why is this important

Standardized testing data is used to measure educational outcomes, identify struggling students, and hold schools accountable. This bill reduces transparency and oversight for a growing segment of private education (online programs), making it harder for parents, regulators, and policymakers to assess educational quality in these settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Accountability concerns: Removing annual testing eliminates consistent data on student achievement in online programs, potentially hiding underperformance and making it difficult to identify schools that aren't meeting educational standards
  • Equity and comparison issues: Different testing schedules across traditional and online schools make it impossible to compare outcomes or ensure online students receive equivalent educational quality
  • Parental transparency: Families choosing private schools may lack standardized data to evaluate program effectiveness, potentially disadvantaging less sophisticated consumers in the education market
  • Implementation complexity: Milestone-based testing for high schools creates administrative burden and inconsistency—students progressing at different rates may never take required tests

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

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