Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, clarifies that an individual who has begun, but not completed, the amount of clinical practice required by the educator preparation provider in which the individual is enrolled may receive a temporary clinical permit if all other requirements for the permit are satisfied; allows such an individual who is issued a temporary clinical permit to meet the clinical practice requirements of the EPP in which the individual is enrolled by combining the amount of clinical practice the individual completed before being issued a temporary clinical permit with the amount of time the individual taught under the temporary clinical permit. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee bill allows incomplete educator candidates to get temporary classroom permits while finishing required practice hours, combining previous training with on-the-job teaching time.

Reset on cal. for 4/16/2026

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Legislative bill overview

HB 2305 modifies Tennessee's educator certification requirements to allow individuals to obtain a temporary clinical permit before completing all required classroom practice hours. The bill permits these individuals to combine their previously completed practice hours with hours taught under the temporary permit to satisfy their educator preparation program's clinical practice requirements.

Why is this important

This addresses potential teacher shortages by accelerating the pathway to classroom teaching for nearly-qualified educators, allowing them to work while completing remaining requirements. However, it involves a tradeoff between faster teacher deployment and ensuring educators have adequate preparation before full classroom responsibility.

Potential points of contention

Student impact: Critics may argue that allowing teachers with incomplete clinical training to lead classrooms could affect student learning outcomes and classroom management quality

Teacher preparation standards: Questions about whether combining pre-permit and under-permit hours provides equivalent preparation to completing hours sequentially before classroom instruction

Implementation oversight: Unclear how school districts will monitor and support temporary permit holders, and whether adequate mentorship/supervision structures exist

Equity concerns: May create two-tier teacher qualification system where some teachers have different preparation pathways than others