AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to assessments administered to students who receive instruction through virtual means.
Summary
SB 822 authorizes Tennessee virtual schools and public schools offering virtual education programs to administer TCAP, or a successor statewide assessment, in a virtual setting rather than requiring the test to be taken only in person. The bill sets conditions for that remote administration, including that the test occur during the state testing window, be conducted in a synchronous session, be proctored by video for the full administration, maintain a target proctor-to-student ratio of at least 1:10, keep students in the testing room until released by the proctor, and require proctor verification of submission.
The measure also directs the Department of Education to ensure TCAP is available in a virtual format and allows the department to adopt additional standards to preserve test security. If a device cannot support integrated camera proctoring, the school must provide a second device so the student can be monitored, unless the assessment platform already allows the proctor to view the student and background. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 60, by creating a new section governing how statewide assessments may be administered to students receiving virtual instruction. It expands the legal framework for TCAP administration by expressly permitting remote testing under specified security and proctoring requirements, and it places an implementation obligation on the Department of Education to make virtual TCAP testing available and to establish standards if needed. The bill primarily affects virtual schools, public schools operating virtual education programs, students enrolled in those programs, and the department’s assessment administration practices.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears generally supportive of virtual education by aligning assessment procedures with remote instruction while emphasizing test security and oversight. The overall tone is practical and administrative rather than ideological.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the balance between flexibility for virtual students and the integrity of statewide testing. Supporters of virtual education may favor the bill because it reduces the need for in-person testing logistics, while critics may be concerned about cheating, inconsistent proctoring, device requirements, or whether remote testing can match the security of traditional testing environments. The bill addresses these concerns by requiring live video proctoring, a low proctor-to-student ratio, and department-set security standards, but those safeguards could still be a subject of debate.
Crossfiled
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to assessments administered to students who receive instruction through virtual means.
Relating to the regulation of pharmacists and the practice of pharmacy, including the administration of a medication and the ordering and administration of an immunization or vaccination by a pharmacist.