Tennessee Senate Bill SB1162

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to assessments.

Summary

SB1162 requires the Tennessee Department of Education to develop or approve a policy allowing students to retake a Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test, including end-of-course assessments, when a state-mandated assessment is interrupted by an act of God or another circumstance beyond the school’s control. The bill is aimed at situations where testing cannot be completed as scheduled because of events such as severe weather, power outages, or other disruptions. The policy may be created by the department itself or by an LEA or public charter school, but it must be approved by the department. The bill applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill would add a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 60, creating a statewide requirement for a retake policy tied to interrupted TCAP administrations. It affects the Department of Education, local education agencies, and public charter schools by requiring them to have an approved process for students to retake disrupted assessments, and it could influence how assessment windows, make-up testing, and accountability procedures are handled after emergencies or other uncontrollable events.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears procedural and student-focused, with an emphasis on fairness and continuity in testing when disruptions occur. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the measure may be relatively noncontroversial, though that cannot be confirmed from the available record.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is how broadly the phrase "act of God or another circumstance beyond the control of the school" should be interpreted, since that could affect when retakes are permitted and how much discretion schools or the department have. Another possible issue is administrative burden: LEAs and charter schools may need to adjust testing policies and logistics to comply with the new requirement. No specific lawmakers, agencies, or stakeholder groups were identified in the provided discussion materials as taking a position for or against the bill.