AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to language assistance for students.
Summary
SB1213 amends Tennessee education law to require that English language learner (ELL) students who receive language assistance services during the school year be allowed to continue receiving the same services while taking state-required TCAP tests or end-of-course assessments, so long as those services do not invalidate the assessment. The bill defines “language assistance services” to include supports provided under an individual learning plan by an ESL-endorsed teacher, as well as linguistically and academically appropriate accommodations and scaffolding provided in the general education classroom for ELL students whose parents or guardians have waived the first category of services.
The bill applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and continues thereafter. In practical terms, it changes how testing accommodations are handled for ELL students by aligning assessment conditions more closely with the instructional supports they receive in class, while preserving the state’s requirement that test validity not be compromised.
Impact
This act amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Section 49-6-6001, by adding a new requirement for the administration of TCAP and end-of-course assessments for ELL students. It expands the statutory framework for testing accommodations and language supports, affecting school districts, teachers with ESL endorsement, general education teachers providing accommodations, and students identified as English language learners. The law takes effect upon becoming law and applies to TCAP administration in the 2026-2027 school year and beyond.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support overall, passing the Senate Education Committee 8-1, the Senate floor 31-1 on third consideration, and final passage 83-2. The voting pattern suggests strong bipartisan or near-unanimous agreement that ELL students should be able to use familiar language supports during state assessments, with only limited opposition at each stage.
Contention
The main point of contention is the balance between providing language assistance and preserving the validity of standardized assessments. The bill explicitly limits services to those that do not invalidate the assessment, indicating concern from some lawmakers or stakeholders about maintaining testing integrity. The narrow dissenting votes in committee and on the floor suggest that opposition was limited, likely centered on whether the added accommodations could affect comparability or fairness of test results.