Tennessee Senate Bill SB1378

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 49, relative to the division of early child care and education in the department of education.

Summary

SB1378 creates a new Division of Early Child Care and Education within the Tennessee Department of Education, to be established no later than December 31, 2026. The division would be led by a director appointed by the education commissioner and would take administrative responsibility for state- and federally funded early childhood programs, including the Child Care and Development Fund, voluntary pre-K, early childhood IDEA services, Head Start, and preschool development grant programs. The bill also directs the department to design a unified early child care and education system. That system would include a uniform licensing and regulatory framework, a statewide quality rating and improvement system, community planning grants, an advisory council of providers, and regular parent feedback mechanisms. The bill emphasizes reducing regulatory burdens while maintaining child health and safety, and it calls for alignment between school-based and non-school-based early learning programs where federal funding rules allow.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 4 and 49 by adding a new statutory section that reorganizes early childhood governance within the Department of Education and shifts lead agency authority for the Child Care and Development Fund from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Education. It requires a transition plan, a contractor to assist with implementation, interdepartmental agreements, and phased deadlines for creating the division and the broader unified system. It would also require annual strategic planning and reporting to the General Assembly, affecting state agencies, early childhood providers, and programs serving young children and families.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendment, or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as an administrative and policy modernization effort focused on coordination, simplification, and continuity of services. The absence of voting history prevents a reliable assessment of legislative sentiment beyond the bill’s stated objectives.

Contention

The bill’s main points of potential contention are the transfer of early childhood governance from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Education, the consolidation of multiple programs under a new division, and the creation of a unified licensing and accountability system. Stakeholders could differ over whether centralizing authority will improve coordination or create disruption, and over how much regulatory simplification is appropriate while maintaining safety and quality standards. The bill also anticipates the need to preserve existing contracts and avoid service interruptions, suggesting transition logistics and provider input may be sensitive issues.