Tennessee House Bill HB0784

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/23
• Refer: 2/2/23
• Refer: 2/14/23
• Refer: 4/5/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 56, relative to reimbursement of assessment costs.

Impact

The implementation of HB 0784 is expected to have a positive impact on the recruitment and retention of teachers within Tennessee's education system. By providing financial assistance for assessments, the bill could encourage more individuals to enter and remain in the teaching profession. The state department is also tasked with reporting the number of educators reimbursed annually, which may help in assessing the effectiveness of the measure in increasing teacher numbers and improving educational quality.

Summary

House Bill 0784 aims to amend Tennessee's Code Annotated to establish a reimbursement system for educators who pass required assessments and subsequently receive teaching licenses or endorsements while employed by a local education agency (LEA) or a public charter school. The bill stipulates that the state department will create a fund to cover the costs of these assessments, provided that the educator achieves a qualifying score. This is intended to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with the certification process for teachers in Tennessee, thus promoting a stronger workforce in education.

Contention

While the bill appears to garner support due to its focus on education and teacher development, there could be concerns regarding funding. As noted in the bill, the reimbursement fund is not appropriated with specific funds unless allocated by the general appropriations act. This conditional approach may present challenges in its implementation, raising questions about the sustainability and reliability of financial support for the intended educators. Additionally, there could be debates about the appropriateness and sufficiency of the reimbursement amounts relative to the actual costs of assessments.