Tennessee Senate Bill SB7004

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/17/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 50, relative to private schools.

Impact

The amendment to the definition of private schools could have significant implications for educational policy in Tennessee. By explicitly including pre-kindergarten within its scope, the bill aligns private education definitions more with the broader K-12 framework. This could facilitate access to resources or compliance standards that align with state educational initiatives, thus impacting how private schools operate and integrate with public educational policies.

Summary

Senate Bill 7004 is an act introduced to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically in Titles 49, Chapter 1 and Chapter 50, with a focus on private schools. The key changes in the bill involve the elimination of the term 'K-12' from Section 49-50-803 and a new definition for private schools that will encompass those serving students from pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade. This modification seeks to refine the legal definitions and potentially streamline the regulations governing private educational institutions in Tennessee.

Contention

Notable points of discussion surrounding SB7004 may arise from stakeholders in both private educational institutions and public education systems. There may be concerns regarding the implications of redefining educational terminology, particularly how this affects funding, oversight, and the regulatory framework governing private schools. Advocates for private school flexibility might support the bill for its potential to remove outdated terminologies, while opponents could fear that such changes might also entail unintended regulatory consequences or diminish local control over educational standards.