Tennessee Senate Bill SB1305

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to special education.

Impact

This legislation is expected to impact the landscape of special education in Tennessee by providing financial incentives for individuals to enter and stay within the profession. By supporting educational assistants in their journey to become certified teachers, SB1305 aims to alleviate teacher shortages in special education, a field notoriously difficult to staff. This law could lead to a more stable and prepared workforce within Tennessee's educational system, particularly in the special education sector.

Summary

Senate Bill 1305, known as the Tennessee Special Educator Scholarship Act, aims to establish a scholarship program for individuals seeking to become special education teachers in Tennessee. The bill introduces a financial aid option for those working as educational assistants in public schools, allowing them to pursue a degree while maintaining employment. The scholarship provides up to $750 per semester for a maximum of eight semesters, encouraging educational assistants to complete their bachelor's degree in special education and fulfill the requirement to work full-time as special education teachers in Tennessee public schools for at least three consecutive years after graduation.

Contention

While supporters laud the bill for its potential to enhance the qualifications of special education teachers and improve outcomes for students, there may be concerns regarding the sustainability of funding for the scholarship program. Lawmakers and education stakeholders might debate how the program’s financial obligations will be met in light of budgetary constraints. Moreover, implications surrounding the specific requirements for scholarship eligibility, such as work conditions and academic progress, could also be points of discussion among educators and policymakers.