Image Credit: TN General Assembly
Tennessee Conservative News Staff –
The House K-12 Subcommittee passed a bill on Tuesday that would revamp standardized testing requirements for homeschooled students in Tennessee with the risk of them being forced back into public schools.
House Bill 1729 (HB1729), sponsored by State Representative William Slater (R-Gallatin-D35), would require parents that register to homeschool under their local board of education to have their students assessed in grades 5, 7, and 9.
Current law dictates that students who are “falling behind” be measured by how many months they are behind. Slater’s bill would change this metric to percentiles.
Students who score below the 25th percentile for two consecutive tests would be forced to enroll in a public, private, or church-related school.
The legislation would also add the Classic Learning Test as an alternative assessment to the ACT or SAT in meeting qualifications for various enrollment and/or recognition.
The CLT seemed to be the focal point of discussion, with members hearing testimony from supporters of the test. Committee members raised questions regarding the rigor of the CLT and its concordance to the ACT or SAT.
The bill moves forward with 4 votes in favor (Representatives Haston, Maberry, Reeves, and Slater). Three representatives voted against the bill (Bulso, Hakeem, and McKenzie) while Representative White was recorded as present but not voting.
HB1729 has been referred to the House Education Committee.
The companion Senate Bill 2636 (SB2636), sponsored by State Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield-D23) was referred to the Senate Education Committee on February 5 but has not yet been assigned to their calendar.
Contact information for members of the House Education Committee may be found below.
House Education Committee – HB1729 will likely be heard next week
HB1729 mandates homeschool students who score below the 25th percentile for two consecutive tests will be forced to enroll in a public, private, or church-related school.
Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov; rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov; rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
3 Responses
IMHO, those who do well on 1st test shouldn’t be bothered anymore.
The Republicans pushing this bill should explain what the plan is for Memphis-Shelby County schools (105k students). Their 2025 average proficiency for 6-8 graders was as follows (from TN state report card data): English – 18.6%, Math – 19.1%, chronic absenteeism – 30.2%. What Director of schools or licensed teacher are those 105k students supposed to meet with? Where will they be forced to enroll for being in the bottom 25%? This average is the best case scenario. I could tailor results to the schools overrun with illegals. Those are in the single digits. Nashville isn’t far behind with another 78k students. Grades 6-8 2025 performance: English – 27.4%, Math – 29.3%, chronic absenteeism – 23.3%.
These are the folks that Lockdown Lee gave $2000 bonuses and raised the minimum salary 43%.
How about this? Since Slater likes the idea of the independent homeschooler taking a nationally-normed test, try that on the public schools. Let them take a nationally-normed test instead of hiding in the TCAP bubble.
I agree with you 100%. Our public schools are failing our children. This is one reason why so many parents are home schooling their children. What is the solution for the public and private school children who are failing? Will they be required to be home schooled? This seems to be a non-solution to schools that are failing our children at all levels. I will watching to see who votes for this legislation.