Tennessee General Assembly Enacts Several Education Measures During 2026 Session

The Tennessee General Assembly approved several measures affecting public education during its 2026 legislative session, including changes involving student attendance, virtual schools, charter schools and state compliance requirements.

One new law changes how schools handle attendance records when students transfer or withdraw during a school year. For students receiving the highest tier of truancy intervention who withdraw without transferring to another local education agency, directors of schools are required to make a referral to juvenile court under specified circumstances. The law also addresses retention and transfer of attendance records during the school year. Tennessee General Assembly

Lawmakers also enacted legislation requiring certain state and local government entities and public higher education institutions to annually certify compliance with existing state restrictions on discriminatory preferences intended to increase diversity, equity or inclusion. The attestations are to be submitted to the state comptroller beginning in 2027. The measure also gives the Tennessee attorney general authority to investigate certain allegations of violations. Tennessee General Assembly

Another new law prohibits local education agencies and public charter schools from using public funds to initiate or maintain civil actions against the state, a state agency or state official challenging school or district accountability measures established under state law. Tennessee General Assembly

Changes were also approved to Tennessee’s charter school laws. Among the provisions are new standards involving charter renewals, including automatic renewal for schools meeting specified performance and financial criteria. The legislation also places limits on certain authorizer fees and makes other changes involving charter oversight and operations. Tennessee General Assembly

The General Assembly also enacted legislation addressing low-performing public virtual schools. Under the law, a local education agency must close a virtual school that meets specified criteria for continued poor performance. The legislation also requires notification to parents when certain performance thresholds are reached and restricts new enrollment under those circumstances. Tennessee General Assembly

Lawmakers separately approved a resolution supporting efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and return additional education authority to the states. The resolution expresses the General Assembly’s position but does not itself transfer federal education programs or authority to Tennessee. Tennessee General Assembly

The measures were among several education-related actions taken during the second session of Tennessee’s 114th General Assembly.