Senator Joey Hensley, MD

The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session.

Committed to Public Education

Supporting Tennessee Public Schools and Tennessee Students

Over the last decade, the state has invested more than $3.5 billion in public education. More recently, Tennessee has made historic investments in public education totaling over $2 billion since 2018. This includes:

$1 billion - the single largest investment in education - to modernize the way we fund public schools for the first time in 30 years

Over $500 million to increase teacher pay and compensation

Including the largest pay increase for teachers in state history made in 2023 with the goal of making $50,000 the minimum starting salary for all teachers by 2026.

$500 million to bring Innovative School Models to every public high school and middle school in the state to boost opportunities for career readiness and student success.

$140 million to put a School Resource Officer in every public school

$40 million for public school security upgrades

Modernized school funding formula for the first time in 30 years

Tennessee overhauled the state’s public K-12 education funding formula, replacing the outdated Basic Education Program (BEP) for the first time in 30 years. The state’s new student-based funding formula, the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) invests an additional $1 billion in public education.

TISA increases opportunities for students

accounts for unique needs and other demographics

provides transparency and increased accountability from all sides

Focused on improving early literacy

Tennessee students have made historic gains in early literacy rates as a direct result of increased literacy support and instruction.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has doubled down on efforts to improve early literacy rates and make up for learning losses.

In 2021, the General Assembly and Gov. Lee held a special session to pass legislation focused on improving literacy rates through strategic and long-term investments, including:

The Tennessee Literacy Success Act - it developed guidelines and pathways for struggling students to advance to 4th grade with additional support

Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act - it established tutoring, after-school programs and summer learning loss bridge camps focused on foundational reading skills and improving literacy rates.

These investments have led to historic gains, with 40% of 3rd grade students demonstrating proficiency in ELA in 2023, the largest single year increase and the highest 3rd grade ELA proficiency rates since 2017.

Public school therapy dog pilot program – Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation that creates a therapy dog pilot program in Tennessee public schools. The Beyond Ordinary Learning Opportunities Act requires the Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) to create a one-year pilot program to place a therapy dog in five public schools statewide. The pilot program will take place during the 2024-25 school year. The DOE will submit a report to the General Assembly detailing the effectiveness of the program. Therapy dogs in schools can improve students’ social well-being and reading skills and have other cognitive benefits, according to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act – Lawmakers passed legislation to support healthy kids in school and allow whole milk to be sold in schools. Under federal rules during the Obama administration, whole milk could not be distributed in schools. Under The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, schools can now have a dispenser for whole milk options. Whole milk has been shown to help with calcium absorption in children.

Safe school traffic – Legislation passed this year that allows counties to hire employees or use volunteers to direct vehicles within a marked school zone. Under the new law, anyone who serves as a traffic director is required to undergo training and use the appropriate safety apparel and equipment. It also authorizes counties to close roads within certain hours of the day for easier and safer pickup and drop-off zones.

Full pay for teachers assaulted on the job – Under a new law approved this year, all public and charter schools are required to pay employees their full salary or average pay and full benefits if they were physically assaulted on the job and unable to work as a result. There were 1,918 cases, 26 of assault and 71 cases of aggravated assault against teachers and staff during the 2022-23 school year, according to the 2024 Tennessee Safe Schools Report.

Ensuring well equipped teachers for students – A new law ensures teachers are equipped to teach certain courses. It requires unlicensed teachers to be issued temporary teaching permits by the Department of Education Commissioner in order to teach courses that have a required end of course exam. While it is always preferable to only have qualified teachers with valid license teaching courses, occasionally districts encounter situations where they need more flexibility with hard-to-staff teaching positions. This ensures that temporary teaching permits are used only as a last resort by districts..

Contact Senator Hensley at

425 5th Avenue North, Suite 746

Nashville TN 37243

615-741-3100

Toll Free 1-800-449-8366

ext. 13100

Fax 615-253-0231

855 Summertown Highway

Hohenwald TN 38462

Phone 931-796-2018

Cell Phone 931-212-8823

E-mail:

[email protected]