Signed by Governor Bill Lee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires addressing learning losses and negative effects on student proficiency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Defines "learning loss" as the loss of academic knowledge or skills previously acquired or a pause in academic advancement, most commonly due to extended time away from school or in-person instruction (Sec. 1-3).

• Classifies "learning loss bridge camp" as a 4-week educational program conducted each year before the beginning of the school year, as part of the learning loss remediation and student acceleration program, that is designed to support student academic needs and remediate student learning loss and requires a learning loss bridge camp provide, at a minimum, the following (Sec. 1-4):

• Four combined hours of in-person daily instruction, intervention, and supplemental supports in reading and math, provided 5 days per week.

• One hour of response to instruction and intervention (RTI2) services per day, provided in person 5 days per week pursuant to Tennessee's response to instruction and intervention framework manual;

• One hour of physical activity per day, provided 5 days per week;

• Lunch and at least one snack or breakfast per day, provided to each student 5 days per week;

• Stipends to teachers, tutors, and staff providing educational services to students in the learning loss bridge camp; and

• A state-adopted benchmark.

• Establishes, funds, and implements an innovative benchmark assessment pilot program to provide the Tennessee universal math screener, the Tennessee universal reading screener, and a series of state-adopted benchmark assessments to LEAs and public charter schools to allow teachers to more frequently measure student learning and address student learning loss (Sec. 1-49-6-1508.a).

• Appropriates funding for after-school learning mini-camps, learning loss bridge camps, and summer learning camps provided they are able to (Sec. 1-49-6-1503):

• Develop and implement detailed instructional programming plans using instructional materials adopted by the state board of education;

• Provide instructional and supervisory staff;

• Establish and implement staffing plans that enable educators teaching English language arts or reading to participate in the summer professional development program on reading instruction;

• Provide transportation for students attending;

• Provide meals, snacks, or breakfast for students attending;

• Provide facilities for conducting teaching;

• Provide staff to administer the state-adopted benchmark assessments to satisfy the pre-test and post-test requirements; and

• Provide stipends to teachers, tutors, and staff providing educational services to students.

• Requires by September 1, 2021, and each September 1 thereafter, LEAs and participating public charter schools to submit the results of all pre-tests and post-tests administered to the LEA's or participating public charter school's students as part of the after-school learning mini-camps, learning loss bridge camps, and summer learning camps to the department (Sec. 1-49-6-1509).

Full Bill Text