Governor Bill Lee has called the Tennessee General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session to address key K-12 education issues.  The session will begin on January 19th and is expected to last one week. 

Lee’s press release states, “During the special session, the legislature will be tasked to take up five key education issues: Learning Loss, Funding, Accountability, Literacy, and Teacher Pay. Details on each proposal will be released by the Department of Education in the near future, in addition to the department’s plans to implement a new literacy program, “Reading 360.” The program will leverage one-time federal relief funding to support a phonics-based approach to literacy and will ensure Tennessee districts, teachers, and families are equipped with tools and resources to help students read on grade level by third grade.”  The session will revive Lee’s effort to address literacy bill which was put on hold due to COVID-19.  

In a conversation with the Governor’s office, they indicated that college and university educator preparation programs (EPP) will be included in the legislative effort.  Although the bill draft has yet to be circulated, here is a summary of what is anticipated for the EPPs: 

Lee’s previous legislation included training requirements for EPP college and university faculty, but it is TICUA’s understanding that will not be a part of upcoming legislation.