Amends TCA Title 49.

This bill requires the department of education to develop and administer a program to provide tutoring services to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three, which program must:<br /> <br /> (1) Be offered as a collaboration between LEAs, public charter schools, nonprofit organizations, and the department;<br /> <br /> (2) Utilize churches and other community buildings as tutoring centers to provide in-person instruction in small groups;<br /> <br /> (3) Be limited to 40 students per tutoring center, and have no more than 20 students physically present at the same time to ensure proper social distancing;<br /> <br /> (4) Provide a student-to-tutor ratio of at least one tutor for every 10 students; and<br /> <br /> (5) Provide tutoring services on a rotating weekly schedule that ensures each student attends five tutoring sessions every two weeks.<br /> <br /> This bill requires the department to develop a list of qualifications for tutors who participate in the program, including, but not limited to, possession of an active Tennessee teaching license (which requirement may be waived for retired teachers) and being endorsed to teach the subject for which the individual intends to provide tutoring services. <br /> <br /> This bill also requires the department to:<br /> <br /> (1) Collaborate with other entities to promote the tutoring program;<br /> <br /> (2) Develop a process by which an LEA or public charter school can refer a student to the tutoring program based on a student's performance on math or reading assessments or screeners administered in kindergarten through grade three;<br /> <br /> (3) Develop a program to provide initial training and certification for tutors, and provide ongoing professional development for tutors, both of which may include online training options; and<br /> <br /> (4) Develop and provide to tutors instructional materials that must be used by tutors when providing tutoring services to students. Tutors shall only use state-approved curricula, and focus on the development and recovery of reading and math skills.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes a local board of education that provides school transportation services for students to provide students with transportation to and from the tutoring center that is established pursuant to this bill.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the state board of education to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this bill. <br />