Amends TCA Title 49.

Tennessee SB1003 amends the Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 by requiring the state board of education to approve at least one universal screener for pre-kindergarten students, which can be used as an alternative growth model for evaluating pre-k teachers. This bill affects local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools that provide voluntary pre-k programs, allowing them to utilize the results of the approved screener for teacher evaluations instead of the pre-k/kindergarten growth portfolio model. Additionally, it removes previous exemptions related to the COVID pandemic and clarifies language regarding the use of alternative growth models for teachers in non-tested grades.