Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB2361: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9 and Title 49, relative to pre-kindergarten.
Status: Chaptered, May 18, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary ON MARCH 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2361, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to require TACIR, with the assistance of relevant state agencies, to conduct a comprehensive study on public school administered early childhood education programs in this state. The full text of this amendment specifies six components that must be included in the study. This amendment requires TACIR to submit its report and recommendations to the education committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over public school administered early childhood education programs no later than September 1, 2027.
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Education 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB2129 White Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 2361 House Bill No. 2129* by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 11, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) The Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) shall conduct a comprehensive study on public school administered early childhood education programs in this state. (b) The study must include: (1) A statewide inventory of public school administered early childhood education programs, including, but not limited to, voluntary pre-kindergarten programs, early childhood education programs that serve students with special needs, federally funded early childhood education programs such as a Title I program, and a school-administered head start or an even start program; (2) The actual costs to LEAs for operating early childhood education programs; (3) The current funding sources and amount for each funding source to operate public school administered early childhood education programs; (4) An assessment of the access to, participation rates in, and unmet needs for public school administered early childhood education programs; (5) A comparison of public school administered early childhood education programs of other states' with this state; and HA0912 (6) Policy options and recommendations for future program development, anticipated needs, …