The Tennessee Senate approved Senate Bill 415 (conforming to House language) on third reading, creating an advisory committee to study teacher and principal evaluations, state and local mandated assessments, and related education policy issues.

Senator Lowe, sponsor of the bill, told colleagues the task force will convene with members appointed by the speakers of both houses and the Department of Education, and asked the committee to report back by Dec. 31, 2025. "This is an effort to bring you the best information that we can about what we often hear from our schools on the ground," Lowe said.

Amendment 1, adopted on the floor and explained by Chairman White, specified membership and timeline details: board members must be appointed by July 1, 2025, and the committee must meet first by Aug. 1, 2025. The committee's charge includes studying teacher and principal evaluations, mandated assessments, potential substitution of Career and Technical Education courses for required graduation courses, licensure and training requirements, and the possibility of measuring instructional hours rather than days.

Senator Lowe said the panel will collect data to inform future legislative decisions; the Senate approved the bill on third reading with no recorded opposition in that vote cycle.

The bill directs a study and reporting process; it does not change assessments or evaluations immediately. The advisory committee's findings are due to both speakers of the House and Senate by the end of the year.