Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Legislation advancing in the House that revamps standardized testing for Tennessee Homeschool students, opposed by the homeschool community upon its introduction, is turning out to be a win for Tennessee homeschoolers as it does away with remediation and consequences for low scores following required testing.
According to sponsor Representative William Slater (R-Gallatin-District 35), House Bill 1729 as amended has two parts, the first of which deals with removing “unnecessary and antiquated” penalties for a low score on a standardized test which has been part of Tennessee homeschool law since the mid 80s.
The second part of the bill deals with expanding the options for standardized testing for Independent Homeschool families, who must have their children tested in grades 5, 7, and 9, to include the Classic Learning Test (CLT) alongside the ACT and SAT.
In his introduction of the bill before the House Education Committee, Slater said that although consequences for scoring poorly on standardized tests has been outlined in state law for decades, not a single student has ever been forced back to public school.
The bill advances to the House floor for a final vote after passing in committee 10 to 8.
Four Republicans voted against the bill: Representatives Charlie Baum (R-Murfreesboro-District 37), Renea Jones (R-Unicoi-District 4), Jay Reedy (R-Erin-District 74), and Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83).
The legislation’s companion Senate Bill 2636 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Committee today, March 18th, 2026.
Find contact information for members of the Senate Education Committee below.
Senate Education Committee – SB2636 scheduled to be heard March 18.
SB2636 revamps standardized testing for Tennessee Homeschool students and does away with remediation and consequences for low scores following required testing.
Sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov; sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov; sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov; sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
Contact information for your state representative may be accessed HERE.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
