TN Code § 49-5-5619 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 49 - Education|Chapter 5 - Personnel|Part 56 - Teacher Training|§ 49-5-5619. Foundational Literacy Skills Standards — Training on Reading Instruction — Reading Instruction Test

  By July 31, 2021:  The department shall develop and submit to the state board for approval, foundational literacy skills standards for use by all educator preparation providers for the instruction of candidates seeking a license to teach students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3).   The department shall develop and submit to the state board for approval, foundational literacy skills standards for use by educator preparation providers in instructional leadership specialty area programs for the instruction of candidates seeking an instructional leader license.   The foundational literacy skills standards must include, at a minimum:  How to effectively teach the foundational literacy skills of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension;   How to differentiate instruction for teaching students with advanced reading skills and students with significant reading deficiencies, as defined in § 49-1-903;   Dyslexia identification and providing effective instruction for teaching students with dyslexia using appropriate scientific research and brain-based multisensory intervention methods and strategies consistent with § 49-6-3004(c)(1)(A);   How to implement reading instruction using high-quality instructional materials;   Behavior management, trauma-informed principles and practices for the classroom, and other developmentally appropriate supports to ensure that students can effectively access reading instruction; and   How to administer universal reading screeners to students and use the resulting data to improve reading instruction for students.       Beginning August 1, 2022, educator preparation providers must provide to candidates seeking licensure to teach students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3), as well as candidates seeking an instructional leader license, training on reading instruction focused primarily on the foundational literacy skills standards developed and approved in accordance with subsection (a).    Effective August 1, 2023, an applicable candidate must:  Provide a certificate documenting the candidate's passage of a Tennessee reading instruction test developed or identified by the department and approved by the state board that tests the candidate's knowledge of foundational literacy skills instruction, as defined in § 49-1-903; or   Provide evidence documenting the candidate's completion of a foundational literacy skills instruction course, as described in § 49-1-906, within the previous year.     The department shall recommend to the state board for approval, the score that constitutes passage of the test described in subdivision (c)(1)(A).   The department shall provide the test described in subdivision (c)(1)(A) at no cost to the candidate or educator preparation provider.   As used in this subsection (c), “applicable candidate” means:  A candidate seeking an initial teaching license or endorsement, or renewing a teaching license, that authorizes the candidate to teach students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3);   A candidate seeking an initial instructional leader license, or renewing or advancing an instructional leader license;   A candidate enrolled in a state-board-approved, post-baccalaureate educator preparation program who holds an initial license authorizing the candidate to teach students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3); who has demonstrated content knowledge in accordance with the state board's rules and policies; and who is seeking renewal or advancement of the initial teaching license;   A candidate for an initial teaching license that authorizes the candidate to teach students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3) who possesses an active professional-level license in a state that has a reciprocal agreement with the state board pursuant to § 49-5-109, and who is seeking renewal or advancement of the initial teaching license;   A candidate for an initial instructional leader license who possesses an active professional-level license in a state that has a reciprocal agreement with the state board pursuant to § 49-5-109, and who is seeking renewal or advancement of the initial instructional leader license; or   A candidate seeking to renew a professional-level license that authorizes the candidate to teach students in kindergarten through grade three (K-3).