AN ACT to amend Chapter __ of the Public Acts of 2025 (1st Ex. Sess. – SB 6001 / HB 6004); and Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 10, Part 14 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 26, relative to background checks.
- Introduced
- Failed
Overview
This bill requires private schools that accept students using Tennessee's education freedom scholarships, individualized education accounts, or education savings accounts to conduct background checks on teachers and staff with child contact. Homeschoolers who use these scholarship or savings account programs may be affected if they operate as private schools or umbrella schools enrolling other scholarship recipients.
Why it matters: If a homeschooling family uses one of these state-funded education programs and is classified as a private school, they would need to implement background check procedures for any staff or household members with direct student contact. This represents a potential compliance requirement for homeschoolers participating in Tennessee's education savings and scholarship programs.
Topic: esa_voucher_taxcredit · classifier confidence 72%
What this changes
Amends existing law
Law today: Tennessee law currently establishes education freedom scholarships, individualized education account programs, and education savings account programs that allow students to attend private schools. The bill does not spell out what background check requirements, if any, currently apply to private schools receiving students through these programs.
If passed: This bill would require private schools that enroll students using education freedom scholarships, individualized education accounts, or education savings accounts to conduct background checks on teachers and staff who have direct contact with children or access to school grounds when children are present. This means homeschools operating as private schools and accepting students under these scholarship/account programs would need to perform background checks on their staff before hiring.
AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.
Likely supporters & opponents
Likely support
- Child-safety advocates — Background checks protect children by screening out individuals with criminal histories or disqualifying records before they work with students.
- Public-school accountability groups — Applying background check standards to private schools receiving public funding creates consistent safety requirements across all educational settings.
Likely opposition
- School-choice advocates and homeschool organizations — Background check mandates increase administrative burden and cost for small private schools and homeschools, potentially discouraging participation in choice programs.
- Private and homeschool operators — Homeschools often hire family members or trusted community members and view background checks as an intrusive government requirement that infringes on parental autonomy in hiring decisions.
AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.
Should I support this?
Likely harmful for Christian families
This bill imposes a new compliance requirement and cost on private schools and homeschools accepting scholarship/account students, which limits the flexibility and autonomy that homeschool families value and may discourage participation in otherwise beneficial education choice programs.
An AI assessment from a Christian-family perspective — religious freedom, parental rights, and freedom in education — not legal or voting advice.
Official summary
As introduced, requires private schools that enroll recipients of an education freedom scholarship, students participating in the individualized education account program, or students participating in the education savings account program to conduct background checks prior to employing a teacher or person who will have direct contact with school children or access to school grounds when children are present. - Amends Chapter __ of the Public Acts of 2025 (1st Ex. Sess. – SB 6001 / HB 6004); and TCA Title 49, Chapter 10, Part 14 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 26.
Sponsors
- Gabby Salinas (D)
Status timeline
- 2025-03-25Failed in s/c K-12 Subcommittee of Education CommitteeH
- 2025-03-19Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/25/2025H
- 2025-03-18Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/25/2025H
- 2025-03-12Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/18/2025H
- 2025-02-11Assigned to s/c K-12 SubcommitteeH
- 2025-02-10P2C, ref. to Education CommitteeH
- 2025-02-06Intro., P1C.H
- 2025-02-05Filed for introductionH
H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly