READING REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSURE
The 2021 Tennessee Literacy Success Act requires certain educators to complete a literacy course before license renewal. This document includes details about the requirements, endorsements that are included in these new requirements, and clarification on how to demonstrate completion of the requirement.
Training Requirement
The Tennessee Literacy Success Act requires that all teachers holding a license with an endorsement that allows them to teach reading in grades K-5 complete at least one approved foundational literacy skills course by August 1, 2023. The free TN Early Reading Training meets this training requirement. At the completion of the training, a certificate is earned with a passing score on the summative assessment. This certificate must be uploaded in TN Compass within one year of the educator’s licensure renewal or advancement deadline in order to meet the licensure requirement component of the Literacy Success Act.
Licensure Requirement
Effective August 1, 2023, candidates seeking to obtain, renew, or advance a teaching license with at least one qualifying endorsement (as listed below) should provide evidence documenting the completion of an approved foundational literacy skills course. This documentation must be submitted in TN Compass within one year of the licensure and endorsement issuance, renewal, or advancement date. Educators completing the training requirement detailed above can use the documentation from course completion to satisfy this requirement as long as the documentation is submitted within one year of the licensure and endorsement issuance, renewal, or advancement date. This licensure requirement pertains to the following qualifying endorsements:
- (468) Early Development and Learning Pre-K-K
- (467) Early Childhood Education Pre-K-3
- (2000) Integrated Early Childhood Education Birth-K
- (2001) Integrated Early Childhood Education Pre-K-3
- (120) Elementary Education K-5
- (459) Special Education Early Childhood Pre-K-3
- (461) Special Education Comprehensive K-12
- (144) Special Education Interventionist K-8
- (441) Instructional Leader License (Aspiring) – Out of state pathway only(442) Instructional Leader License
- (443) Instructional Leader License
- Note: These endorsement codes are pending final approval from the State Board of Education
Educators holding a retired endorsement that allows them to teach reading in any grade kindergarten through fifth (e.g. Elementary K-6, or a 1-8 endorsement), are also required to complete the foundational literacy skills course and subsequent guidelines as stated above.
Additional Considerations
Educators Completing a Preparation Program with a Job-Embedded Clinical Practice
Educators enrolled in a preparation program with a job-embedded clinical practice and who hold a Practitioner License with at least one qualifying endorsement must demonstrate completion of the foundational skills literacy course or assessment prior to renewing or advancing the license.
Adding Qualifying Endorsements to a License
Educators seeking to add any of the qualifying endorsements listed above to an active license must also demonstrate completion of this requirement prior to the endorsement being added to the license.
Multiple Endorsements on a License
Educators holding a license with multiple endorsements, at least one (1) of which is not impacted by these requirements may maintain licensure and any unapplicable endorsements, however, any applicable endorsements will become inactive at the time of renewal or advancement of the license unless the educator demonstrates completion of this requirement.
Failure to Meet this Requirement
Educators who only hold a license with applicable endorsements(s) and who do not complete this requirement will not be able to renew or advance the license and it will become inactive. In order to reactivate an inactive license, educators must complete the literacy requirement.
Timeline
Applications for initial licensure, licensure renewal or advancement, and additional endorsement received on or after August 1, 2023, will be evaluated against the aforementioned requirements