- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states
This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in Tennessee public schools.
Background
- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states and K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.
K-12 content standards and curriculum development
State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.
Areas of instruction required by statute
Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in Tennessee
The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in Tennessee as of 2023. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.
Tennessee Code § 49-6-1006:
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Black history and culture.
The course of instruction in all public schools should include, at some appropriate grade level or levels, as determined by the local board of education, courses and content designed to educate children in black history and culture and the contribution of black people to the history and development of this country and of the world. The general assembly finds that the goal of curriculum shall include the history, heritage, culture, experience and ultimate destiny of all social, ethnic, gender and national groups and individuals, and that such are represented as interdependent, interactive and complementary. The state board of education shall include multicultural diversity when developing frameworks and curricula to be taught at appropriate grade levels kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12).[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1007:
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Character education.
(a) The course of instruction in all public schools shall include character education to help each student develop positive values and improve student conduct as students learn to act in harmony with their positive values and learn to become good citizens in their school, community and society. Public schools are urged to include the use of nonviolence as a means of conflict resolution within character education...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1010:
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Computer science education.
(a) In order for every student for whom it is educationally appropriate to receive instruction in computer science sufficient to enable the student to communicate and to be prepared for the technological jobs of today and tomorrow, the state board of education shall, no later than the 2024-2025 school year:
- (1) Require each public high school to offer its students access to at least one (1) credit of computer science education;
- (2) Require each public middle school student to take one (1) course in computer science education that includes instruction for a minimum of one (1) grading period for one (1) full school year;
- (3) Approve appropriate computer science courses that allow LEAs and public charter schools to meet the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2). A computer science course may include, but is not limited to, grade-appropriate instruction on how and why technologies work; exploring whether and how technologies may solve real-life problems; investigating procedures; creating solutions; and learning about computing systems, programming, data, networks, and the effects of technologies on society and individuals; and
- (4) Require each elementary school to provide each student grade-appropriate computer science education based on the academic standards in computer science education adopted by the state board of education...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1014:
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Celebrate Freedom Week.
(b) To educate students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values upon which this country was founded, the week of September 17, 2018, and annually thereafter, is designated as Celebrate Freedom Week to honor Constitution Day in all public schools...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1017:
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Sexual violence awareness curriculum.
(a) Subject to the guidance and approval of the state board of education, local boards of education are urged to develop a sexual violence awareness curriculum for presentation at least once in grades seven (7) and eight (8) and at least once, preferably twice, in grades nine through twelve (9-12), as part of the wellness, family life, safety, or other existing curricula. The curriculum should include instruction to increase students' awareness and understanding of teen dating violence and sexual violence, including, but not limited to, date rape, acquaintance rape, stranger rape, statutory rape, rape prevention strategies, resources and support available to victims of teen dating violence and sexual violence, and prosecution of crimes associated with teen dating and sexual violence...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1025:
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Art and music education.
(a) The course of instruction in all public schools for kindergarten through grade eight (K-8) shall include art and music education to help each student foster creative thinking, spatial learning, discipline, craftsmanship and the intrinsic rewards of hard work...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1034:
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Cursive writing to be included in public school course of instruction.
(a) The state board of education shall include cursive writing in the course of instruction in all public schools through the curriculum standards, at the appropriate grade level, as determined by the state board of education. The local board of education, in providing instruction in cursive writing, shall design curriculum, courses and content to enable students to create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting.[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1104:
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Curriculum in middle schools to educate students on STEM careers.
TSIN shall make available to all middle schools in the state a curriculum to educate students on the variety and benefits of STEM careers. The curriculum shall:
- (1) Emphasize the benefits of STEM careers in helping people;
- (2) Not be limited to science classrooms, but be applicable in multiple classrooms;
- (3) Automatically produce reports detailing the academic skills of students without requiring teachers to separately analyze these skills; and
- (4) Be available through the internet without requiring additional materials so that rural schools may easily access the curriculum.[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1202:
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American history and government.
(a) (1) Every four-year high school that receives public funds from city, county or state governments shall require every student to have at least one (1) year of instruction in American history and government, preferably in the fourth year...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1203:
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Federal and state constitutions.
(a) A treatise on the history and interpretation of the constitution of the United States approved or adopted by the state board of education is required to be taught in the high schools of this state...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1205:
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Free enterprise system.
(a) The state board of education shall establish a program of instruction for the public high schools on the essentials of the free enterprise system. Instruction shall be given in accordance with the course of study prescribed by the state board of education for at least one (1) semester, equal to one-half (½) unit of credit. The state board of education shall prescribe suitable teaching material for the instruction...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1302:
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Curriculum for family life education — Curriculum on sex education or human sexuality in accordance with curriculum guidelines for family life education.
(a) (1) Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, each LEA shall locally devise, adopt, and implement a program of family life education in conformance with the curriculum guidelines established for such programs by this part.
(2) Each LEA shall locally develop and adopt a family life curriculum in compliance with the requirements of this part...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1028:
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Legislative findings — Public school courses and content to educate children in the United States and Tennessee governments.
(b) (1) The state board of education shall include in the social studies standards, at the appropriate grade level or levels in high school, as determined by the state board of education through standards and the local board of education through curriculum, courses and content designed to educate children about the United States and Tennessee governments. The standards shall include the three (3) branches of government, the fundamental documents identified in § 49-6-1011(a) that underpin our form of government, an understanding of how laws are enacted, and ways citizens shape and influence government and governmental actions...[2]
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Tennessee Code § 49-6-1208:
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) program for junior or senior high schools curriculum.
(a) The state board of education may provide for a program of instruction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques commensurate with the learning expectations within the lifetime wellness curriculum for public junior or senior high schools. All students should participate in this introduction at least once during their attendance in junior or senior high school...[2]
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See also
External links
