Panel advances bill to create adult charter‑school framework

The subcommittee advanced House Bill 1759, which would add an adult charter‑school framework to Tennessee law while preserving the existing adult high‑school statute.

Chairman Slater said the proposal addresses a substantial population of working‑age adults without high‑school diplomas and argued the bill would not charge tuition to adult students because adult charter schools would follow charter funding structures. He told members other states (Indiana cited) have similar frameworks. Members across the committee probed fiscal impacts, asking whether the state or charter operators would bear facility and instructional costs; the sponsor and proponents said funding would be handled largely the same way charters are funded, and the bill defines full‑time enrollment calculations for adults differently from K‑12 averages. The subcommittee recorded a 7‑0‑1 (present not voting) tally and moved the bill to full Education for further consideration.

Supporters said adult charters could create education pipelines for adults to obtain diplomas and access programs like Tennessee Reconnect; opponents asked for more clarity on the fiscal note and how adult enrollment would be measured. The committee asked for continued vetting as the bill moves forward.