TN SB2156

Establishes the Tennessee Teacher Residency Program Act, creating a grant program administered by the Department of Education to support teacher residency programs

Grants of up to $44,500 per teacher resident may be awarded to cover program operating costs, resident stipends, and mentor teacher stipends for up to 100 residents per academic year

Residency programs must include at least one full academic year of coursework combined with a concurrent full year of classroom apprenticeship under a mentor teacher

Teacher residents must commit to teaching for a minimum of 3 consecutive years in a public school or charter school within a partnering or high-need LEA; failure to complete requires stipend reimbursement

Department must submit biennial reports to legislative committees beginning November 1, 2028, on program outcomes