New Laws Went Into Effect on July 1 to Enhance School Safety and Expand Higher Education Scholarships
By State Senator Page Walley
In my last article, we reviewed new laws that went into effect on July 1, 2023 – the beginning of the new fiscal year – to improve adoption and foster care services in Tennessee. This week, I am glad to continue to provide updates on other new laws I sponsored that went into effect July 1, 2023, including several news laws to enhance school safety and expand higher education scholarships.
One of these new laws, which was a major highlight of the 2023 legislation session, enhances school safety and improves security standards and protocols at public and private schools across the state. The legislation was first introduced in January, and several measures were added following the deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27, 2023.
The new law requires every public school and private school to keep doors locked at all times while students are present and develop annual safety plans that must include a newly required incident command drill for school leaders and law enforcement to prepare for various emergencies. It also creates new hardware security requirements for newly-built and remodeled schools.
In addition to this legislation, in the General Assembly, we approved over $230 million in the budget, which also went into effect July 1, 2023, to place a school resource officer (SRO) at every Tennessee public school, boost physical security at public and private schools, and provide additional mental health resources for Tennesseans.
Through these important safety measures, we are solidifying our unwavering commitment to do all we can to prevent future tragedies like the one at Covenant School, and I think this work will go a long way to ensure our schools are secure and our students and teachers are protected.
On July 1, 2023, a new law I sponsored expands virtual learning options for many rural school districts seeking to provide instruction to students removed from the classroom due to disciplinary infractions. The new law allows a school district without virtual learning to utilize virtual learning established in another school district for students who have been suspended or expelled from the regular school program. This new measure is designed to specifically benefit rural districts that don’t have the resources to establish virtual learning programs.
In higher education, another new law I sponsored went into effect to expand eligibility for the HOPE scholarship. The law allows students to receive the HOPE scholarship until they earn an advanced degree or for up to five years after initial enrollment – whichever is first.
The HOPE scholarship is funded by the state lottery and is awarded to freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within 16 months after graduating from a Tennessee-eligible high school.
This expansion of the very successful HOPE scholarship is exciting news for many bright Tennessee college students and prospective college students who aim to seek advanced degrees. It will help recruit, retain and reward students for successfully pursuing higher education.
It is an honor to serve as your state senator, and I will continue to update you on other important new laws that went into effect at the start of the new fiscal year. As always, please reach out to me if I can assist you in any way at sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov or (615) 741-2368.
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