TEA Legislative Achievements
- 2024 TEA won reinstatement and back pay for member
- 2023 Tennessee legislature unanimously passed six-week paid parental leave for public school teachers and staff after years of advocacy by TEA members
- 2023 TEA won over $460,000 for a teacher who had been wrongfully discharged
- 2022 Allowed retired teachers to substitute with salary while maintaining TCRS
- 2021 Required state salary increases be applied to the SMSS
- 2018 Teachers held harmless from TNReady and K/Pre-K portfolios
- 2017 Private school vouchers defeated for the fifth straight year
- 2016 Standardized test transparency for teachers and parents
- 2015 Added $127 million recurring funds for salary and benefits
- 2014 Licensure decisions not based on TVAAS data
- 2013 Teacher’s Choice on reassignment after a “reduction in force”
- 2012 Teacher evaluations are not public record
- 2010 TEA strengthens Tenure Law by requiring professional hearing officers
- 2008 60, 80, 90 Campaign stresses impact of adequate salaries, insurance and retirement on teacher quality
- 2006 $250 million NEW dollars appropriated for Pre-K and K-12 programs
- 2005 $25 million in lottery funds earmarked for pre-kindergarten expansion
- 2003 One member of Tennessee State Board of Education required to be a K-12 teacher
- 2002 “Working Conditions” clarified under PN law
- 2001 Special Education class size reduced
- 1999 Privacy protected for educators’ Social Security, drivers’ license and bank information
- 1998 Health Insurance benefit gained for retired teachers
- 1997 Retirement benefits improved with compounded COLA
- 1996 Teachers protected from performing medical procedures
- 1992 Kindergarten mandated
- 1992 Class size reduced due to the Education Improvement Act
- 1990 Tuition reduction for children of public school teachers
- 1986 Sixty minutes per week planning time for K-8 teachers mandated
- 1985 Duty-free Lunch mandated
- 1985 State Health Insurance Plan for teachers enforced
- 1981 Sick Leave Bank authorized
- 1979 K-3 Class Size maximum reduced to 25 students
- 1978 Professional Negotiations Act passed
- 1973 Comprehensive Vocational Education Program launched
- 1971 Personal/Professional Leave Days mandated
- 1965 First state-supported pilot kindergarten program approved
- 1957 Social Security authorized for teachers
- 1951 Teacher Tenure law enacted
- 1947 Sick Leave law enacted
- 1945 First Teacher Retirement law enacted
Scholarship Application Form Spring 2026 Deadline: April 10th, 2026 Please email all inquiries and...
As united members, we possess the power to shape our profession, influence policies, and drive...
Code of Ethics of the Tennessee Education Association Adopted by the TEA Representative Assembly...
TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION TEA actively protects and advocates for our students, our...
TEA Legislative Achievements
- 2024 TEA won reinstatement and back pay for member
- 2023 Tennessee legislature unanimously passed six-week paid parental leave for public school teachers and staff after years of advocacy by TEA members
- 2023 TEA won over $460,000 for a teacher who had been wrongfully discharged
- 2022 Allowed retired teachers to substitute with salary while maintaining TCRS
- 2021 Required state salary increases be applied to the SMSS
- 2018 Teachers held harmless from TNReady and K/Pre-K portfolios
- 2017 Private school vouchers defeated for the fifth straight year
- 2016 Standardized test transparency for teachers and parents
- 2015 Added $127 million recurring funds for salary and benefits
- 2014 Licensure decisions not based on TVAAS data
- 2013 Teacher’s Choice on reassignment after a “reduction in force”
- 2012 Teacher evaluations are not public record
- 2010 TEA strengthens Tenure Law by requiring professional hearing officers
- 2008 60, 80, 90 Campaign stresses impact of adequate salaries, insurance and retirement on teacher quality
- 2006 $250 million NEW dollars appropriated for Pre-K and K-12 programs
- 2005 $25 million in lottery funds earmarked for pre-kindergarten expansion
- 2003 One member of Tennessee State Board of Education required to be a K-12 teacher
- 2002 “Working Conditions” clarified under PN law
- 2001 Special Education class size reduced
- 1999 Privacy protected for educators’ Social Security, drivers’ license and bank information
- 1998 Health Insurance benefit gained for retired teachers
- 1997 Retirement benefits improved with compounded COLA
- 1996 Teachers protected from performing medical procedures
- 1992 Kindergarten mandated
- 1992 Class size reduced due to the Education Improvement Act
- 1990 Tuition reduction for children of public school teachers
- 1986 Sixty minutes per week planning time for K-8 teachers mandated
- 1985 Duty-free Lunch mandated
- 1985 State Health Insurance Plan for teachers enforced
- 1981 Sick Leave Bank authorized
- 1979 K-3 Class Size maximum reduced to 25 students
- 1978 Professional Negotiations Act passed
- 1973 Comprehensive Vocational Education Program launched
- 1971 Personal/Professional Leave Days mandated
- 1965 First state-supported pilot kindergarten program approved
- 1957 Social Security authorized for teachers
- 1951 Teacher Tenure law enacted
- 1947 Sick Leave law enacted
- 1945 First Teacher Retirement law enacted