Education, Curriculum - As enacted, makes various changes to the approval process and notice requirements for nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses; clarifies that public charter schools are authorized to provide nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses in the same manner as local education agencies. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 1197 modifies Tennessee's education code to allow public school districts and public charter schools to offer nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses as academic electives. It requires local school boards or charter school governing bodies to approve these courses and mandates schools to post approved curricula and standards online. The bill also directs the state education department to maintain a public list of schools offering such courses and notify districts annually about their eligibility to provide state-funded Bible courses. These changes apply starting with the 2025-2026 school year.