Education - As introduced, authorizes, instead of requires, local education agencies and public charter schools to retain a student in the third grade if the student has not shown a basic understanding of the curriculum and an ability to perform the skills required in the subject of reading or English language arts. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 1995 changes Tennessee's third-grade retention policy from mandatory to optional. It allows public schools and charter schools to choose whether to retain a third grader who hasn't demonstrated basic reading or English language arts skills, based on grades or test results, instead of requiring retention. The bill removes the current mandatory requirement and applies to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. This directly affects third-grade students in Tennessee public schools who may no longer be automatically retained if they don't meet reading benchmarks.