Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, allows the state board of education to waive the educator licensure requirement for an individual who does not hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution, but who has at least five years of teaching experience at a church-related school or private school approved to operate in this state, if the individual meets certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 49.

SB 2109 would allow Tennessee public schools to hire certain educators without a standard teaching license. Specifically, it permits the state board to waive licensure requirements for individuals who lack a bachelor's degree but have five or more consecutive years of full-time teaching experience at an approved private or church-related school. To qualify, applicants must provide school verification of performance, documentation of comparable teaching duties, proof of professional development, and pass background checks. The waiver would allow employment for up to three years (renewable), require annual performance evaluations by the school district, and does not grant a full teaching license.