Education, State Board of - As enacted, expands the state board's power to subpoena the appearance of persons or the production of items the chair of the state board, or the chair's designee, considers material or relevant to an accountability hearing for a local education agency operating a public school, or a public charter school, receiving a "D" or "F" letter grade. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 3 and Title 49, Chapter 5.

SB 688 expands the Tennessee State Board of Education's authority to require testimony or documents during accountability hearings for public schools or charter schools rated "D" or "F" on state report cards. The bill allows the board chair or their designee to issue subpoenas for people, documents, videos, or audio recordings deemed relevant to these hearings. It specifically amends Tennessee Code sections related to education oversight (Titles 49, Chapters 1, 3, and 5) to formalize this subpoena power. This change directly affects low-performing schools and the state board during investigations into their operations. The law became effective May 5, 2025, after the governor signed it.