State Senator Bill Powers Proposes Legislation to Collect ‘Early Warning Signs’ in Schools

Senator Bill Powers (Photo by Senator Powers)

Tennessee State Senator Bill Powers, R-Clarksville, has filed legislation for next year that would require school districts to collect data on students displaying the “early warning signs” of safety, health, or behavioral issues.

The “Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act” defines those issues as including students engaging in or being the victim of harassment, intimidation, bullying, making threats of violence, or exhibiting signs of substance abuse, mental health issues, self-harm, or suicidal ideation.

If approved by state lawmakers next year, teachers and school staff would be required to enter data on these early warning signs into a computer-based system and immediately notify the appropriate district staff.

Under the bill, school districts would also be required to submit an annual report to the Tennessee Department of Education that includes the number of early warning signs entered into the system and the steps taken.

Powers serves as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Education Committee, which would likely vote on the legislation.

Support from Education Group

The bill has received the support of the Executive Director of the Professional Educators of Tennessee.  J.C. Bowman. has publicly supported the bill and explained why in a post on X.

“Right now we are not documenting some of the stuff that would help curtail future violence,” wrote Bowman. “And in a very mobile society kids move between schools. At least in one case of which I am aware, the kid faced a serious felony charge and transferred into a neighboring county. It would have helped that system to have knowledge.”