By Associated Press - Tuesday, December 29, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday announced he was calling for a special legislative session to address education challenges that have popped up amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lee said the GOP-dominant Legislature will convene at the Capitol on Jan. 19 to address a handful of legislative proposals, but he did not detail how long it will last.

This is the third special session Lee has convened during his first term in office.

“Even before the virus hit, and despite years of improvement, too many of our state’s students were still unable to read on grade level,” Lee said in a statement. “I’m calling on the legislature to join us in addressing these serious issues so we can equip our hardworking educators and districts with the resources and supports they need to set our students on the path to success.”

Lee is asking lawmakers to take up five issues: learning, funding, accountability, literacy and teacher pay. More details will be released by the Department of Education.

Separately, the Legislature is expected to start its regular legislative session on Jan. 12.

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