Education - As introduced, creates the division of early child care and education within the department of education. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.

HB 1238 creates a new Division of Early Child Care and Education within Tennessee's Department of Education by December 31, 2026. The division will directly manage state and federal early childhood programs - including voluntary pre-K, Head Start, the Child Care Development Block Grant, and programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - and oversee a unified system for child care licensing and quality standards. Key provisions include standardizing licensing rules to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining safety, implementing a quality rating system for programs, and establishing community input mechanisms like local planning grants. The bill also requires a transition plan with an advisory council to develop this system, with final implementation due by 2026.