Criminal Offenses - As enacted, clarifies that a school employee does not commit the criminal offense of falsifying educational and academic documents for altering, creating, or duplicating the grade of a student in an educational or academic document if the alteration, creation, or duplication is due to the student obtaining the grade through a program that allows students to retake a failed course, exam, or assignment and earn credit. - Amends TCA Section 39-14-136 and Title 49.

SB 273 amends Tennessee law to clarify that school employees do not commit a criminal offense when updating a student's grade in official records after the student retakes a failed course, exam, or assignment and earns credit through a valid academic program. This specifically applies to grade changes made under retake policies, removing potential criminal liability for such updates under TCA Section 39-14-136. The bill directly affects school staff (like teachers and administrators) who manage academic records, ensuring they are not prosecuted for routine grade corrections tied to retake programs. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and focuses solely on defining when grade adjustments are legally permissible.