Title 49, Education

(a) A program approved under this chapter shall provide for the award of dual credit for a high school course; provided, that the student successfully completes the high school requirements for the course and the student meets all postsecondary standards for validation of the cre…

(a) The local board of education shall allocate one hundred percent (100%) of state and local TISA funds generated by the participating student, as well as the average per pupil amount of any additional local funds received by the LEA, to a program approved under this chapter. Al…

Success of a program shall be measured by high school retention rates, high school completion rates, high school dropout rates, certification and associate and baccalaureate degree completion, admission to four-year institutions, postgraduation employment in career or study-relat…

(a) To facilitate the creation of cooperative innovative high school programs and to provide a seamless transition process from secondary to postsecondary education, the consortium shall oversee the development of a statewide high school to postsecondary agreement that shall buil…

Members of the consortium and any committees created by the consortium shall not receive compensation for serving on the consortium or its committees, but may be reimbursed for attendance at meetings in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commi…

(a) When the consortium approves a program under this part and the program successfully provides a dual credit class that is accepted by an institution of higher education in either the board of regents system or the University of Tennessee system, then any high school in the sta…

The purpose of this chapter is to provide school districts and students in all grades with a broader range of educational opportunities through effective use of technology.

(a) The state board of education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. The rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. (b) The stat…

(a) LEAs are authorized to use Tennessee investment in student achievement formula (TISA) funds in the implementation and operation of virtual education programs. (b) The department of education and local education agencies may apply for and receive grants and accept donations to…

(a) The department of education shall annually submit to the governor, the general assembly, and the state board of education a complete and detailed reporting of:(1) The operation of virtual education programs;(2) The number of students enrolling in these programs and the succes…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require local education agencies to offer or participate in a virtual education program. Participation in a virtual education program by a student shall be at the discretion of the LEA in which the student is enrolled or zoned to atte…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Virtual Public Schools Act.”

The purpose of this part is to provide an LEA with an alternative choice to offer additional educational resources in an effort to improve academic achievement.

(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Establisher” means an LEA; and(2) “Virtual school” means a public school in which the school uses technology in order to deliver a significant portion of instruction to its students via the internet in a virtual…

Virtual schools may be established by an LEA. A virtual school shall be a public school and shall be provided resources as any other public school in the state.

(1) A virtual school shall provide each student enrolled in the school:(1) Access to a sequential curriculum that meets or exceeds the academic standards adopted by the state board of education. The sequential curriculum shall have an interactive program with significant online c…

(1) For each family with a student enrolled, the virtual school shall:(1) Provide instructional materials; and(2) Ensure materials and access to necessary technology such as computer, printer and internet connection used for school work or, at minimum, through a physical computer…

Virtual schools shall not provide assistance to students or families to purchase instructional programs or materials. Nothing in this section shall prohibit virtual schools from reimbursing families for costs associated with their internet connection for use in the virtual school…

Each teacher employed at a virtual school shall be qualified to teach in this state under existing law.

Nothing in this part shall preclude the use of computer-based and Internet-based instruction for students in a virtual or remote setting.

A virtual school shall maintain an administrative office within the state. This office shall be considered its principal place of business.

(a) Any student who is eligible for enrollment in a public school in this state may enroll in a virtual school as either a full-time virtual school student or as a part-time virtual school student taking some of the student's courses through the virtual school. An LEA is authoriz…

In order to encourage collaboration among LEAs, a virtual school is authorized to operate according to the authority granted by the Educational Cooperation Act, compiled in chapter 2, part 13 of this title.

(a) A virtual school shall be evaluated annually by its establisher based on the following criteria:(1) The extent to which the school demonstrates increases in student achievement according to the goals of its authorizing contract and state academic standards; and(2) The account…

(a) An establisher may contract for services with a nonprofit or for-profit provider for the operation and management of a virtual school. (b) The department of education shall maintain and publish on the department's website a list of providers that operated or managed a virtual…

The state board of education shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this part. All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

(a) (a) If a public school established under the jurisdiction of an LEA is a member of an organization or an association that regulates interscholastic athletic competition, and if such organization or association establishes or maintains eligibility requirements for virtual scho…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Energy Efficient Schools Initiative (EESI) of 2008.”

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Council” means the twelve-member energy efficient schools council created by this chapter;(2) “Energy audit” means any professional energy audit used to determine the energy efficiency of a structure that is …

(a) (1) There is created the energy efficient schools council. The council shall consist of twelve (12) members, including the commissioner of education, the commissioner of environment and conservation and the commissioner of economic and community development, or their designee…

(a) The council may award grants or loans to school systems or public charter schools for qualifying capital outlay projects as provided in § 49-17-103 after reviewing and approving:(1) An energy audit performed by a qualified professional that is either chosen by the council or …

(a) All annual reports and all books of accounts and financial records of the energy efficient schools council shall be subject to audit annually by the comptroller of the treasury. With prior approval of the comptroller of the treasury, the audit may be performed by a licensed i…

(a) An energy efficient schools council fund shall be established as a separate account in the state treasury. Amounts remaining in the fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund. Moneys in the energy efficient schools council fund shall be invested …

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Course Access Program Act.”

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Blended learning” means the combination of virtual learning with the integration of in-person teaching practices. Blended learning occurs in a school building and can be teacher led or involve the purchase or use of a technology;(2) “Charter manag…

(a) Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, an eligible student may enroll in course access program courses. (b) (1) A participating student may enroll in no more than two (2) course access program courses per school year, unless the student's home LEA approves the student to tak…

(a) The department shall establish guidelines and procedures for course providers to seek approval from the state board. All approved providers shall be included in the listing of providers in the course access catalog. (b) The department shall post all approval guidelines and pr…

(a) To be approved as a course provider pursuant to this chapter, a provider shall:(1) Follow the approval process of the department as established under § 49-18-104(a). No provider applicant shall act as a course provider until approved by the state board. All decisions of the s…

(a) The department shall establish guidelines for the design and implementation of course access program courses. (b) Host LEAs seeking to offer a course access program course shall establish a local course review and approval process. (c) Host LEAs shall ensure each course appro…

(a) Approved providers shall annually report to the department, in the manner directed by the department, the following information:(1) Detailed student records of enrollment;(2) Student performance, course completion rates, and course grading information for each subject area an…

The state board shall adopt a policy regarding extended learning opportunities.

(a) Home LEAs shall:(1) Provide written notice to students and parents on the availability of courses and the timeline for students to enroll; and(2) Publish information and eligibility guidelines on the home LEA's website. (1) Provide written notice to students and parents on th…

(a) (1) The commissioner of education may organize and supervise schools and classes according to the rules and standards established for the conduct of schools and classes of the public school system in this state in all institutions wholly or partly supported by this state that…

(a) The department of finance and administration shall prescribe the budgetary, accounting, and financial reporting procedures for the Tennessee School for the Blind, the Tennessee School for the Deaf, the West Tennessee School for the Deaf, and the Alvin C. York Agricultural Ins…

(a) The several appropriations of state funds annually made for the operation and maintenance of the Tennessee School for the Blind, the Tennessee School for the Deaf, the West Tennessee School for the Deaf, the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, and other special schools oper…

(a) The school for the instruction of students who are blind or visually impaired in Nashville shall be a body corporate by the name of “Tennessee School for the Blind.” (b) The corporation has the right to:(1) Sue in law or equity;(2) Receive donations of money from any source f…