State of Tennessee

The meeting included a welcome for a new board member and reflections on the Education Commission of the States Conference. Consent items were adopted, including the agenda. A final reading and approval occurred for the Residential Mental Health Facilities Emergency Rule 0520-01-20-.02 through -.05, with clarifying questions and a request for follow-up on a constituent in the IEA program.

The State Board of Education meeting involved discussions and actions on various topics, including Blue Ribbon Schools and Title I Distinguished Schools recognition. The board reviewed and approved resolutions recognizing educator advisory teams and the Standards Recommendation Committee. Several policies were reviewed and approved, including those related to ESL programs, high school requirements, TVAAS data usage, professional assessments, physical education standards, educator licensure, and early childhood programs. New math and English language arts standards were adopted, along with changes to permanent elective courses in ELA. The board also addressed educator preparation, charter school appeals, and teacher licensure actions, including suspensions, denials of reinstatement, and formal reprimands. Finally, the board approved various course standards and updates to rules concerning child nutrition programs and salary schedules.

The State Board of Education meeting addressed several key agenda items. A new state minimum salary schedule for the 2016-17 fiscal year was approved, incorporating a base salary increase. The board also approved a revised 2015-16 District Accountability Policy due to the suspension of grade 3-8 assessments. New rules for Individualized Education Accounts (IEAs) were finalized, incorporating revisions based on Attorney General feedback. Finally, the board reviewed and upheld Shelby County Schools' revocation of charter agreements for four schools: New Consortium of Law and Business, Omni Prep Academy Lower School, Omni Prep Academy Middle School, and Southern Avenue Middle School, citing various reasons including non-compliance and poor performance.

The meeting addressed several key items. A letter of necessity was presented by General Counsel. Consent items included the adoption of the agenda. First reading items included a promotion and retention policy, which was postponed to the next meeting. Final reading items included rules on district and school operations, education of incarcerated students, school and student health services, court-ordered day treatment facilities, education savings accounts, continuous learning plans, and residential mental health facilities. A fiscal capacity formula approval and a textbook/instructional materials waiver request were also approved.

The meeting included reports from the Rules & Policy Committee and the Business Operations Committee, covering topics such as policy updates (Policy 1.100, LEA Policies), budget updates, and charter agreements for Nashville Collegiate Prep and Cornerstone Prep School. Discussions also included charter commission matters, executive director updates, renewal appeal timelines, commission training on revocation appeals and authorizer evaluations.