§ 49-13-133 — Establishment of opportunity public charter schools - Annual evaluations - Establishment of alternative education programs - Compliance with federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act

(a) A sponsor may apply to open an opportunity public charter school pursuant to the application process outlined in § 49-13-107 . (b) The department, in consultation with the commission, may develop a specific opportunity public charter school application. (c) The state board of education shall promulgate rules to establish an annual evaluation of the at-risk student enrollment at opportunity public charter schools. If an opportunity public charter school fails to meet the seventy-five percent (75%) at-risk student enrollment requirement described in § 49-13-104 for three (3) consecutive years, then the opportunity public charter school shall: (1) Petition the authorizer to amend its charter agreement; or (2) Voluntarily close. (d) Opportunity public charter schools may establish alternative education programs in compliance with § 49-6-3402 . (e) (1) The department of education shall recommend, and the state board of education shall adopt, an opportunity public charter school accountability framework in compliance with all federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act ( 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.). (2) The opportunity public charter school accountability framework must include multiple measures and include performance metrics and targets that ensure students are prepared for post high school success. (3) The department shall convene an opportunity public charter school accountability working group to provide input and feedback prior to the recommendation of an accountability framework to the state board of education.

Legislative History

Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1066,s 13, eff. 7/1/2024, app. to opportunity public charter schools applying to open in the 2026- 2027 school year or in a subsequent school year.