§ 49-3-107 — Fast-growth stipends

(a) Subject to available appropriations, stipends must be allocated pursuant to this section. Funds appropriated for the purposes of this section must first be allocated pursuant to subsection (b). If the funds appropriated for the purposes of this section exceed the amount required to fund stipends pursuant to subsection (b), then the excess funds must next be allocated pursuant to subsection (c). If the funds appropriated for the purposes of this section exceed the amount required to fund stipends pursuant to subsections (b) and (c), then the percentage in subsection (b) may be lowered to ensure that all funds appropriated are allocated and disbursed to LEAs. (b) An LEA that experiences growth in the total allocation generated by students in non-virtual schools in the LEA pursuant to § 49-3-105 in the current year in excess of one and one-quarter percent (1.25%), as compared to the prior year, is eligible for a fast-growth stipend equal to the increase in allocations in excess of one and one-quarter percent (1.25%). If the funds appropriated for purposes of this section are insufficient to provide for an LEA's fast-growth stipend, then the commissioner shall apply a pro rata reduction to the stipend amount each LEA is otherwise eligible to receive. (c) Subject to available appropriations, an LEA that experiences ADM growth in non-virtual schools exceeding two percent (2%) for each year of a three-consecutive-year period is eligible for an infrastructure stipend. The infrastructure stipend is a per-student flat dollar amount based on the number of member students in non-virtual schools in the LEA for the current school year in excess of a two percent (2%) ADM growth in non-virtual schools from the prior year. An infrastructure stipend in a given year must be uniform for all eligible LEAs.

Legislative History

Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 966, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.