§ 49-6-409 — Alternative methods for adult education

(a) The department of education shall develop alternative methods by which adult students attending adult high schools may meet requirements that condition the receipt of credit for a course on a minimum number of contact hours. The alternative methods may be in lieu of all or part of the required contact hours. The alternative methods may include learning programs such as independent study under the guidance of a teacher at the adult high school, computer-assisted learning programs, on-line or distance learning programs, and work experience, if appropriate, for a particular course. Any student pursuing an alternate method of satisfying a contact hours requirement shall demonstrate mastery of the course content prior to receiving credit for the course. (b) In addition to the alternative methods developed by the department of education pursuant to subsection (a), an adult high school may provide virtual instruction in accordance with the requirements of chapter 16, part 2 of this title; provided, however, that an adult high school that provides virtual instruction to students must satisfy the instructional time requirements established for adult high schools by the state board of education. (c) A local board of education may contract for services with a nonprofit or for-profit entity for the operation and management of an adult high school. An adult high school operated by a nonprofit or for-profit entity under a contract with a local board of education must receive state and local school funding from the local board of education for the first year of its operation based on anticipated enrollment. A contract entered pursuant to this subsection (c) must: (1) Provide the maximum enrollment for the adult high school; (2) Require the nonprofit or for-profit entity to provide the local board of education with the anticipated enrollment at least four (4) months before the adult high school opens for its first year of operations, which must not exceed the maximum enrollment set forth in the contract with the local board of education; and (3) Require the local board of education to adjust payments to contracted adult high schools no less than three (3) times per year, in the months of October, February, and June, based on changes in revenue, student membership, or student services.

Legislative History

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 960,s 1, eff. 5/9/2024. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 838, s 1, eff. 4/19/2022. Acts 2007 , ch. 213, § 1.