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The State Board of Education’s special called meeting to vote on proposed emergency rules will begin in 10 minutes. The agenda items and call-in information are posted on the State Board website. https://bit.ly/2UXg9Kl
Due to the high number of conference calls occurring nationwide, some users may experience challenges accessing the conference call platform. The meeting will be recorded and posted on this page within 24 hours of the meeting’s conclusion.
We will also announce the results of each vote on this account. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Chair Hartgrove is now calling the meeting into session.
The 1st agenda item is a packet of emergency rules. Pursuant to Executive Orders No. 13 & 14 declaring a state of emergency in TN, the SBE must approve emergency rules to address special circumstances created by the statewide closure of schools.
These rules were developed by SBE staff in close consultation with @TNedu. Feedback was solicited from numerous stakeholder organizations including @TOSS1975, @TSBA_News, @TNhighered, and other valued partners.
If approved by the SBE, these rules will be sent to the Atty General for approval and filed with the Secretary of State’s office. These rules will go into effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State’s office and will remain in effect for 180 days.
The COVID-19 Emergency Rules include changes to the following:
Rule 0520-01-02-.17 State Attendance Guidelines: Clarifies that districts may take attendance during distance learning but may not issue unexcused absences or report truancy for failure to participate in distance learning activities during the period of closure due to COVID19.
Rule 0520-01-03-.11 Requirements for 2019-20 SY as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: This rule establishes the process for LEAs to seek approval of waivers from the Commissioner and SBE.
Rule 0520-01-03-.11 also includes amended graduation requirements for students scheduled to graduate in SY 19-20, grading considerations for students taking HS credit courses, suspension of spring TCAP testing in SY 19-20, and revised accountability requirements.
Rule 0520-02-04-.11: This adds a new section to the SBE’s Ed Prep rule, addressing modified req for teacher candidates who were unable to complete their clinical placement due to COVID-19 associated closures.
Rule 0520-02-03-.09: Amends the SBE’s licensure discipline rule to allow Directors of Schools to request an extension of the 30-day reporting period if the Director is unable to submit a timely report due to school closures as a result of COVID-19.
Rule 0520-02-03-.15: Amends the Edu Licensure rule to allow prospective educators who were unable to complete req exams due to COVID-19 to receive a provisional practitioner license with the req that scores on licensure exams be submitted by 8/31/2021.
This rule also allows educators whose practitioner license is set to expire in August 2020 to have the license validity period extended 1 yr to allow the educator to complete req for renewal or advancement.
There are also changes to 0520-02-03-.03 and -.10 to streamline pathways for out-of-state educators and school leaders to obtain licensure in Tennessee.
Rule 0520-02-01-.01 General Req for Eval: This rule amends the Evaluations rule to clarify that Lvl of Overall Effectiveness scores will not be generated for 19-20 SY. Also clarifies that observations that were not able to be completed in the 19-20 SY will not be required.
Rule 0520-01-09-.24: This amends the SBE’s special education rule to extend the time period by which a school must complete a student’s initial evaluation to ninety days after receipt of parental consent. This extension is authorized by 34 C.F.R. § 300.301(c).
Rule 0520-01-11-.07 Monitoring and Compliance: Amends the Individualized Education Accounts rule to waive the req that students participating in the program take a nationally norm-referenced test or the TCAP test if such test was scheduled to occur in the spring of the 19-20 SY.
Rule 0520-07-02-.09: This amends the Non-Public School Approval Process rule to clarify that approved Cat I and II private schools are not req to take TCAP or a nationally standardized achievement test if the test was scheduled to occur in the spring semester of the 19-20 SY.
Additionally, clarifies that the 180 instructional day req is also waived for Cat I & II private schools and that any approved private school that is req to meet the same grad reqs as public schools is also subject to the amended grad reqs for 19-20 SY graduates.
After a lengthy discussion of the proposed rules packet, members of the State Board voted unanimously in favor of passing the emergency rules. Vice-Chair Bob Eby made the motion to approve. Mr. Larry Jensen made the second.
Our second agenda item is English as a Second Language Program Policy 3.207. The proposed changes to this policy seek to update criteria for provisional identification, service models, and exit criteria in light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
The State Board has voted in favor of passing Policy 3.207 on first and final reading. Mr. Gordon Ferguson provided the motion to approve the item and Mr. Mike Edwards seconded the motion.
The SBE will now consider changes to the Uniform Grading Policy 3.301 on first and final reading.
These changes aim to waive the req that students taking certain EPSO courses, (i.e. AP, IB, Cambridge, & dual credit) must participate in the associated assessment for that course in order to obtain additional GPA weighting, if the assessment was to occur in Spring 2020.
Vice-Chair Eby has proposed an amendment to clarify introductory language to the Uniform Grading Policy indicating that the waiver is specifically for students enrolled in relevant EPSO courses in Spring 2020.
Members of the Board have cast their votes in favor of approving changes to the Uniform Grading Policy.
The SBE will now consider changes to the Charter School Local Education Agency (LEA) Policy 4603 on first and final reading. Please note that Policy 4603 only applies to the charter schools authorized by the SBE and will not apply to any other school or local district.
Changes to this policy aim to address special circumstances created by statewide close of schools in the spring semester of the 2019-20 school year as a result of tornado damage and the infectious disease COVID-19.
The State Board has voted to approve changes to the Charter School Local Education Agency (LEA) Policy 4603. Mr. Jensen provided the motion and Mr. Morrow seconded the motion.
At our November 2019 meeting, members of the SBE approved changes to the Educator Licensure Rule 0520-02-03 on first reading.
Pursuant to Executive Orders No. 13 & 14 declaring a state of emergency in TN and P.C. 652 of 2020, the SBE must approve emergency rules to address the statewide closure of schools. In order to address these circumstances, the following change has been made for final reading:
Prospective educators who were unable to complete req licensure exams due to COVID-19 will receive a provisional practitioner license with the req that scores on licensure exams be submitted by 8/31/2021.
It also allows educators whose practitioner license is set to expire Aug 2020 to have the license validity period extended 1 yr to allow the educator to complete req for renewal or advancement.
Board members have voted to approve changes to the Educator Licensure Rule 0520-02-03 on final reading.
This concludes all of the agenda items for today’s meeting. We have recorded this meeting and will publish it on our website as soon as it is available.
This concludes all of the agenda items for today’s meeting. We have recorded this meeting and will publish it on our website as soon as it is available.
