TennesseeTennessee law requires oversight boards for qualifying school districts
Districts meeting at least four listed criteria must have an oversight board that reviews needs each year and sets goals for improvement.
What it does
A district meeting at least four of six measures of poor performance or unstable management must have an oversight board appointed.
Each board must review district needs every year, then set goals for student learning, support, and sound management.
While it serves, an oversight board reviews district budgets and major spending and can direct local leaders or terminate employees within stated limits.
In districts with an oversight board, the local school board needs its approval to deny certain charter school applications or requests.
Argument forAnnual reviews and improvement plans could help districts find and address problems with attendance, student learning, and financial management.
Argument againstLocal school boards and district leaders could lose room to respond to local needs when an oversight board reviews budgets, major spending, and management decisions.
More detail
The education commissioner must notify district and state leaders when a district meets at least four of six criteria, and an oversight board must be appointed. The criteria apply to a local education agency, or school district, and its schools and students. The six criteria include low math and English proficiency, low school grades, chronic absences, a long-running priority-school designation, audit findings, and frequent interim school directors. The board must be established by July 1 after the commissioner gives written notice.
Each oversight board must assess district needs every year and create and update a plan with goals and progress measures. These duties apply to each oversight board and the district it oversees. The board reviews matters such as teaching, attendance, student support, school safety, finances, buildings, and staffing. District officials and schools must provide requested information within 60 days. The plan must address available education funding, career training, attendance, early reading, student support, and management or financial problems. The board must review and update its plan each year while it operates.
An oversight board must review district budgets and may veto them; it also reviews certain large transactions and can direct local leaders and district employees. These powers apply while a board operates in a district and cover budgets, certain large transactions, and decisions by the local school board and district leaders. A budget can proceed if the board does not veto it or request further review within 15 business days. Contracts and other covered transactions worth $50,000 or more generally need board approval. Teacher and principal contracts, salaries, and benefits are excluded from those transaction approval rules. The board may require or bar discretionary actions it finds necessary to improve district performance, operation, or management. It may terminate employees subject to contract terms and due process protections for tenured teachers and principals. A board operates for four years starting July 1 after written notice. If the district still meets at least four criteria at the end, a newly appointed board serves for the next two years.
A local school board may not deny certain charter school applications or requests unless the oversight board approves the denial. The rule applies to local school boards in districts with an operating oversight board. This applies to applications to open or convert a school, renew a charter, or amend a charter agreement. If the oversight board disagrees with a proposed denial, the local board must approve the application or request. A charter school sponsor or governing body may still appeal an approved denial to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. The local board must send a proposed denial for review at least 15 business days before its deadline to issue a final decision.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1057Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 24Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 22Majority Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 27, Nays 6
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Previous Question Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 MOTION TO ADOPT MINORITY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Table Minority Conference Report Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 PREVIOUS QUESTION MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22H. Placed on Message Calendar #2 for 4/22/26
- Apr 22Minority Conf. comm. report failed, Ayes 13, Nays 72 PNV 3
- Apr 22Majority Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 73, Nays 19 PNV 0
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 20Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 16H. Placed on Message Calendar 2 for 4/16/2026
- Apr 16Conf. comm. appointed. (Reps. Cepicky, Slater, Moody, Parkinson, White)
- Apr 15Senate refused to recede from its non-concurrence. (Amendment 2 - HA0519)
- Apr 15Conference Committee appointed. (Taylor, Powers, Akbari, Lowe, White)
- Apr 13Senate Reset on Message calendar for 4/15/2026
- Apr 13Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/15/2026
- Jan 14H. refused to recede from H. am. no. 2
- Jan 13H. Placed on Message Calendar for 1/14/2026
- 2025
- Apr 23Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0285)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 6 BY PARKINSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 8 BY PARKINSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 3 BY PARKINSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 5 BY PARKINSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/22/2025 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 3 - SA0456)
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0430)
- Apr 22Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 6Passed House
- Apr 22Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 22Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Apr 22Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0311)Minor
- Apr 22H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0519)Major
- Apr 22Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 4 - HA0536)Minor
- Apr 22Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 7 - HA0539)Minor
- Apr 22Passed H., as am., Ayes 63, Nays 30, PNV 2Passed Senate
- Apr 22Placed on Senate Message Calendar 3 for 4/22/2025
- Apr 22Senate refused to concur in amendmentMinor
- Apr 21Senate Reset on calendar for 4/22/2025
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025
- Apr 17Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025
- Apr 16Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 2 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 2 PNV 0 4/16/2025 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/21/2025
- Apr 15Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/16/2025
- Apr 10Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025
- Apr 10Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025
- Mar 26Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0 3/26/2025 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 19Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/26/2025
- Mar 19Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/26/2025
- Mar 12Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025
- Feb 12Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education CommitteeMinor
- Feb 10Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Feb 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
EducationGovernment & Ethics