2006 Legislation

HB2904/SB2782 which would have established a pilot program to make LEAs the hub or resource for education in communities for public, private and home schooling and to include building "cooperative relationships between LEAs, private schools and home schooling parents" as well as allow homeschoolers to enroll in up to two classes per school year on a space available basis at no charge was 'taken off notice' today. This legislation is most probably dead for this year. Rep. Brooks (the primary sponsor) assures me that they'll be working on this over the summer and that an improved version will return next session.

2/21/08: This legislation died without any further action. Here's the legislation's status page at the legislative archives.

3/28/06: This legislation was 'taken off notice' and is dead for this session. Rep. Brooks assures me that the sponsors will be tweaking this over the summer and it will reappear next session with some improvements.

3/16/06:  HSLDA is neutral on this legislation.

2/27/06: I've no doubt that the following legislation is going to be a bit controversial in our community. I believe it when I'm told that Representative Brooks has the best intentions in introducing this legislation. When I look at where education delivery is going in the US I can see that something similar to this could very well be on the horizon for Tennessee. Many other states already allow dual enrollment for their homeschoolers. I doubt there will be droves of homeschoolers eager to participate in such a program.  I can see that there are families that would welcome this opportunity to partner with the LEA as they search for the best education alternatives for their children.

HSLDA is taking a neutral position on this legislation.

 Introduced on 2/16/06 by  Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Senator Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville)

Bill Status  from the TN Legislature web page: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BillCompanionInfo.aspx?BillNumber=HB2904

HB2904 is assigned to the K-12 sub-committee of the House Education Committee

SB2782 has been assigned to the Senate Gov. Operations Committee

Highlighting added.

Filed for intro on 02/16/2006

SENATE BILL 2782

By Woodson

HOUSE BILL 2904

By Brooks (Knox)

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to elementary and secondary education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. There is established a pilot program to make LEAs the hub or resource for education in the communities that they serve. The department of education shall, through competitive grants, establish the pilot program as an effort to enhance education throughout an LEA's community and to build cooperative relationships between LEAs, private schools and home schooling parents to improve education for all students.

SECTION 2. The pilot program shall be established in six (6) LEAs with two (2) LEAs chosen in each grand division. The six (6) LEAs chosen shall be composed of two (2) small LEAs, two (2) medium-sized LEAs, and two (2) large LEAs.

SECTION 3. The pilot program shall have seven (7) components as follows:

(1) The goal of this component shall be to move a high priority school to proficiency. One (1) or two (2) schools in each LEA that are high priority schools shall be chosen to participate in this component. These schools shall be given latitude to develop school leadership and innovative programs to assist in enhancing the educational progress of the school. If necessary, the commissioner of education, upon application of the LEA and the school, may grant a waiver of any rule of the state board of education that hinders or impedes the development by the school of its innovative educational programs. Each such school shall create a position of job coach for the school. The job coach, who shall be a licensed teacher, shall be assigned full-time to assisting in staff development and improvement with the goal of improving overall school performance. Each employee in each such school shall be eligible for incentive pay at the end of a school year in which the school's student progress improves on average by one and one-tenth (1.1) grade levels as measured by using value added assessment as defined in § 49-1-603. Team incentive pay of no more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be granted to each employee, licensed or non-licensed, if the school as a whole achieves this improvement goal. Each licensed teacher in each such school shall be eligible for incentive pay at the end of a school year in which student progress for the students for which the teacher is responsible for teaching improves on average by one and one-tenth (1.1) grade levels as measured by using value added assessment as defined in § 49-1-603. Individual incentive pay of no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be granted to such licensed teacher.

(2) The goal of this component shall be to encourage proficient schools to move to a higher level of proficiency. One (1) or two (2) schools in each participating LEA that are proficient shall be chosen to participate in this component. These schools shall be given latitude to develop school leadership and innovative programs to assist in enhancing the educational progress of the school. If necessary, the commissioner of education, upon application of the LEA and school, may grant a waiver of any rule of the state board of education that hinders or impedes the development by the school of its innovative educational programs. Each such school shall create a position of job coach for the school. The job coach, who shall be a licensed teacher, shall be assigned fulltime to assisting in staff development and improvement with the goal of improving overall school performance. Each employee in each such school shall be eligible for incentive pay at the end of a school year in which the school's student progress improves on average by one and one-quarter (1.25) grade levels as measured by using value added assessment as defined in § 49-1-603. Team incentive pay of no more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be granted to each employee, licensed or non-licensed, if the school as a whole achieves this improvement goal. Each licensed teacher in each such school shall be eligible for incentive pay at the end of a school year in which student progress for the students for which the teacher is responsible for teaching improves on average by one and one-quarter (1.25) grade levels as measured by using value added assessment as defined in § 49-1-603. Individual incentive pay of no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be granted to such licensed teacher.

(3) The goal of this component shall be to make the LEA a resource for middle or high school students in its community seeking additional educational opportunities not provided in private schools or home schools. Each participating LEA shall permit middle and high school students attending private schools or home schools in the LEA's community to enroll in up to two (2) classes per school year on a space available basis at no charge. Any such student enrolling shall meet all prerequisites or demonstrate proficiency in all required prerequisite courses and meet any additional course requirement imposed on public school students before the student shall be permitted to enroll. Funding to support enrollment by such students shall be appropriated through the BEP on a prorated basis.

(4) The goal of this component shall be to encourage an LEA to be an educational resource for its community. Each participating LEA shall make available to any interested teacher, home schooling, private or public school or any member of the public all school curricula and reading programs and any lesson plans provided for teacher use by placing such information on the school system's web site. The curricula, reading programs and lesson plans shall be organized by grade level and subject and shall be updated annually.

(5) The goal of this component shall be to encourage cooperation between an LEA and other members of its educational community. Any teacher training, including workshops or seminars, provided by a participating LEA for its teachers shall be made available to private school teachers or home schooling parents on a first come first served space available basis at no charge. No teacher employed by the LEA shall be denied access to any teacher training provided by the LEA to permit private school teachers or home schooling parents to attend the training. Each participating LEA shall post information concerning the availability of any teacher training program on its web site.

(6) The goal of this component shall be to encourage cooperation between an LEA and other members of its educational community. Any nonconsumable educational materials provided by an LEA as resources for its teachers to check out from a teacher resource center or other such facility shall also be available for use by private school teachers and home schooling parents who register with the LEA for this privilege. Any such materials may be recalled from the possession of a private school teacher or a home schooling parent at any time upon request for their use by a teacher employed by the LEA.

(7) The goal of this component shall be to increase student graduation from high school or, in the alternative, the obtaining of a general educational development credential (GED), in a segment adult population of a participating LEA's community unlikely to make an educational commitment. Each participating LEA shall specifically design and offer educational opportunities for the completion of high school or the obtaining of a GED to those persons placed on probation who do not possess a high school diploma or a GED. The availability of such programs shall be posted in any probation office in the LEA's community, and information concerning such programs shall be provided to all judges and court officials in the LEA's community. The LEA shall furnish appropriate educational opportunities to any person placed on probation who requests assistance.

SECTION 3. Each LEA with schools participating in the pilot program shall report its findings and conclusions concerning the efficacy of the program and any recommendations to the department of education at the conclusion of each school year in which the pilot program is implemented. Each year, the department shall compile and report its findings, conclusions and recommendations concerning the pilot program to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives and to the state board of education.

SECTION 4. Implementation of the provisions of this act shall be contingent on and subject to funding being specifically provided for such purpose within the general appropriations act.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.