In a recent government meeting, significant updates were discussed regarding educational regulations in Tennessee, focusing on streamlining processes and repealing outdated rules.

One of the key items addressed was the alignment of approval requirements for non-public schools participating in the Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The proposed changes clarify financial verification requirements and eliminate references to expense reports, reflecting current practices for families accessing funds. Additionally, the Department of Education will now provide electronic notifications for appeal decisions, moving away from traditional mail.

The meeting also saw the repeal of the interscholastic athletics rule, which has not been updated since 1996 and is deemed unnecessary as local boards of education hold the authority to govern athletic associations. Similarly, the preface rule, which merely restated existing state law, was proposed for repeal due to its redundancy.

Further revisions were made to the state enrollment and attendance guidelines, which included moving language from an existing attendance policy into the rule itself, allowing for the repeal of the policy. Notably, the revisions clarify attendance counting for students engaged in official duties and during standardized testing periods, ensuring that students can make up missed work.

Lastly, the academic program requirements were discussed, proposing a reduction in the weight of End-of-Course (EOC) exams in final grades to between 5-15%, starting with courses taken in fall 2024. This change aims to balance the assessment of students' overall coursework with standardized testing, allowing local boards to tailor their grading systems to better fit their educational contexts.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for public comments on the proposed rule changes, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder feedback in shaping educational policies.