State board adopts charter reporting rule and emergency rules for Opportunity Charter Schools; adopts accountability framework after debate

The State Board of Education voted Dec. 18 to adopt a package of charter-related actions: a final-reading rule on reporting vacant and underutilized properties for charter authorizers, emergency rules implementing Opportunity Public Charter Schools, and an accountability framework for Opportunity Public Charter Schools.

On final reading the board approved a revision to the charter schools rule that updates annual reporting requirements for authorizers to include a department guidance and reporting template; the rule implements Public Chapter 923 (Public Acts of 2024) and references Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-13-136. The motion passed by roll call, recorded as nine ayes.

The board then considered a set of emergency rules to implement Public Chapter 1066 (Public Acts of 2024), which creates Opportunity Public Charter Schools: public charter schools designed to serve at-risk students (grades 6–12) and that may begin operating in the 2026–27 school year. Ali Reid, director of engagement and accountability at the State Board, told members the emergency rules remove outdated BEP funding…