Tennessee alternative education council finalizes survey updates, moves to standardize transition plans

The Tennessee Alternative Education Council on a virtual meeting reviewed revisions to the statewide alternative-education survey and advanced a proposed two-page transition and reentry plan to be made available in ePlan by May 1.

Council Chair Karen Ball Johnson opened the meeting and members approved the minutes from the Nov. 7 meeting after a motion from Sharon Lindsey and a second from Brian Douglas. "The minutes have been approved," Johnson said during the roll call.

Leslie Watson, the state's alternative education director, reviewed the revised AltEd survey and said the instrument "has been tested" and "will open on May 1 and close on June 30 this year." The changes include an option for LEAs that contract with another system to turn off sections that do not apply, an opt-out for certain systems (for example, departments of corrections or schools that only serve K–6), and auto-population of total student counts for grades 1–5.

The meeting focused largely on a proposed standardized…