Bill > SB2351

This bill makes several changes to Tennessee's public education laws, primarily focusing on public charter schools. It exempts schools with less than $50,000 in internal school and student activity funds from conducting separate audits of those specific funds, though they can still be included in a general school audit. The bill also modifies the financial reporting requirements for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), stating that if an LEA fails to submit its financial report by December 1st of the following fiscal year, the per-pupil funding allocated to public charter schools within that LEA will not decrease. Additionally, it alters the enrollment lottery process for public charter schools by establishing a specific order for enrollment preferences, and it changes the requirements for public charter school replication applications, allowing governing bodies with established schools to apply for replication directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission under certain conditions and timelines. The bill also clarifies that the Commission can contract with LEAs for special education and student support services for charter schools and introduces a definition for "high-performing public charter school" which, if met, allows for automatic renewal of their charter. Finally, it adjusts the authorizer fee for public charter schools authorized by the Commission.