Bill > SB2441

This bill mandates that the commissioner must direct a local education agency (LEA), which is a school district, to close a virtual school if it meets specific performance criteria, rather than just having the option to do so. These criteria include being identified as a "priority school" or showing "significantly below expectations" student achievement growth for three consecutive years, as measured by the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS), a system that tracks student academic progress. The closure would take effect at the end of the school year in which the criteria are met. Furthermore, if a virtual school is closed due to poor academic performance, any nonprofit or for-profit provider that operated or managed it will be prohibited from contracting to run a new virtual school in Tennessee for five years. The bill also outlines notification requirements for parents and guardians, mandates that no new students can be enrolled in a school facing closure, and ensures that student records are not withheld by providers.