2010 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 13 - Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act of 2002
49-13-104 - Chapter definitions.

49-13-104. Chapter definitions.

As used in this chapter:

     (1)  “Charter agreement” means a performance-based agreement between the sponsor of a public charter school and the chartering authority, the terms of which are approved by the chartering authority for an initial period of ten (10) years;

     (2)  “Chartering authority” means the local board of education that approves, renews or decides not to revoke a public charter school application or agreement;

     (3)  “Governing body” means the organized group of persons who will operate a public charter school by deciding matters, including, but not limited to, budgeting, curriculum and other operating procedures for the public charter school and by overseeing management and administration of a public charter school. The membership of a charter school's governing body shall include at least one (1) parent representative whose child is currently enrolled in the charter school. The parent representative shall be appointed by the governing body within six (6) months of the school's opening date;

     (4)  “Licensed teacher” means a person over the age of eighteen (18) who meets the qualifications of chapter 5, part 1 of this title and has received a license to teach in the public school system in compliance with the rules and regulations of the state board of education;

     (5)  “Local education agency” or “LEA” has the same definition as used in § 49-3-302;

     (6)  “Public charter school” means a public school in this state that is established and operating under the terms of a charter agreement and in accordance with this chapter; and

     (7)  “Sponsor” means any individual, group, or other organization filing an application in support of the establishment of a public charter school; provided, however, that a sponsor cannot be a for-profit entity, a private elementary or secondary school, a post-secondary institution not accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a religious or church school or promote the agenda of any religious denomination or religiously affiliated entity.

[Acts 2002, ch. 850, § 4; 2005, ch. 414, § 1; 2008, ch. 1101, § 1; 2009, ch. 555, § 1.]