2021 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 13 - Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act of 2002
§ 49-13-130. Closure of Charter School

Each authorizer shall have a procedure in place for the closure of a charter school prior to the decision to deny renewal or revoke a charter agreement. Closure of a charter school by each authorizer shall be in accordance with the following:

1. Within one (1) calendar week of a decision to deny renewal or revoke a charter agreement, a charter school must notify in writing the parents or legal guardians of all students enrolled in the school of the closure decision;


2. Within two (2) calendar weeks of an authorizer's decision to close a charter school, the authorizer shall meet with the school's governing body and leadership to establish a transition team composed of staff from the charter school, staff from the authorizer, and anyone else the authorizer deems necessary, who shall attend to the closure, including:
   
   
   1. The transfer of students;
   
   
   2. The release and transfer of student records to the authorizer or the department;
   
   
   3. The release and transfer of personnel records to the authorizer or the department;
   
   
   4. The submission of financial statements to the appropriate authorizer or department;
   
   
   5. The disposition of school funds;
   
   
   6. The disposition of school assets; and
   
   
   7. A school audit pursuant to § 49-2-112;


3. Each authorizer and transition team shall, within thirty (30) days of the decision to close a charter school, communicate to the families of students enrolled in the school all other public school options for which the student is eligible to enroll;


4. When a public charter school agreement has been denied renewal or revoked, the public charter school shall not enroll any new students. If the denial of renewal or revocation is overturned on appeal pursuant to § 49-13-122, then the public charter school may continue to enroll students;


5. Each authorizer and transition team shall communicate regularly with the families of students enrolled in the school, as well as with school staff and other stakeholders, to keep them apprised of key information regarding the school's closing;


6. Each authorizer and transition team shall ensure that current instruction of students enrolled in the school continues, pursuant to the charter agreement, for the remainder of the school year unless an immediate closure is ordered by the authorizer in accordance with § 49-13-122(h);


7. Each authorizer and transition team shall ensure that all agencies, employees, insurers, contractors, creditors, debtors, and management organizations are properly notified of the closing of the charter school; and


8. The governing body of the charter school shall continue to meet as necessary to wind down school operations, manage school finances, allocate resources, and facilitate the closure.