Appeals Process for Applicant Schools and Participating Schools

Schools may appeal the department's decision to deny, suspend, or terminate an entity's participation in the IEA Program pursuant to the following the two-step appeals process as required in the rules of the SBE Chapter 0520-01-11:

Step 1:  The appeal shall be submitted to the commissioner of education within 10 business days of receipt of the notice of application denial, suspension, termination, and/or removal. Notice of application denial, suspension, termination, and/or removal shall be provided electronically and via first-class USPS mail and be deemed received three business days after the date of postmark. The appeal shall be reviewed by the commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee, and a decision shall be issued within 45 calendar days. To file a step one appeal, complete the step 1 appeal form, and email the completed form to IEA.Questions@tn.gov. Appeal forms submitted after the deadline, incomplete appeal forms, or appeal forms with vague language that does not clearly articulate the issue on appeal will not be reviewed.  

Step 2: The participating school shall be notified of the commissioner's decision for in the step one appeal electronically and via first-class USPS. Such notice shall be deemed received three business days after the date of postmark. An appeal of the commissioner's decision in step one shall be filed with the commissioner by the participating school within thirty calendar days and shall conform to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) (T.C.A. Title 4, Chapter 5). To file a UAPA appeal, please complete the UAPA form and email the completed form to IEA.Questions@tn.gov. After the UAPA form has been submitted to the department, you will be notified by an administrative law judge who will set the date and time of your hearing.

For more information about the appeals process see the IEA Participating Non-Public School Handbook.