State Board Approval of Church-Related Schools
Category IV non-public schools are church-related schools approved through membership in an agency identified in state law (TCA § 49-50-801) or through direct application to the State Board of Education. Church-related schools may apply directly to the State Board for approval if they are not accredited by or members of one of the accrediting or membership agencies set forth in T.C.A. § 49-50-801(a). To be approved, church-related schools must provide documentation of meeting the applicable requirements in state law and State Board Rule 0520-07-02-.05, including documentation that the school is operated by a denominational, parochial or other bona fide church organization with 501(c)(3) status.
Category IV schools seeking State Board of Education approval must download the current State Board application below and electronically submit the completed application along with required attachments to Sara Morrison at Sara.Morrison@tn.gov. Schools may only apply during the annual application window from January 1 – March 1. Applications received before or after the application window will not be considered.
State Board staff will review all timely submitted applications and may require a meeting with the applicant and/or site visit to the school. Applicants should check email regularly and promptly respond to requests from State Board staff. Applicants who have not submitted all requested documents or responses by the deadlines set by the State Board will be moved to inactive status and may reapply the following year. Following review of the application, the State Board’s Executive Director will recommend approval or denial of the application to the State Board. State Board staff will provide written notification of the Board’s decision to each applicant.
More information regarding non-public schools in Tennessee, including information on how to request a fire safety inspection, can be found here. Questions regarding the State Board’s Category IV approval process should be directed to General Counsel Rachel Suppé at Rachel.Suppe@tn.gov.