Event
November 21, 2025
9:00 am
Location
Northeast State Community College Ballad Health Center for the Performing Arts 2425 Highway 75 Blountville, TN 37617 Livestreaming Link: bit.ly/4oQJp0u Password: SBEMeeting!
Welcome & Introductions
I. Consent Items
B. Minutes from August 15, 2025, Meeting
C. 2026 TISA Review Committee Member Appointments
Item formalizing appointments for the 2026 TISA
Review Committee.
D. Accountability Hearings Committee Member
Appointments
Item formalizing appointments for the 2026 Accountability
Hearings.
II. Report Items
A. State Board of Education Member Reports
Various Board Members will share information about participation in regional stakeholder groups and days in the
district.
B. Advisory Council for Students with Disabilities Report
Report item of the advisory council’s views of the progress or lack of progress made in special education by the state, its agencies and institutions, and its school districts during the preceding year.
C. Tennessee Early Literacy Assessment: Educator Pass Rate Report
Report item of first-time pass rate of applicable educator candidates on the Tennessee Early Literacy Assessment (TELA),
pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-5619(d).
D. Educator Vacancy Report 2024-25
Report item on educator workforce shortages for the 2024-25 school year.
E. Master Plan Annual Report 2025
Report item presents the State Board’s annual Master Plan Report with outcomes and next steps for each of the Board’s goals under the Master Plan.
III. Consent Items: Teacher Licensure Actions
A. Licensure Discipline Settlement Approvals
An item to approve settlements on licensure actions as recommended by State Board attorneys.
B. Automatic Teacher Licensure Actions: Revocation & Permanent Revocation
Item to approve automatic licensure revocation actions as recommended by State Board attorneys.
C. Teacher Licensure Discipline Actions
1. Lamarcus Calvin – Formal Reprimand
2. Shanea Cantrell – Formal Reprimand
3. Megan Carter – Suspension, 1 Year with Proof of Treatment or Evaluation
4. Aubrey Hollingsworth – Suspension, One (1) Year with Professional Development
6. Dalton McGhiey – Revocation
7. Carri Murphy – Suspension, Three (3) Months Retroactive with Professional Development
9. Daniel Pierce – Suspension, Three (3) Months Retroactive
10. Brittany Rector – Formal Reprimand
11. Deborah Roddy – Suspension, Two (2) Years Concurrent with Probation
12. Cheri Rushing – Suspension, One (1) Month Retroactive with Professional Development
13. Lauren Smarsh – Suspension, Two (2) Years
IV. Action Items (First Reading)
Note: Redlines reflect changes proposed on first reading ONLY.
A. Organization and Administration of Schools Rule 0520-01-02-.31
First reading of item to remove provisions already found in state law regarding stockpile day accumulations and usage as well as specific class size requirements and replace them with references to the applicable reference to the Tennessee Code Annotated to ensure consistency with current state law.
Redline Attachment
B. Coordinated School Health Policy 4.204
First reading of item to update language in the policy to reflect the current practices and needs of school districts to enhance student health.
Redline Attachment
C. Health Education Standards: Tennessee Lifetime Wellness Standards: Grades 9-12
First reading of item that proposes new standards for the 2026-27 school year to ensure that students are instructed in the Success Sequence in accordance with Chapter 224 of the Public Acts of 2025 and the protections established in §§ 36-1-142 and 68-11-255 for the voluntary surrender of an unharmed infant by the infant’s mother without criminal liability, commonly known as the state’s safe haven law, in accordance with Chapter 164 of the Public Acts of 2025.
Redline Attachment
D. Educator Preparation Policy 5.504
First reading of item to revise the policy so that it provides candidates in an internship or job-embedded clinical practice the ability to complete requirements in adjacent school years provided that certain requirements are met.
Redline Attachment
E. Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators Policy 5.105
First reading of item to revise the policy’s Specialty Area Content Assessments section to add titles for National Evaluation Series assessments to Tennessee licensure endorsements so that qualifying (passing) scores on these assessments will help fulfill licensure assessment requirements for applicable endorsement areas.
Redline Attachment
F. Graduation Permissions and Substitutions Policy 3.103
First reading of item to clarify which graduation requirements are eligible for substitution and the corresponding courses that may be substituted based on existing practices. Also, it introduces language connecting substitution decisions to students’ postsecondary and career interests.
Redline Attachment
V: Action Items (Final Reading)
Note: Redlines reflect changes proposed between first and final reading ONLY. For changes proposed and approved on first reading, please refer to the relevant agenda item from a previous meeting.
A. Leave for Teachers Rule 0520-01-02-.04
Final reading of item to update language within the rule to align with state law. Chapters 235 and 296 of the Public Acts of 2025 increase, from 20 to 30 days, the maximum number of consecutive days a substitute teacher may substitute for a regular teacher on leave without having to possess a teaching license. There have been no changes to this item since first reading.
B. Educator Licensure Permanent Rules 0520-02-03-.02, -.07, -.11, -.12, and -.13
Final reading of item to revise various sections of the rule to ensure alignment with Chapter 328 of the Public Acts of 2025 that clarified emergency credential requirements and created a new Limited Occupational Teaching License. There have been minimal changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
C. Educator Evaluation Policy 5.201
Final reading of item to update language within the policy to align with recent changes in the law. Chapter 385 of the Public Acts of 2025 clarifies the use of the Tennessee universal reading screener or an universal reading screener approved by the State Board as an approved alternative growth model to generate individual growth scores for Pre-K-2 teachers. There have been no changes to this item since first reading.
D. Literacy and Specialty Area Standards for Educator Preparation Policy 5.505
Final reading of item to propose the ability for approved programs in integrated early childhood education to recommend candidates for licensure in integrated, general education, or special education early childhood pursuant to assessments taken by candidates with qualifying scores. There have been changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
E. Physical Education and Physical Activity Policy 4.206
Final reading of item to update language within the policy to align with Chapter 306 of the Public Acts of 2025 increases that from 130 minutes per full school week to 40 minutes per school day, the minimum amount of physical activity required for elementary school students and establishes additional requirements for the minimum amount of physical activity required for elementary school students. The item also restructures existing language in the policy to better organize required school and district practices related to student physical activity and physical education. There have been minimal changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
F. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards
Final reading of item to revise course standards for two CTE career clusters: Healthcare and Human Services and Middle School Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Career Advising and Planning. The item also includes two new courses under the new program of study, Technology in Production Agriculture. There have been minimal changes to this item since first reading.
Agriscience Technologies Clean Attachment Career Exploration Clean Attachment
Agriscience Technologies Redline Attachment Career Exploration Redline Attachment
Career Advising and Planning Clean Attachment Nursing Education Clean Attachment
Career Advising and Planning Redline Attachment Nursing Education Redline Attachment
Career Awareness Clean Attachment Precision Agriculture Clean Attachment
Career Awareness Redline Attachment Precision Agriculture Redline Attachment
G. Course Access Rule 0520-01-14-.05 and -.07
Final reading of item to update language within the rules to align with Chapter 235 of the Public Acts of 2025 which repeals reporting requirements related to the Course Access Program. There have been no changes to this item since first reading.
H. Charter Schools Rules 0520-14-01-.01, -.03, -.04, and -.05
Final reading of item to update language within the rules to align with Chapters 275 and 456 of the Public Acts of 2025 and to further streamline charter school processes. There have been minimal changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
I. Quality Charter Authorizing Standards Policy 6.111
Final reading of item to update language within the policy to align with Chapter 275 of the Public Acts of 2025 and to eliminate duplicative standards. There have been minimal changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
J. Charter School Authorizer Evaluations Policy 6.113
Final reading of item to update language within the policy to align with proposed changes to State Board Policy 6.111. There have been minimal changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
K. Accountability Hearings Policy 1.600
Final reading of item to serve as a companion policy to the State Board’s Accountability Hearings rules to establish an implementation timeline, a process for appointing State Board members to the Hearing Committee, and to provide additional details regarding the corrective actions the State Board may recommend. There have been changes to this item since first reading.
Redline Attachment
L. State Approved Textbook and Instructional Materials List: Schedule E (PE, Health, & CTE: IT & Advanced Manufacturing) Final reading of item to approve the preliminary PE, Health, & CTE: IT and Advanced Manufacturing materials for adoption. There have been changes to this item since first reading.
Attachment 1 Attachment 2
M. State Identified 2024-25 Reward Schools
First and final reading of item to present a list of Reward Schools identified for the 2024-25 school year.
N. State Identified 2024-25 Priority Schools
First and final reading of item to present a list of Priority Schools identified for the 2024-25 school year.
O. State Identified 2024-25 Exemplary Districts
First and final reading of item to present a list of Exemplary Districts identified for the 2024-25 school year.
P. State Identified 2024-25 in Need of Improvement Districts
First and final reading of item to present a list of In Need of Improvement Districts for the 2024-25 school year.
Q. Charter School Governing Body Training Policy 6.112
First and final reading of item to make minor revisions to an approved training course offering.
Redline Attachment
VII. Other Business
VIII. Adjournment
MEETING DATES FOR 2026:
February 27, 2026
May 19, 2026
August 28, 2026
November 20, 2026
Public comment will be accepted in accordance with state law and State Board Rule.