State Board to Convene for First Year of Annual Accountability Hearings
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee State Board of Education will hold the first year of Accountability Hearings from March 23 to March 26, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Under T.C.A. § 49-3-112 and as outlined in State Board Accountability Hearings Rules 0520-09-02, these hearings offer a structured public process for reviewing school performance and spending decisions of any local education agency that operates a public school or any public charter school that meets the State Board’s eligibility criteria. State Board members Darrell Cobbins, Dr. Ina Maxwell, and State Board chairman Robert Eby will sit on the inaugural Accountability Hearings Committee. Darrell Cobbins, of the Ninth Congressional District, will chair the committee.
“Our work as a committee is focused on transparency and a clear understanding of the systems supporting each school”, said Committee Chairman Darrell Cobbins. “These hearings bring district leaders to the table to discuss how they are supporting schools identified for improvement and what steps are being taken to drive stronger student outcomes.”
Following each of the 18 accountability hearings, the committee shall determine whether to propose that a recommendation be made to take no action or develop a corrective action plan. The committee’s proposal must first be approved by the full Board, then recommended to the Department of Education.
“Conducting these hearings is a statutory responsibility of the State Board, and the committee’s recommendations are an important part of that process,” said Dr. Sara Morrison, executive director of the State Board of Education. “We approach this work with care, ensuring oversight is fair, transparent, and designed to improve student achievement.”
The State Board’s Accountability Hearings will be held in the 1st Floor Conference Room 1A of Davy Crockett Tower at 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243 during the week of March 23, 2026. The full schedule of Accountability Hearings is available on the State Board’s website.
The State Board will accept public comments in accordance with State Board Rule 0520-09-01-.02. Written public comments may be submitted to SBE.Public.Comments@tn.gov with the subject line “Accountability Hearing Public Comment.” All written comments must not exceed 1,500 words and must be received by 12:00 PM CT on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Verbal public comments will be accepted during a three (3) hour time block beginning at 9:00 AM CT on Monday, March 23, 2026. Each individual may speak for a maximum of three minutes, and no more than 55 individuals will be allowed to speak. To request the opportunity to provide a verbal comment, please send your request to the State Board’s Executive Director at Sara.Morrison@tn.gov by 9:00 AM CT on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Be sure to include the name of the school district or public charter school related to your public comment.