Grievances and Complaints Submission Form

*If this is an issue that involves potential criminal activity, please contact your local law enforcement agency to report this matter. After reporting this to law enforcement, you may return to our system to share your complaint.*

Purpose

When a parent, legal guardian, student, an employee of a charter school or community member reaches out to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (“Commission”) with a complaint, concern or allegation, the Commission’s primary goals are to ensure that the charter school:

    - addresses complaints, concerns and allegations that are directed to the school, including providing appropriate       responses;
    - follows its charter agreement; and
    - has not violated any applicable laws.

The tables below provide information regarding when a member of the public should direct their complaint, concern, or allegation to the charter school versus the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

Grievances and complaints may only be filed with the Commission for schools it authorizes. A list of those schools is available here. If your complaint is in reference to a charter school not on this list, please contact the local school district.

Charter School Level Complaint

Contact the charter school for issues related to:

    - Employment issues
    - Grades
    - Retention and promotion
    - School programs and events
    - Transportation issues (except with regard to students experiencing homelessness, students with disabilities, or students       in foster care)
    - Disagreement with a teacher or a student;
    - Bullying issues (excluding bullying that rises to the level of a civil rights issue under Title IX or VI, or bullying on the basis       of a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA))
    - Disagreement over a discipline decision (excluding the discipline of students with
    - Disabilities, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans)

Charter School Level Complaint Process

Complainants should use the charter school’s complaint policy outlined in the charter school’s Parent and Student Handbook to issue their informal/formal complaint, concern or allegation directly to the charter school and its governing board.

Commission Level Complaint

Contact the Commission for issues related to:

    - Violations of the law
    - Violations of the charter agreement
    - Violations of special education rights, including discipline
    - Child abuse
    - Serious health, safety, and legal issues
    - Suggestions that a student transfer or enroll at a different school
    - Civil rights and ADA/Section 504 claims

Commission Level Complaint Process

If the charter school does not satisfactorily address your charter school level complaint, concern, or allegation, then, in accordance with LEA Policy 1200, a parent, legal guardian, student, an employee of a charter school or community member may direct their complaint, concern or allegation to the Commission. To initiate the Commission complaint process, submit your issue through our Complaint and Grievance Form.

Within seven business days, a member of the Commission staff will determine whether the grievance or complaint is properly before the Commission or if it needs to be resolved with the school, and the complainant will be notified of the decision in writing.

If it is determined that the complaint or grievance is properly before the Commission, the Commission will address the complaint or grievance within thirty calendar days, unless special circumstances exist. If special circumstances exist, all parties will be notified.

If a school is found to have committed a violation, it may trigger interventions by the Commission in accordance with Commission Policy 3.400.

Grievances and Complaints Submission Form