1. (1) The Hearings shall be conducted before a committee of the State Board (“Hearing Committee”) appointed by the State Board Chair. The Hearing Committee shall be comprised of three (3) voting members of the State Board. The Hearing Committee shall be responsible for conducting the Hearings and reporting to the full State Board, as described in State Board Rule 0520-09-02-.04.

2. (2) Hearing topics shall include, but are not limited to:

   1. (a) School and district finance;
   2. (b) Instructional decisions;
   3. (c) Staffing decisions;
   4. (d) School climate and culture; and
   5. (e) Any other matter identified by the Hearing Committee.

3. (3) When an LEA is selected for a Hearing, the following persons shall attend:

   1. (a) The director of schools;
   2. (b) The chair of the local board of education;
   3. (c) The chief of academics, or equivalent; and
   4. (d) The chief of finance, or equivalent.

4. (4) When a public charter school and its authorizer are selected for a Hearing, the following persons shall attend:

   1. (a) The public charter school’s executive director, or equivalent (or principal if the public charter school does not have an executive director);
   2. (b) The public charter school’s governing body chair;
   3. (c) The public charter school’s chief of academics, or equivalent;
   4. (d) The public charter school’s chief of finance, or equivalent;
   5. (e) The authorizer’s director of schools;
   6. (f) The authorizer’s local board of education chair;
   7. (g) The authorizer’s director of charter schools, or equivalent; and
   8. (h) The authorizer’s chief of finance, or equivalent.
5. (5) The LEA’s director of schools or the public charter school’s executive director or equivalent (or principal if the public charter school does not have an executive director) may bring additional employees or officials (e.g., board members, school administrators, school counselors, educators) to the Hearing to appear in their official capacities. A list of additional attendees appearing in their official capacities shall be provided in writing to the State Board’s executive director at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the Hearing.
6. (6) If a chair of a local board of education or governing body chair is unable to attend the Hearing due to an unavoidable conflict, the local board of education chair or the governing body chair may appoint another local board of education member or governing body member to attend as their designee in accordance with the LEA or public charter school’s board policies. Documentation of the appointment shall be provided in writing to the State Board’s executive director at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the Hearing.
7. (7) The Hearings shall include an opportunity for public comment in accordance with state law and the procedures established in State Board Rule 0520-09-01-.02. Instructions for submitting public comment shall be provided on the Hearing agenda and posted on the State Board’s website.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-1-228, 49-1-302, and 49-3-112. Administrative History: New rules filed September 25, 2025; effective December 24, 2025.