Policy Required By Law

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) - Employee: Boards must establish policies which address appropriate education programs, confidentiality, liability, personnel, safety, curriculum, education, communications, and public relations, as mandated by TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(g)(3)(i)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) - Student: Boards must establish policies which address appropriate education programs, confidentiality, liability, personnel, safety, curriculum, education, communications, and public relations, as mandated by TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(g)(3)(i)

Attendance: Every board of education is required to establish a policy detailing its attendance services program, according to TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(1)(a).

Bus Drivers: Boards are required to adopt policies and procedures for transportation of studetns that include policies and procedures concerning the exiting of a school bus by a student at a point other than the student's destination for the trip. Public Chapter 261 (2007).

Child Abuse: Each board must develop procedures for reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, as provided by TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(2)(e) and TCA 37-1-403.

Confidentiality of Students: Goal 2000: Educate America Act (P.L. 103-227) Section 1017 states that a board must have a policy that provides parents the right to inspect all instructional material used for a survey, analysis or evaluation of students.

Corporal Punishment: TCA 49 -6-4104 states that each local board of education shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement and control any form of corporal punishment in the schools in its district.

Drug-Free Workplace: A policy setting forth each board's commitment to and efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace by employees is required by Federal Law 100-690 and Section 202 of the Controlled Substance Act.

Fee Waivers: Local school systems shall establish specific policies and procedures by which to waive school fees for verified students according to TRR/MS 0520-1-.03 (14)(a).

Grading: TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.05(3) Local school systems shall develop and implement grading, promotion and retention policies.

Parental/Family Involvement: Local baords of education are required by PL 107-110, Section 1118 of No Child LEft Behind to adopt a policy to encourage the involvement of parents in their children's education.

Promotion: TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.05(3) Local school systems shall develop and implement grading, promotion and retention policies.

Grievances and the Americans with Disabilities Act: One requirement of the ADA is that boards establish a grievance procedure and disseminate it to employees, students and the community.

Guidance Services: Each board must clearly state in policy the standards for its guidance services program, according to TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(1)(b).

Gun-Free Schools: A school district cannot receive federal funds unless it has a policy requiring the expulsion of any student for at least one year who is found to have brought a weapon to school according to Goals 2000: Educate America Act (P. L. 103-227) Section 1032.

Hazing: Every board of education shall adopt a written policy prohibiting hazing by any student or organization operating under the sanction of the LEA according to TCA 49-2-120.

Health Services: The guidelines of a system's health services policy must be spelled out in policy, as determined by TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(1)(e).

Hepatitis B: The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration released regulations requiring school boards to adopt policies which address the risk of occupational exposure to Hepatits B.

Instructional Materials: The Board is required to file an official policy on parental inspection of school instructional materials as mandated in TCA 49-6-7003.

The No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110) requires that boards shall develop and adopt policies regarding the right of a parent of a sudent to inspect, upon request, any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for the student.

Monitoring E-mail: TCA 10-7-512 requires that any agency of the state that operates or maintains an electronic mail communications system shall adopt a written policy on any monitoring of electronic mail.

Personnel Policies: (Applies to County Systems) TCA 5-23-101 through 112 requires that county systems file personnel policies regarding leave (sick, paid vacation or annual leave and family & medical leave), compensatory/overtime, non-discrimination/sexual harassment and employees who are required by law to be tested.

Physical Exams: Each school system is required by TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(2)(b) to have a written policy providing for students who participate in interscholastic athletics to have complete medical exams prior to participation.

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that Boards or the administration adopt a policy of physical examinations or screenings that the school may administer to a student.

Psychological Services: A policy detailing the psychological services schools offer is required by TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(1)(c).

Recruitment and Selection: Each board shall adopt a policy regarding the method of accepting and reviewing applications for, and interviewing candidates for the position of director of schools as required in TCA 49-2-203(a)(15)

Smoke-Free Environment: Boards must have a policy prohibiting smoking in all indoor facilities used to provide regular or routine K-12 education services as stated in Section 1042 of the Environmental Tobacco Smoke/Pro-Children Act of 1994.

Social Services: Each school system must offer social services and these must also be set in policy, according to TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(1)(d).

Student Alcohol and Drug Use: A policy for handling drug/alcohol problems that may arise in the schools is a necessity according to TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(2)(d).

Student Communicable Diseases: TRR/MS 0520-1-3-.08(2)(c) requires boards to have a written policy for excluding students with communicable diseases and for readmitting them after they recover.

Student Discrimination/Harassment and Bullying/Intimidation: A new statute was enacted by the Tennessee legislature in 2005 requiring that LEAs adopt a policy prohibiting student harassment, intimidation or bullying. Boards are encouraged to develop the policy after consultation with parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators and community representatives. The legislation requires that hte adopted policy be forwarded to the Commissioner of the Department of Education before January 1, 2006.

Student Wellness: Boards must establish a local "wellness policy" by the first day of school following June 30, 2006. The development of the local policy will depend considerably upon the study and recommendations of the school health advisory council required by state and federal law. Each local board should address the primary health concerns of their own students.

Substitute Teachers: TCA 49-2-203 states that is the duty of the board to adopt policies on the employment of substitute teachers which shall, at a minimum, address qualifications and training and background in investigations.

Surveys of Students: TCA 49-2-211 states that each local board of education shall develop a policy setting forth the rights of parents and students and guidelines for teachers and principals with respect to the administration of surveys, analyses, or evaluations of students.

Section 1061 of the No Child Left Behind Act requires that Boards adopt a policy regarding the collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling or providing information for that purpose.