Tennessee Compilation of School Discipline Laws and ...

Tennessee Compilation of School

Discipline Laws and Regulations

Prepared: January 26, 2018

Introduction

This compilation presents school discipline-related laws and regulations for U.S. states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, and, where available, links to education agency websites or resources related to school discipline and student conduct. The discipline laws and regulations presented in this compilation have been categorized by type of specific discipline issue covered, according to an organizational framework developed by the National Center for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE). For example, one major category encompasses all laws or regulations governing states or territories that mandate specific disciplinary sanctions (such as suspension) for specific offenses (such as drug possession on school grounds). The school discipline laws and regulations were compiled through exhaustive searches of legislative websites that identified all laws and regulations relevant to each specific category. Compiled materials were subsequently reviewed by state education agency (SEA) representatives in the 50 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. territories.

Discipline categories were not mutually exclusive. Laws and regulations often appeared across multiple categories. For jurisdictions with more extensive laws covering a breadth of topical areas, relevant sections were excerpted from the larger legislative text for inclusion in the appropriate discipline category. Laws, ordered by chapter and section number, appear first within each category followed by regulations. All laws and regulations listed within categories in the compilation also appear in the sources cited section of the document, which lists laws by chapter and section number and title, and where available, includes active hyperlinks to source websites supported or maintained by state legislatures. Additional links to government websites or resources are provided at the end of this document.

Notes & Disclaimers

To the best of the preparer's knowledge, this Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations is complete and current as of January 2018. Readers should also note that the information in this document was compiled from individual sources that are created by each jurisdiction and which are maintained and updated with varying frequencies. Readers should consult the source information provided directly in order to check for updates to laws and regulations reported in this document or to conduct further research.

For further information, including definitions of the different policy categories, please refer to the Discipline Laws and Regulations Compendium posted on the Center's website.

Prepared by:

Child Trends 7315 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 1200W Bethesda, Maryland 20814

EMT Associates, Inc. 1631 Creekside Drive Suite 100 Folsom, California 95630

Table of Contents

Tennessee State Codes Cited.................................................................................................................... 1

General Provisions ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Authority to develop and establish rules of conduct.................................................................................. 6 Scope ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Communication of policy ......................................................................................................................... 11

In-School Discipline .................................................................................................................................. 13 Use of multi-tiered discipline approaches ............................................................................................... 13 Teacher authority to remove students from classrooms ......................................................................... 13 Alternatives to suspension ...................................................................................................................... 14 Use of corporal punishment .................................................................................................................... 14 Use of student and locker searches........................................................................................................ 15 Other in-school disciplinary approaches ................................................................................................. 18

Out-of-School and Exclusionary Discipline: Suspension, Expulsion, Restraint and Seclusion, and Alternative Placements .................................................................................................. 19

Grounds for possible suspension or expulsion ....................................................................................... 19 Grounds for mandatory suspension or expulsion ................................................................................... 22 Limitations, conditions, or exclusions for use of suspension and expulsion ........................................... 23 Administrative procedures related to suspension and expulsion ............................................................ 24 In-school suspension .............................................................................................................................. 28 Return to school following removal ......................................................................................................... 29 Use of restraint and seclusion................................................................................................................. 29 Alternative placements ............................................................................................................................ 37

Disciplinary Approaches Addressing Specific Infractions and Conditions ....................................... 41 Firearms (as required by the Gun-Free Schools Act) ............................................................................. 41 Other weapons ........................................................................................................................................ 44 Students with chronic disciplinary issues ................................................................................................ 45 Attendance and truancy .......................................................................................................................... 45 Substance use......................................................................................................................................... 54 Bullying, harassment, or hazing .............................................................................................................. 56 Other special infractions or conditions .................................................................................................... 61

Prevention and Behavioral Interventions (Non-Punitive) ..................................................................... 65 Prevention ............................................................................................................................................... 65 Behavioral interventions and student support services........................................................................... 68 Professional development....................................................................................................................... 70

Monitoring and Accountability ................................................................................................................ 71 Formal incident reporting of conduct violations....................................................................................... 71 Parental notification................................................................................................................................. 74 Reporting and referrals between schools and law enforcement............................................................. 79 Disclosure of school records ................................................................................................................... 87 Data collection, review, and reporting of disciplinary policies and actions ............................................. 92

Student Resource and Safety Officers (SROs/SSOs) and Truant/Attendance Officer .................... 103 Authority and power to implement school arrest................................................................................... 103 Certification or training .......................................................................................................................... 103 MOUs, authorization, and/or funding .................................................................................................... 104

State Education Agency Support .......................................................................................................... 109 State model policies and implementation support ................................................................................ 109 Funding appropriations ......................................................................................................................... 109

Other or Uncategorized .......................................................................................................................... 111 Professional immunity or liability ........................................................................................................... 111 Community input or involvement........................................................................................................... 112 Other or Uncategorized ......................................................................................................................... 112

State-Sponsored, Publicly Available Websites or Other Resources on School Discipline ............ 113

Tennessee State Codes Cited

Tennessee Revised Laws

The State of Tennessee contracts with LexisNexis to provide free public access to the Tennessee Code (). Users must agree to terms and conditions prior to use of the site. All listed laws are searchable by title and chapter number or by using key search terms.

Title 10. Public Libraries, Archives and Records

Chapter 7. Public Records

Part 5. Miscellaneous Provisions

10-7-504.

Confidential records ? Exceptions

Title 37. Juveniles

Chapter 1. Juvenile Courts and Proceedings

Part 1. General Provisions

37-1-131. 37-1-154.

Delinquent child - Disposition - Restitution Law enforcement records - Inspection limited - Exceptions for certain violent offenders

Title 39. Criminal Offenses

Chapter 13. Offenses Against Person

Part 1. Assaultive Offenses

39-13-114.

Communicating a threat concerning a school employee

Chapter 17. Offenses Against Public Health, Safety and Welfare

Part 3. Disorderly Conduct and Riots

39-17-308.

Harassment

Part 13. Weapons

39-17-1309.

Carrying weapons on school property

Title 49. Education

Chapter 1. State Administration

Part 2. Department of Education

49-1-214.

Safe schools - Advisory guidelines

Part 5. Dropout Prevention

49-1-520.

Tennessee model dropout prevention program

Tennessee Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

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