49-6-302 - Attendance and length of term. - Tennessee Statutes

49-6-302. Attendance and length of term.

(a)  There shall be established and maintained in each local school district as many elementary schools as necessary for the instruction of all the children in the school district. This shall not be construed as to invalidate §§ 49-2-501 49-2-503 or § 49-2-1001.

(b)  It is the duty of the respective board of education to run all schools of the local school district as nearly as practicable the same length of time.

(c)  (1)  If the average daily attendance of any school falls below the minimum fixed by the respective board of education for as much as two (2) consecutive weeks, the schools shall be suspended until an attendance of the minimum as fixed by the board of education can be assured.

     (2)  The minimum in the schools shall not be less than ten (10).

     (3)  However, in unusual circumstances, a school with an average daily attendance of less than ten (10) may be maintained; provided, that prior approval for the operation of the school is granted by the commissioner and the state board of education upon the request of the local board of education. The commissioner and the state board of education may, in their discretion, instead of granting approval for the continuance of the school, include in the basic education program (BEP) the cost for transporting the students involved to other available schools.

(d)  Local school district boards of education shall designate the schools that pupils shall attend.

(e)  The board of education shall have due regard to increasing the length of the school terms for the benefit of the school district by limiting the number of schools and by consolidation whenever practicable.

(f)  Any county board of education may admit to the elementary schools pupils resident in another county, as provided in § 49-6-3104.

[Acts 1925, ch. 115, § 13; Shan. Supp., §§ 1487a85, 1487a87, 1487a88; Code 1932, §§ 2376, 2378, 2379; Acts 1957, ch. 9, § 2; 1957, ch. 142, § 1; 1974, ch. 654, §§ 45-47; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 49-1001, 49-1004, 49-1006.]