49-6-3404 - Advisory council for alternative education. - Tennessee Statutes

49-6-3404. Advisory council for alternative education.

(a)  There is established an advisory council for alternative education that shall advise, assist and consult with the governor, the commissioner of education and the state board of education.

(b)  (1)  The advisory council shall be composed of a maximum of ten (10) members, including parents of children attending alternative schools or who have attended alternative schools, teachers or principals serving in alternative schools, members of local boards of education, at least one (1) community representative concerned with alternative education and at least one (1) representative of an educators' association concerned with alternative education.

     (2)  The governor shall appoint the members of the advisory council for three-year terms, except for the appointment of the initial members. In appointing the initial members to the advisory council, each member shall be designated as filling an odd-numbered seat or an even-numbered seat. The members appointed to the odd-numbered seats shall serve three-year terms and the members appointed to the even-numbered seats shall serve two-year terms.

     (3)  Vacancies shall be filled for an unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments.

(c)  (1)  The advisory council shall elect its own chair and vice chair annually.

     (2)  A representative of the commissioner of education shall meet with and act as secretary to the advisory council. The commissioner, within available personnel and appropriations, shall furnish meeting facilities and staff services for the advisory council.

(d)  All members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(e)  The advisory council shall:

     (1)  Consider any issue, problem or matter related to alternative education presented to it by the governor, the commissioner or the state board of education, and give advice on any issue, problem or matter;

     (2)  Study proposed plans for alternative education programs or curricula to determine if the plans or curricula should be adopted;

     (3)  Study alternative education programs or curricula implemented in Tennessee school systems to determine the effectiveness of the programs or curricula, and alternative education programs or curricula implemented in other states to determine if the programs or curricula should be adopted in Tennessee schools;

     (4)  Consider rules of governance of alternative schools and make recommendations concerning rules of governance; and

     (5)  Make an annual report to the governor, the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, the commissioner of education and the state board of education on the state of alternative education in this state. The report shall be submitted prior to February 1 each year.

[Acts 2006, ch. 895, § 2.]