(1) The Department
shall administer an application process for out-of-state Facilities to be
eligible to receive LEA per pupil state and local funds prorated for the length
of an admitted Student's stay.
(2)
An Applicant shall complete and submit the Standard Initial Application Form in
accordance with the Department's application process. Applicants may apply for
initial approval throughout the calendar year.
(a) The Department shall make a determination
and notify the Applicant of initial approval or denial within thirty (30)
business days of receipt of a completed Standard Initial Application
Form.
(3) Applicants
shall submit documentation to support that the Facility meets the following
requirements:
(a) Operates in Alabama,
Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, or
Virginia;
(b) Complies with all
applicable health and safety laws, regulations, and codes of the state and
locality in which the Facility is located;
(c) All teachers at the Facility are licensed
by the educator licensing authority of the state in which the Facility is
located;
(d) Has at least one (1)
teacher with an endorsement in special education or a certification that the
Department determines equivalent to an endorsement in special education in
Tennessee based on similar training and experience requirements to provide
special education and related services to admitted Students;
(e) Provides a minimum of sixteen and
one-half (161/2) hours per week of educational instructional services to
Students, unless the Student's IEP provides otherwise; and
(f) The Applicant's educational programs or
instructional services meet the same requirements as a Category I-Special
Purpose School, as applicable, pursuant to State Board of Education Rules
Chapter 0520-07-02.
1. The Department may
request additional documentation from the Applicant to make a determination
whether or not the Applicant's educational programs or instructional services
meet the same requirements as a Category I-Special Purpose School, as
applicable. Additional documentation includes, but is not limited to,
documentation of teacher licensure and evaluations, employee background checks,
parent and teacher handbooks, school calendar, examples of teacher and student
daily schedules, and documentation of curriculum used.
(4) An approved out-of-state
Facility shall reapply annually to the Department for continued approval in
order to remain eligible to receive LEA funds for the length of an admitted
Student's stay. To reapply, a Facility shall complete and submit the Standard
Renewal Application Form in accordance with the Department's procedures no
later than one (1) calendar year from the date of initial or last renewal
approval.
(a) The Department shall make a
determination and notification to the Applicant of approval or denial within
thirty (30) business days of receipt of the completed Standard Renewal
Application Form.
