Kingsport school board changing policies to address state requirements

KINGSPORT — Kingsport's school board soon will adopt policy changes to reflect Tennessee requirements and regulations, as discussed at its recent work session. POLICIES 101 Students on school-sanctioned trips in Tennessee will no longer be counted as having an excused absence. Instead, those students are to be counted as present. That is among changes in Tennessee law and pending promulgation of new regulations getting attention from the Kingsport Board of Education. During a work session Tuesday evening, Jan. 27, the board considered four revised policies. The four policy changes, recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association, also include clarifying the difference between a Kingsport school system diploma and a state one, as well as a response to a pending requirement to provide information to charter schools a request to clarify graduation requirements. The fourth change is to clarify a law language change on the safe relocation of students. All four are on the agenda for votes at the regular BOE meeting set for Feb. 10. Charter school applications In November, the Tennessee Board of Education approved a change in regulations on charter school applications, which will affect Policy 1.901. However, it will not go into effect "until promulgated, likely next year," according to information Assistant Superintendent of Administration Andy True presented to the board. Still, True said the policy change could go ahead and be implemented now. "TSBA wanted to send out this information so that boards are aware of it before any charter applications are received," True said. The change adds a requirement that school boards provide charter sponsors with state and federal per-pupil funding estimates. It also adds a timeline for report board actions on applications. The proposed change is from a TSBA updated to the KCS model policy, highlighting those pending responsibilities. Graduation requirements Another change, to Policy 4.605, would follow the TSBA recommendation to distinguish between the credit requirement to graduate per state law versus any additional local credit requirements. State law requires only 22 credits to graduate, while KCS students must earn 28 credits. KCS students who graduate with fewer than 28 credits receive a state diploma but are not allowed to participate in the D-B graduation ceremony. Superintendent Chris Hampton estimated about 50 or 60 seniors graduate each year with only a state diploma out of senior classes of about 600 students. Attendance Another change, to Policy 6.200, reflects the state board's change to its Policy 4.100 that school-sponsored activities are no longer counted as excused absences. Instead, a student will be counted as present. However, school-sanctioned activities would continue to be considered excused absences, True told the board. Safe relocation of students Finally, the board is looking at revising Policy 6.4081, the Safe Relocation of Students policy. Previously, state law referred to "employees who are directly responsibility for a student's education" and their ability to physically relocate a student. "Current state law only applies this to 'teachers who are directly responsibility for a student's education or other employees who interact with students on a professional basis,'" according to True's written summary of that policy revision. "TSBA recommends updating this policy to align with the current standard."