Amends TCA Title 49.

This bill authorizes a local board of education to contract with a private college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for the college or university to maintain a training school for grades pre-K through 12, or any combination of grades pre-K through 12 to provide practice teaching experience for teachers in training. The students enrolled in the training school must be taught the same course of study as prescribed by the state board of education for the LEA in grades pre-K through 12, or the grades appropriate for the particular school.<br /> <br /> A college or university that has entered into a contract with a local board of education is authorized to receive all state and federal funds received by the local board of education as a result of this contract for the operation of the training school. This bill provides that in the event that the training school does not maintain a school for grades pre-K through 12, the contract between the college or university and the local board of education must direct the allocation of funds between the local board and the training school, as the parties determine necessary to best achieve the objective of providing practice teaching for teachers in training.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 10, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1231, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes to this bill:<br /> <br /> (1) Requires that the private college or university contracting with the local board of education have its primary campus domiciled in this state;<br /> <br /> (2) Requires that training schools meet the same requirements established by law and the state board’s rules for public schools;<br /> <br /> (3) Allows a college or university that has entered into a contract with a local board of education pursuant to this bill to receive all state and federal funds received by the local board of education as a result of this contract for the operation of the training school, including TISA allocations and any other funds that may be allocated for the operation of public schools of this state; and<br /> <br /> (4) Clarifies that training schools are eligible to receive grants and other funds in the same manner as the public schools in this state.<br />