Amends TCA Title 49.

ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS BY LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION<br /> <br /> Under present law, the board of education of each local school system, with respect to the schools under its jurisdiction, is authorized and required to provide for the enrollment in a public school of each student who is eligible for enrollment within the schools of the local school system. This bill revises this provision to require such from the board of education of an LEA with regard to students who are residents of this state. This bill clarifies that this provision does not require a student to enroll in an LEA within which the student does not reside.<br /> <br /> Present law provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, the authority of each and every local school board in the matter of enrollment of pupils within its local school system must be full and complete and its decision as to the enrollment of any pupil in any such school is final. This bill deletes this provision and provides, instead, that except as otherwise by law, a student's parent or legal guardian may appeal a board of education's enrollment or assignment decision for the student to the commissioner of education. This bill requires the state board of education to promulgate rules to establish the appeal process.<br /> <br /> This bill deletes a provision that prohibits a pupil from being enrolled in, admitted to, or entitled or permitted to attend any public school in the local school system other than the public school to which the pupil is assigned. <br /> <br /> FACTORS FOR DETERMINING SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT <br /> <br /> Under present law, in determining the particular public school to which pupils must be assigned, the board of education may consider and base its decision on any one or more factors, including, amongst others, the following:<br /> <br /> (1) The choice and interests of the pupil;<br /> <br /> (2) The sex, morals, conduct, health, and personal standards of the pupil;<br /> <br /> (3) The request or consent of parents or guardians and the reasons assigned therefor; and<br /> <br /> (4) All other factors that the board may consider pertinent, relevant or material in their effect upon the welfare and best interest of the applicant, other pupils of the school district as a whole and the inhabitants of the school district. <br /> <br /> This bill revises (1) above to read, instead, the residential address, race, ethnicity, language proficiency, sex, morals, conduct, health, or personal standards of the student. This bill deletes (2)-(4).<br /> <br /> This bill adds that in determining the public school to which students must be assigned, a board of education must consider and base its decision on the choice and interests of the student, and the request or consent of the student's parent or legal guardian.<br /> <br /> UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINAITON IN PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMISSION <br /> <br /> Under present law, a person must not be refused admission into or be excluded from any public school in this state on account of race, creed, color, sex or national origin. This bill adds residential address to the list of things for which no student can be refused admission into or be excluded from any public school in this state on account of. <br />