House Bill 1322 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to charter schools, primarily focusing on the roles and responsibilities of authorizers, which include local boards of education, the Tennessee public charter school commission, and the achievement school district. Key changes include the definition of "authorizer" and the introduction of "replication," which refers to the creation of new charter schools that share the same academic focus as existing ones. The bill also modifies the application process for establishing new charter schools, requiring sponsors to apply to the local board or the commission, and mandates that the commission make letters of intent available on its website within ten days.

Additionally, the bill outlines a new process for sponsors to apply directly to the commission if their applications have been denied by local boards on three separate occasions within a three-year period. It establishes timelines for the commission to approve or deny applications and specifies that the commission's decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Other amendments include changes to reporting requirements, the annual reporting process for charter schools, and the authorizer's obligations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-13-104, 49-13-106(i), 49-13-106, 49-13-107(a), 49-13-107, 49-13-107(b), 49-13-108, 49-13-108(b)(5), 49-13-108(b)(5)(D), 49-13-108(g), 49-13-110(d), 49-13-110, 49-13-111(a)(4), 49-13-111, 49-13-116(a), 49-13-116, 49-13-116(b), 49-13-120, 49-13-121(a), 49-13-121, 49-13-121(d), 49-13-121(e), 49-13-121(f), 49-13-121(f)(3), 49-13-121(i), 49-13-121(k), 49-13-122(g), 49-13-122, 49-13-128(f), 49-13-128, 49-13-133(b), 49-13-133, 49-13-142, 49-13-143(a), 49-13-143, 49-13-143(b)