House Bill 2177, also known as Senate Bill 2351, proposes several amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning public education. One significant change is the modification of the appointment process for student members on local education boards, allowing nominations from both local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies, with specific criteria regarding the students' grade levels. Additionally, the bill introduces a provision that exempts schools with less than $50,000 in combined internal school and student activity funds from conducting separate audits for those funds, while still requiring audits as part of a general school audit.

The bill also revises the financial reporting requirements for local education agencies (LEAs), mandating timely submission of budgets and financial reports to the commissioner, and establishes penalties for non-compliance. It further outlines the criteria for public charter schools to be classified as high-performing, which includes meeting specific performance indicators over three years. The legislation also streamlines the replication process for charter schools and clarifies enrollment preferences during lotteries. Overall, the bill aims to enhance accountability and operational efficiency within Tennessee's public education system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-1-301(a)(6), 49-1-301, 49-2-112(a), 49-2-112, 49-3-316(a), 49-3-316, 49-13-105, 49-13-113(d), 49-13-113, 49-13-121, 49-13-108(a), 49-13-108, 49-13-121(a), 49-13-127(b), 49-13-127, 49-13-137