Lea Requirements For Initial Approval

(1) LEA teacher training programs may be formed by one (1) LEA or by two (2) or more LEAs working together, provided, that at the time of application and initial approval, none of the applicant LEAs have received the lowest performance designation on the state’s LEA accountability system in either of the last two (2) years in which designations were assigned. (2) The LEA or LEAs seeking to establish an LEA teacher training program may partner with an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) that is operating under State Board approval or that has a Department-recognized EPP partnership agreement with an LEA. LEA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS CHAPTER 0520-02-07 (3) Proposals submitted for initial approval as an LEA teacher training program shall be reviewed by the Department. (4) To be considered for initial approval, LEA teacher training programs shall submit a proposal to the Department that contains, at minimum, evidence of the following: (a) Evidence of Program Capacity. 1. A designated program supervisor for the LEA, as appointed by the Director of Schools; 2. Adequate staffing for each course the LEA teacher training program seeks to offer to prepare educators for the Endorsement Area(s), including evidence that the faculty or staff who teach courses or provide direct coaching to Eligible Educators possess sufficient knowledge, skills, training, and expertise; and 3. A requirement for each Eligible Educator participating in the program to receive ongoing support, coaching, and feedback from a mentor teacher during the time the educator is enrolled in the LEA teacher training program. The mentor teacher shall: (i) Hold an active Tennessee educator license with an endorsement in the area or a closely related area to the one (1) in which the Eligible Educator is seeking endorsement; (ii) Have a level of overall effectiveness of above expectations or significantly above expectations on the mentor teacher’s most recent evaluation; and (iii) Have a minimum of three (3) years of experience as a teacher. (b) Evidence of Alignment to Specialty Area Program Standards. 1. Program structure and method(s) of delivery; 2. Alignment to the standards of the applicable sections of the Literacy and Specialty Area Program Standards Policy 5.106 for the Endorsement Area(s) the LEA teacher training program seeks to offer; 3. Opportunities for Eligible Educators to demonstrate application of the standards through field experience; and 4. Opportunities for Eligible Educators to demonstrate understanding of the standards through benchmark assessments throughout the LEA teacher training program. (5) The Department shall review all proposals for initial approval of an LEA teacher training program or approval of a new SAP and provide feedback within ninety (90) calendar days of receipt of the completed proposal. (a) Within the ninety (90) calendar day review, the Department may request additional information or revisions to a proposal. (b) Applicants shall respond to requests for additional information or revisions within forty- five (45) calendar days. LEA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS CHAPTER 0520-02-07 (c) The Department may provide an additional opportunity for applicants to respond to a request for minor revisions. (d) No more than sixty (60) days following the submission of required revisions to the proposal, the Department shall notify an applicant of its recommendation or decision, as outlined in paragraphs (6) or (7) below, as applicable. (6) After review of the proposal for initial approval of an LEA teacher training program, the Department shall recommend to the State Board one (1) of the following: (a) Initial approval. If initial approval is awarded, LEA teacher training programs may begin enrolling and subsequently recommending Eligible Educators for endorsement in approved Specialty Area Programs; or (b) Denial of initial approval. If initial approval is denied, LEA teacher training programs shall not recommend educators for endorsements or identify the program as leading to endorsement. LEA teacher training programs may submit a revised proposal for consideration to the Department during the next review period established by the Department. (7) After administrative review of proposals for new SAPs, approval or denial shall be issued through Department notification. SAPs that are denied approval shall be provided an opportunity to resubmit the proposal to the Department to correct any identified deficiencies. (8) Applicants shall not publicize LEA teacher training programs or SAPs as leading to endorsement prior to receiving initial approval. (9) Applicants that receive initial approval from the State Board to operate an LEA teacher training program may begin enrolling Eligible Educators and subsequently recommending Eligible Educators for endorsement. (10) The initial approval period shall last for a minimum of three (3) years and a maximum of five (5) years. An LEA teacher training program may seek full approval after three (3) years in operation under initial approval by requesting a full approval review from the Department. Initial approval expires after five (5) years or upon the LEA teacher training program earning full approval from the State Board.