Outcome Bonuses

(1) Subject to available appropriations by the Tennessee General Assembly, and pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-3-106, the Department shall allocate Student-generated outcome incentive dollars, called outcome bonuses, to an LEA based on the achievement of member Students in the LEA’s public schools, including authorized public charter schools. Outcome bonuses shall be earned based on the procedures and goals provided in this Rule, and the outcome bonuses shall be reported at the school level and received by the LEA or public charter school no later than the fifth payment period. (2) The Commissioner shall convene a group of individuals in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-3- 106(f), to annually advise the Commissioner regarding outcome bonuses and outcome goals. Once selected, an individual may serve in an advisory role for up to three (3) years. (3) A Student may generate up to one (1) outcome bonus in elementary school, one (1) outcome bonus in middle school, and one (1) outcome bonus in high school based on the criteria set forth in Paragraph (4) of this rule. (4) Outcome bonuses shall be allocated based on the following goals: (a) Elementary School: A Student who scored “meets expectations” or “exceeds expectations” on the 3rd grade ELA TCAP or any Student who scored “approaching” or “below” on the 3rd grade ELA TCAP but demonstrated Significant Growth on the 4th grade ELA TCAP generates an outcome bonus of ten percent (10%) of the Base Funding Amount. If the Student is Economically Disadvantaged, an English Learner, or a Student with a Disability, that Student instead generates an outcome bonus of twenty percent (20%) of the Base Funding Amount. For students with disabilities, this measure may also include the Student’s alternate assessment, when taken in lieu of the TCAP, should the Student score at the highest performance level. (b) Middle School: A Student who scored a combination of “meets expectations” or “exceeds expectations” on both the 8th grade ELA and math TCAP or who demonstrated Significant Growth from both the 7th grade ELA and math TCAP to both the 8th grade ELA and math TCAP generates an outcome bonus of ten percent (10%) of the Base Funding Amount. If the Student is Economically Disadvantaged, an English Learner, or a Student with a Disability, that Student instead generates an outcome bonus of twenty percent (20%) of the Base Funding Amount. For Students with Disabilities, this measure may also include the Student’s alternate assessment, when taken in lieu of the TCAP, should the Student score at the highest performance level. (c) High School: A Student within a graduating class who met any of the following criteria generates an outcome bonus of ten percent (10%) of the Base Funding Amount. If the Student is Economically Disadvantaged, an English Learner, or a Student with a Disability, that Student instead generates an outcome bonus of twenty percent (20%) of the Base Funding Amount: 1. Earned EPSO Credit in at least two (2) Early Post-Secondary Opportunities (EPSOs) and either scored a composite score of 21 (twenty-one) or higher on the ACT, or increased his or her composite ACT score by at least four (4) points between the first 11th grade ACT and a subsequent ACT; or 2. Earned EPSO Credit for three (3) EPSOs; or 3. Scored 31 (thirty-one) or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) and earned EPSO Credit in at least two (2) EPSOs. TENNESSEE INVESTMENT IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT (TISA) CHAPTER 0520-12-05 (d) High School Students with Disabilities: A Student in a graduating class who did not generate an outcome bonus under Paragraph (4)(c) of this rule, who was enrolled in an LEA that meets Indicator 5 of the State Annual Performance Report for students who receive instruction eighty percent (80%) of the day in a general education setting, and who also met at least two (2) of the three (3) State Annual Performance Report Indicators, as required by IDEA and listed below, generates an outcome bonus of ten percent (10%) of the Base Funding Amount: 1. Indicator 1: Graduation with a general education diploma; 2. Indicator 3C: Proficiency on the state’s alternate assessment; 3. Indicator 14: Post-school outcomes. (5) If there is not enough funding appropriated to provide outcome bonuses pursuant to Paragraph (4), the funding shall be reduced proportionally as provided in T.C.A. § 49-3-106. (6) The Department shall explore options and alternatives to measure Significant Growth, for consideration by the group assembled under T.C.A. § 49-3-106(f). (7) The Department shall conduct a pilot program in the 2023-24 school year related to post high school success metrics to determine potential revisions to outcome bonuses for high school students.