Prohibited Concepts

 

Prohibited Concepts in Instruction

Chapter 493 of the Public Acts of 2021, now codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1019, prohibits certain concepts from being included or promoted as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program or included in supplemental instructional materials used by public schools in Tennessee. The department promulgated emergency rule 0520-12-04, that became effective on November 8, 2021.  The emergency rule includes requirements for each local education agency (LEA) and public charter school and the process for filing a complaint alleging an LEA or public charter school has violated Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1019. 

How to file a complaint alleging a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1019

The rule requires that complaints alleging concepts prohibited by Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1019 are being or have been included or promoted in a course of instruction, curriculum, and instructional program, or in supplemental instructional materials of an LEA or public charter school, must be filed with the LEA or public charter school in which the allegation(s) arose on the complaint form provided by the Department.  The rule requires LEAs and public charter schools to post the complaint form provided by the department for filing a complaint alleging violations of Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1019 on the LEA or public charter school’s website.  Click here to access the complaint form provided by the department.