2023 Tennessee Code › Title 37 - JUVENILES (§§ 37-1-NEW — 37-11-103) › Chapter 5 - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES (§§ 37-5-101 — 37-5-608) › Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 37-5-101 — 37-5-137) › Section 37-5-119 - Youth development centers - Special school district - Administration - Teachers

(a)
The youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner shall be a special school district, which shall be given the same funding consideration for federal funds that school districts within the state are given.
(b)
The schools within such youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner shall be under the control of the commissioner who shall serve as the board of education and director of schools for such district.
(c)
(1)
The schools shall meet the requirements of the law for public schools and rules and regulations of the state board of education.
(2)
The commissioner of education may grant waivers for such provisions of the laws and regulations with which the schools cannot comply because of the function of the youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner on an annual basis and in response to the commissioner's of children's services written request and justification. Such exceptions shall be in writing.
(d)
(1)
Each teacher in the special school district must receive an annual compensation rate at the start of the teacher's employment in the special school district that is no less than the average annual compensation rate for teachers in the county in which the respective youth development center is located.
(2)
Each teacher in the special school district who has completed an annual performance review cycle on or before July 1, 2023, is eligible for merit pay, salary increases, bonuses, and other benefits implemented after July 1, 2023, in the same manner as other preferred service employees.
(3)
Teachers in the special school district are eligible for longevity pay consistent with title 8, chapter 23, part 2.
(4)
This subsection (d) shall not be construed to reduce the compensation currently paid to a teacher in the special school district.
(e)
The commissioner of children's services shall develop and implement a plan whereby there shall be sufficient substitute teachers available for temporary service as needed for each school composing the special school district.
(f)
(1)
Nothing in the language of this section shall be construed as prohibiting any local school district from issuing a diploma to a resident of a youth development center and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner, upon certification of the principal of a youth center school.
(2)
School records of any juvenile in the correctional programs who is issued a diploma by a local school district shall be maintained by such local school district; provided, that all references to the juvenile's commitment to and treatment by the department of children's services are expunged.
(g)
The special school district of youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner under the department shall have the powers, privileges and authority exercised or capable of exercise by any other school district.
(h)
The effect of this section shall not be to provide state funds to the special school district of youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner under the department of children's services through the Tennessee investment in student achievement formula (TISA).
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 84, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 966, s 98, eff. 7/1/2023.
Acts 1989, ch. 278, § 9; T.C.A., §
4-3-2620
; Acts 1996, ch. 1079, § 23.