2023 Tennessee Code › Title 49 - EDUCATION (§§ 49-1-NEW — 49-50-1703) › Chapter 3 - FINANCES (§§ 49-3-101 — 49-3-2003) › Part 3 - TENNESSEE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT OF 1977 (§§ 49-3-301 — 49-3-370) › Section 49-3-370 - Funding of educational services to children in residential mental health facilities

(a)
An LEA shall allocate funding in an amount equal to the per pupil state and local funds received by the LEA to a state-licensed residential mental health facility on a prorated daily basis for the student's length of stay if:
(1)
The residential mental health facility operates as a Category I special purpose school pursuant to the state board of education's rules and provides a minimum of sixteen and one-half (161/2) hours per week of educational instructional services to the students, unless the student's IEP provides otherwise;
(2)
The student admitted to the residential mental health facility is enrolled in a public school in this state at the time of admission to the facility, and the student's parents or legal guardians are residents of this state; and
(3)
The student is admitted to the residential mental health facility under a signed, written order of a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine in this state, the order being based upon medical necessity. An LEA may require a physician attestation form including the patient's name, the dates of admission, and the signature of the physician to be submitted to the LEA prior to disbursement of funds to the facility.
(b)
An LEA shall allocate funding in an amount equal to the per pupil state and local funds received by the LEA to an out-of-state residential mental health facility on a prorated daily basis for the student's length of stay if:
(1)
There are no facilities in this state with the capacity to deliver the appropriate mental health treatment to the student at the time the student is admitted to the out-of-state residential mental health facility;
(2)
The residential mental health facility operates in a state that borders this state;
(3)
[Deleted by 2024 amendment]
(4)
The department of education determines, prior to the medical placement decision, that the residential mental health facility's educational programs or instructional services meet the same requirements as a Category I special purpose school, as applicable, pursuant to the state board of education's rules;
(5)
The residential mental health facility provides a minimum of sixteen and one-half (161/2) hours per week of educational instructional services to admitted students, unless the student's IEP provides otherwise;
(6)
The residential mental health facility complies with all applicable health and safety laws, regulations, and codes of the state and locality in which it is located;
(7)
All teachers at the residential mental health facility are licensed by the educator licensing authority of the state in which the facility is located;
(8)
The residential mental health facility has at least one (1) teacher with an endorsement in special education or a certification that the department of education determines to be equivalent to an endorsement in special education in this state, to provide special education and related services to admitted students;
(9)
The residential mental health facility has a sufficient number of teachers with an endorsement in special education or a certification that the department of education determines to be equivalent to an endorsement in special education in this state, to comply with each student's IEP;
(10)
The residential mental health facility reports the attendance of each admitted student to the public school in which the student is enrolled;
(11)
The residential mental health facility follows the admitted student's IEP as written at the time of the medical placement decision, and as subsequently amended by the student's IEP team during the student's stay at the facility;
(12)
The student admitted to the residential mental health facility was enrolled in and attended a public school in this state immediately preceding the student's admission to the facility, and the student's parents or legal guardians are residents of this state at the time of the student's admission to the facility; and
(13)
The student is admitted to the residential mental health facility under a signed, written order of a qualified physician licensed to practice medicine, the order being based upon both medical necessity and the most appropriate medical services for the child. An LEA may require a physician attestation form including the patient's name, the dates of admission, and the signature of the physician to be submitted to the LEA prior to disbursement of funds to the facility.
(c)
If an LEA allocates funds to an out-of-state residential mental health facility pursuant to this section, then the LEA and the department of education are authorized to monitor the out-of-state residential mental health facility for compliance with this section, an individual student's IEP, and all other applicable state and federal laws.
(d)
If the out-of-state residential mental health facility fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (b), then the LEA shall cease the allocation of funding as provided in this section.
(e)
The state board of education shall promulgate rules to establish procedures for approving educational programs or instructional services provided by out-of-state residential mental health facilities and for the allocation of funds to out-of-state residential mental health facilities for purposes of this section. The rules must be promulgated according to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
(f)
The funding specified in subsections (a) and (b) is in addition to funds allocated pursuant to federal law and regulation, including, but not limited to, Title I and ESEA funds.
(g)
This part must not be used or construed to circumvent the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (
20 U.S.C. § 1400
et seq.).
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 884,s 2, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 884,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 589, s 1, eff. 5/27/2021.
Acts 2011 , ch. 426, § 1; 2012, ch. 1099, §§ 1 - 4.