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As used in this chapter:
“Academic focus” means a distinctive, thematic program such as math, science, arts, general academics, or an instructional program such as Montessori or Paideia;
“Academic plan” means a platform that supports the academic focus of the charter school and will include instructional goals and methods for the school, which, at a minimum, shall include teaching and classroom instruction methods, materials and curriculum that will be used to provide students with knowledge, proficiency and skills needed to reach the goals of the school;
“Authorizer” means:
A local board of education, the Tennessee public charter school commission, or the achievement school district as defined in § 49-1-614, that makes decisions regarding approval, renewal, and revocation of a public charter school application or agreement; and
Includes the state board of education until 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2021;
“Charter agreement” means a fixed-term renewable agreement between a public charter school and the authorizer that outlines the rights, responsibilities, and performance expectations of each party;
“Charter management organization” or “CMO” means a nonprofit entity that manages or operates two (2) or more public charter schools;
“Commission” means the Tennessee public charter school commission;
“Conversion public charter school” means a charter school established by the conversion of an existing non-charter public school into a charter school;
“Foreign” means a country or jurisdiction outside of any state or territory of the United States;
“Governing body” means the organized group of persons who will operate a public charter school or schools by deciding matters, including, but not limited to, budgeting, curriculum and other operating procedures for the public charter school and by overseeing management and administration of a public charter school;
“Licensed teacher” means a person over the age of eighteen (18) who meets the qualifications of chapter 5, part 1 of this title and holds a valid Tennessee educator license in compliance with the rules and regulations of the state board of education;
“Local education agency” or “LEA” has the same definition as used in § 49-3-302;
“Public charter school” means a public school in this state that is established and operating under the terms of a charter agreement and in accordance with this chapter;
“Sponsor” means a proposed governing body filing an application for the establishment of a public charter school, that:
Is not a for-profit entity; nonpublic school as defined in § 49-6-3001; other private, religious, or church school; or postsecondary institution not regionally accredited; and
Does not promote the agenda of any religious denomination or religiously affiliated entity; and
“Underutilized or vacant property” means an entire property or portion thereof, with or without improvements, which is not used or is used irregularly or intermittently by the LEA for instructional or program purposes. “Underutilized or vacant property” does not include real property on which no building or permanent structure has been erected.