TCA 49-50-801
49-50-801.
Church-related schools. -- (a) As used in this section, unless the context
otherwise requires, "church-related school" means a school operated by
denominational, parochial or other bona fide church organizations, which are
required to meet the standards of accreditation or membership of the Tennessee
Association of Christian Schools, the Association of Christian Schools
International, the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools, the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, the Tennessee Association of Non-Public
Academic Schools, the Tennessee Association of Church Related Schools, or a
school affiliated with Accelerated Christian Education, Inc.
(b)
The state board of education and local boards of education are prohibited from
regulating the selection of faculty or textbooks or the establishment of a
curriculum in church-related schools.
(c)
The state board of education and local boards of education shall not prohibit or
impede the transfer of a student from a church-related school to a public school
of this state. Local boards may, however, place students transferring from a
church-related school to a public school in a grade level based upon the
student's performance on a test administered by the board for that purpose. In
local school systems where the local board of education requires tests for
student transferring to that system from another public school system, the same
test shall be administered to students transferring to such system from
church-related schools. Provided, however, church-related schools shall be
conducted for the same length of term as public schools.
(d) Nothing
in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting church-related schools from
voluntarily seeking approval by the state board of education, nor prohibiting
the state board of education from extending such approval when it is voluntarily
sought.