Proposed legislation could relegate the Memphis-Shelby County School Board and others to an “advisory capacity”

The legislation, referred to as the Tennessee Public School Accountability Act, would allow the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the governor, speaker of the house, and lieutenant governor to create a board of managers over specific school districts.¶

This board would essentially supersede the district’s existing school board and director of schools. Under the legislation, existing district leadership and school board members would not be able to meet, make key employment decisions, or alter the makeup of the existing school board without approval from the new board of managers.¶

“Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the local board of education, director of schools, or an administrator employed by the LEA shall not take an action prohibited by the board of managers and shall take all actions required by the board of managers,” wrote authors of the legislative amendment.¶

The governor would appoint 5 members of the board of managers and the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house would appoint 2 members each. Under the legislation, the board would serve a minimum of four years and up to six, and each member would be required to reside in the district’s county and have experience in education, finance, facilities, health, management, data, or evaluations.¶

The legislation would also give the education commissioner authority to recommend that some existing public schools in the district be converted to public charter schools.¶

Both recommended actions by the commissioner would only be possible under the legislation if one or more of the below criteria are met:¶

• 30 percent or more of the schools managed by the district receive a “D” or “F” School Letter Grade.
• The district is in the bottom 5 percent of district performance statewide.
• 25 percent of the district’s students are chronically absent.
• The legislative body for the county where the school district is located in approves a resolution expressing no confidence in the school board, as Shelby County Commissioners did following Feagins’ termination.

The Senate Education Committee and House Education Administration Subcommittee are scheduled to vote on the Tennessee Public School Accountability Act next week.¶

The legislation will face opposition from a newly formed community group made up of Memphis business, education, nonprofit, and faith leaders known as Save Our Students 901. Its members argue the challenges in Memphis-Shelby County Schools are better solved locally.¶

“Our students deserve a future shaped by their community, not outsiders. Strong schools start with local voices, support, and leadership. Stand with us to protect Memphis-Shelby County Schools and ensure every student has the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” wrote the group in a Facebook post this week.¶

Though some criticized the proposal as duplicative of 2025 legislation, the ban addresses an important nuance in the law.