HIGHLY COUNTY SCHOOLS
1507
Misty Shelton
VPK Supervisor/Licensure Coordinator/Board Policies
Hickman County Schools
115 Murphree Avenue
Centerville, Tennessee 37033
To: School Board Members
From: Misty Shelton
Date: August 2026
2nd Reading
Policy 1.400 - School Board Meetings
Public Chapter 852 creates flexibility for Boards during a natural disaster or inclement weather
event. It allows board members to join a meeting electronically when fewer than a quorum is
physically present. This exception may be used three times per year.
Policy 2.100 - Fiscal Management Goals
Recent guidance from the Comptroller's office recommends that Boards require annual internal
control reviews.
Policy 2.200 - Annual Operating Budget
The new guidance from the Comptroller's office also recommends that Boards include a provision on
the fund balance and encourages Boards to select this amount in consultation with their local
funding body. Additionally, new state laws require districts to annually provide: (1) a certified copy of
the budget signed by both the Director and the funding body to the Commissioner; and (2) planning
and budgetary reports to the Office of Research and Accountability in the Office of the Comptroller of
the Treasury.
NEW Policy 4.215 - Instructional Use of Digital Devices
TSBA created this new policy in response to a requirement in Public Chapter 808. This new state
law requires Boards to adopt a policy prioritizing teacher-led instruction and the use of non-electronic
instructional materials in grades K-5. There are several exceptions to the law, including, but not
limited to, assessments, remediation, students with IEPs/504 plans, and virtual schools.
Policy 4.301 - Interscholastic Athletics
Students attending small private schools will now be permitted to participate in interscholastic
athletics in accordance with TSSAA or TMSAA guidelines. If a school is a member with these
organizations, private school students zoned for the particular school shall be able to participate in
interscholastic athletics to the same extent as other students, but only in athletic programs that are
not offered by the private school. If a school is not a member with these organizations, private school
students zoned for the particular school shall be able to participate in interscholastic athletics to the
same extent as other students.
Policy 4.600 - Grading System
This new law clarifies that the high school grading system will apply to coursework completed by
students in middle school. TSBA has added clarifying information to this policy. Please note that
Public Chapter 901 also includes a requirement that will go into effect for the 2027-2028 school year.
Beginning in that school year, districts are required to automatically enroll students who achieve a
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
MICHAEL COUNT) SCHOOLS
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performance level of "exceeds expectations" on the math portion of the 7th-grade TCAP exam in
Algebra I instead of an 8th-grade math course, unless a parent/guardian opts them out.
Policy 4.603 - Promotion & Retention
TSBA has updated policy 4.603 to include another pathway for students to be promoted to fourth
grade. This is based on Public Chapter 1030, which permits this promotion if the student was
administered a state-mandated assessment in third grade and demonstrated proficiency in ELA
based on scoring in the fiftieth percentile on the most recently administered universal reading
screener. This will apply to the schools selected for a pilot with the TDOE.
Policy 4.605 - Graduation Requirements
Recent changes to state law alter the Move on When Ready early graduation requirements. Public
Chapter 912 adds the Classic Learning Test as an option for students seeking to graduate early
through this pathway. Additionally, Public Chapter 1040 requires the Director of Schools to annually
report the total number of Move on When Ready requests to the Department of Education. TSBA
has also updated this policy to clarify that students who successfully complete high school credit
before grade nine shall receive graduation credit for that coursework.
Policy 5.106 = Application and Employment
State law now requires all school districts to use the E-Verify program to ensure that an employee is
eligible to work in the U.S. Previously, this was an optional program. This is already a practice within
our system.
Policy 5.200 - Separation Practices for Tenured Teachers &
Policy 5.201 Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers
Previously, a teacher who resigned and breached their contract mid-year could have their license
suspended by the State Board of Education if the local Board submitted a complaint. Public Chapter
898 removes the option for Boards to file these types of complaints.
Policy 5.302 - Sick Leave &
Policy 5.303 Personal and Professional Leave
Public Chapter 1022 is intended to shift flexibility from sick leave to the personal and professional
leave category. Professional employees will now earn: 8 sick days a year for 10-month contracts; 9
sick days a year for 11-month contracts; and 10 sick days a year for 12-month contracts.
Additionally, professional employees will now earn four days of personal and professional leave per
year instead of two.
Policy 5.600 - Staff Rights & Responsibilities
An update to the Teacher Code of Conduct requires teachers to refrain from any sexually related
behaviors with students, including students who have graduated or withdrawn in the immediately
preceding twelve months.
Policy 5.801 - Director of Schools Recruitment and Selection
State law now permits Boards to conduct an executive session to interview candidates applying to
serve as Director of Schools. The new change to state law allows boards to conduct interviews
behind closed doors. This was previously not an option under state law. If Boards want to use this
option, TSBA recommends updating the corresponding policy. Please note that voting and
deliberation must be done in an open meeting, and the new law requires minutes of the executive
session to be published. Additionally, candidates now have the option to request that their
applications remain confidential if the Board chooses to use an executive session. If you would like
to keep the current process, no change is needed.
Policy 6.200 - Attendance
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
MICHAEL COUNT SCHOOLS
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Public Chapter 844 requires districts to determine whether a mid-year transfer student was
previously enrolled in a public school in the same school year and request the student's attendance
records. The receiving district must then include the unexcused absences from the previous school
district in the student's current total to implement the appropriate truancy intervention tier, if
applicable.
Policy 6.202 - Home Schools
Previously, state law required certain actions if a homeschool student fell below grade level. Public
Chapter 912 has removed this portion of the statute. Additionally, this new law changes the types of
tests that may be administered to homeschool students and permits the parent to select a
standardized test.
Policy 6.205 - Student Assignments
State law now requires that principals create a safety plan for a student with an order of protection
against another student.
Policy 6.303 - Questioning Students and Searches
Public Chapter 1040 expands on last year's legislation regarding who may conduct searches of
students. This new law adds school employees who have completed the required orientation and
training to the list of individuals who may conduct searches authorized by the principal.
Policy 6.306 - Interference/Disruption of School Activities
A recent change to state law requires Boards to have a policy on alerting parents when a classroom
evacuation occurs in response to another student's behavior.
Policy 6.318 - Admission of Suspended or Expelled Students
Public Chapter 760 permits school districts to continue an investigation of a student disciplinary
incident even if the student withdraws. Further, it clarifies that the investigation and/or disciplinary
consequences may resume if the student re-enrolls.
Policy (6.412aTSBA) HCSS 6.4051 - Emergency Allergy Response Plan
The policy contains a provision on schools storing epinephrine in case of emergency. TSBA
recommends updating it with the new version. Public Chapter 947 updates state law to clarify that
epinephrine may be purchased in a variety of forms, not solely as an auto-injector. We have updated
the relevant model policy to align with that language.
NEW Policy 6.4053 - Outside Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy
Boards are required to adopt a policy on outside applied behavior analysis therapy per Public
Chapter 1112. This new state law requires Boards to adopt a policy allowing these private pay
providers access to school property if they are under contract with parents/guardians and have
signed a memorandum of understanding with the district. The Department of Education will be
issuing guidance on this topic. TSBA will send out an update to the model policy, if needed.
Policy 6.506 - Students from Military Families
Public Chapter 834 updates requirements for school districts regarding students from military
families. Previously, state law allowed Boards to choose how much time these students had to
provide documentation of relocation to the district. Per this recent change, students must now
provide this information within one calendar year of the date of enrollment. The new law further
clarifies that districts must take appropriate steps to assist any of these students with IEPs, 504
plans, or individualized family service plans. Additionally, Public Chapter 834 states that if a military
family relocates outside of the district, any students enrolled in grades 11 or 12 must be allowed to
remain enrolled in the same high school until they either graduate or withdraw.
Policies 4.100 4.300 4.301 5.104 5.501 6.100 6.301 6.303 6.304 6.3041 Changes Per Public
Chapter 938
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
MICHAEL COUNTY SCHOOLS
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Public Chapter 938 requires any policy that "includes a reference to a natural person's sex or gender
to state that those terms are defined as the immutable characteristics of the person's reproductive
system that identify the person as male or female, as determined by anatomy and genetics existing
at the time of birth." These changes must be in place by January 1, 2027.
Up for Review:
1.206 Student Board Representative
3.404 Private Vehicles
3.500 Food Service Management
3.600 Insurance Management
3.601 Student Insurance Program
3.602 Workers' Compensation
4.101 Instructional Standards
4.200 Curriculum Development
4.201 Basic Program and Class Size Ratios
4.2012 Lifetime Wellness
Thank you for your careful consideration of these policies.
931-729-3391 ext. 2226
misty.shelton@hickmank12.org
fax 931-729-3834
The Hickman County School System does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, national
origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, or disability as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All necessary accommodations are made for equitable participation by constituents without regard to race, gender,
disability, economic status, or special needs as required by Section 427 of the General Education Provision Act & P.L. 107-110-NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.