The Governor's Advisory Council for Alternative Education is coordinated by the Tennessee Department of Education and comprised of 10 members including parents of children attending an alternative school or who have attended, teachers, principals, members of local boards of education, community representatives, and a member of the Tennessee Alternative Educators Association.  Appointments are made by the Governor for a term of 3 years. 

The Advisory Council, in conjunction with the Department of Education, is charged to do the following:

• Consider any issue, problem or matter related to alternative education presented to it by the Governor, the Commissioner, or the State Board of Education, and give advice thereon.
• Study proposed plans for alternative education programs or curricula to determine if the plans or curricula should be adopted.
• Study alternative education programs or curricula implemented in Tennessee school systems to determine the effectiveness of the programs or curricula, and alternative education programs or curricula implemented in other states to determine if the programs or curricula should be adopted in Tennessee schools.
• Consider rules of governance of alternative schools and make recommendations concerning rules of governance.
• Make an annual report to the Governor, the education committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education on the state of alternative education in Tennessee. The report shall be submitted prior to February 1 each year.

For a list of current Council members click HERE.  To learn more about the Governor's Advisory Council for Alternative Education contact Mike Herrmann with the Tennessee Department of Education via email to mike.herrmann@tn.gov.