Federal (cont.)
State (cont.)
Local (cont.)
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens in
the United States and of the state
wherein they reside. No state shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any state deprive any person
of life, liberty or property, without
due process of law; nor deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the law.
Department of Education acts as a
bridge connecting state and federal
policies to local education agencies
(LEAs), otherwise known as school
districts. The Department of Education
also is the pass-through for all state
and federal education expenditures.
Director of Schools
The director of schools manages
the district-level work of all schools.
Responsibilities include:
The Commerce Clause of the
U.S. Constitution
Federal courts have determined that
the Commerce Clause applies to
certain safety, transportation, and
labor regulations within schools.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
outlawed discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, or national
origin, was passed under the
Commerce Clause in order to allow
the federal government to oversee
equitable access to schools in states.
General Welfare Clause of
U.S. Constitution
Article I, section 8, clause 1 of the
United States Constitution, also known
as the Spending Clause, states,
The Congress shall have power to lay
and collect taxes, duties, imposts and
excises, to pay the debts and provide
for the common defense and general
welfare of the United States.
In practice, the general welfare clause
allows the federal government to tie
receipt of certain federal grants to
specific actions (Title I, Race to the
Top, etc.) and mandates some state
actions related to the implementation
of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA).2
7 | P U B L I C E D U C AT I O N I N T E N N ES S E E
• Act for the board in
understanding laws relating to
schools, laws from the state, and
implementation of laws
• Make recommendations to the
board
• Have general supervision of all
schools
• Require and ensure compliance
with state laws and regulations
• Prepare and submit an annual
budget for board approval
• Dismiss employees under district
jurisdiction (T.C.A. 49-2-301)
Principals
Principals are responsible for the
day-to-day operations in schools.
Duties include:
• Instructional leadership and
guidance
• Using student growth data to
create a coordinated plan for
the school
• Maintain school safety and
security
• Prepare an annual school
budget
• Maintain a safe school
environment, and supervise
student discipline and behavior
(T.C.A. 49-2-303)