Special Education Terms in Tennessee
What special education terms does Tennessee use?
Tennessee generally uses standard IDEA terminology for special education, with some state-specific additions. The IEP team is called the 'IEP Team' consistent with federal terminology. Tennessee uses 'Intellectual Disability' consistent with Rosa's Law. Tennessee has two disability categories not in the federal IDEA list: 'Functional Delay' and 'Intellectually Gifted.' The state assessment is the TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program) with EOC (End-of-Course) exams for secondary; the alternate assessment is the TAA (Tennessee Alternate Assessment). Tennessee refers to its multi-tiered support framework as TN-MTSS. The Division of Special Education within TDOE is the SEA office. Due process hearings are conducted by ALJs employed by the secretary of state (not through an 'Office of Administrative Hearings'). Tennessee uses 'Extended Isolation' and 'Extended Restraint' as defined terms in its restraint/isolation rules. Isolation is used in place of 'seclusion' in state rule language.
What Tennessee Requires
Tennessee uses 'IEP Team' consistent with IDEA — not a state-specific team name (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.02(8)).
Tennessee uses 'Intellectual Disability' consistent with Rosa's Law (Pub. L. 111-256), replacing the outdated term 'Mental Retardation' (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.03(9)).
Tennessee has two disability categories beyond the standard federal 13: 'Functional Delay' and 'Intellectually Gifted' (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.03(6),(8)).
State assessments: TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program) for grades 3–8; EOC (End-of-Course) exams for high school; TAA (Tennessee Alternate Assessment) for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.09(1)(c)).
Tennessee's multi-tiered support framework is called TN-MTSS (Tennessee Multi-Tiered System of Supports), aligned with IDEA's requirement for research-based interventions.
Due process hearings in Tennessee are heard by ALJs employed by the secretary of state, not through a separate 'Office of Administrative Hearings' (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.18(1)).