Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-1003 (2026)
Educator's obligations to students
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) An educator shall strive to help each student realize the student's potential as a worthy and effective member of society. An educator therefore works to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals.
- (b) In fulfillment of this obligation to the student, an educator shall:
- (1) Abide by all applicable federal and state laws;
- (2) Not unreasonably restrain the student from independent action in the pursuit of learning;
- (3) Provide the student with professional education services in a nondiscriminatory manner and in consonance with accepted best practices known to the educator;
- (4) Respect the constitutional rights of the student;
- (5) Not unreasonably deny the student access to varying points of view;
- (6) Not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student's progress;
- (7) Make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety;
- (8) Make reasonable effort to protect the emotional well-being of the student;
- (9) Not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement;
- (10) Not on any basis, unfairly:
- (A) Exclude the student from participation in any program;
- (B) Deny benefits to the student; or
- (C) Grant any advantage to the student;
- (11) Not use the educator's professional relationship with the student for private advantage;
- (12) Not disclose information about the student obtained in the course of the educator's professional service, unless disclosure of the information is permitted, serves a compelling professional purpose, or is required by law;
- (13) Not knowingly make false or malicious statements about students or colleagues;
- (14) Ensure interactions with the student take place in transparent and appropriate settings;
- (15) Not engage in any sexually related behavior with the student, whether verbal, written, physical, or electronic, with or without the student's consent. Sexually related behavior includes, but is not limited to, behaviors such as making sexual jokes or sexual remarks; engaging in sexual kidding, sexual teasing, or sexual innuendo; pressuring the student for dates or sexual favors; engaging in inappropriate physical touching, groping, or grabbing; kissing; rape; threatening physical harm; and committing sexual assault;
- (16) Not furnish alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs to the student;
- (17) Strive to prevent the use of alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs by the student when the student is under the educator's supervision on school or LEA premises, during school activities, or in any private setting;
- (18) Refrain from the use of alcohol while on school or LEA premises or during a school activity at which students are present; and
- (19) Maintain a professional approach with the student at all times.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 780,s 1, eff. 4/23/2024.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 937, s 1, eff. 7/1/2018.
Acts 2010 , ch. 916, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2018–2026 · leading case: Nedra Finney v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. Of Educ., 576 S.W.3d 663 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018).
Nedra Finney v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. Of Educ., 576 S.W.3d 663 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “8 Legislation enacted on July 1, 2018, amended the language of Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-1003 . 2018 Tenn. Pub.”
Matthew Hawn v. Sullivan Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-1003 (b)(5) (emphasis added).”
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