Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 (2026)
Judicial review
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) A tenured teacher who is dismissed or suspended by action of the board pursuant to § 49-5-512(c)(3), or suspended by action of the director pursuant to § 49-5-512(d)(4), may petition for a writ of certiorari from the chancery court of the county where the teacher is employed.
- (b) The petition shall be filed within thirty (30) days from the receipt by the teacher of notice of the decision of the board. The petition shall state briefly the issues involved in the cause, the substance of the order of the board, or the respects in which the petitioner claims the order of the board is erroneous, and praying for an accordant review. The petition shall be addressed to the presiding chancellor and shall name as defendants the members of the board and such other parties of record, if such, as were involved in the hearing before the board.
- (c) The petitioner shall give bond for costs as in other chancery suits or oaths of paupers in lieu.
- (d) Upon the filing of the petition, the clerk and master shall immediately send, by registered return receipt mail, to the chair of the board, a notice of the filing of the petition and a certified copy of the petition. The clerk shall also send a similar notice to the last known post office address of each other party named as defendant. In lieu of notice by registered mail, subpoena to answer may be served personally on each defendant, as in other chancery cases.
- (e) The filing of the petition shall suspend the order of the board pending a decision by the chancellor, but the teacher shall not be permitted to return to teaching pending final disposition of the appeal.
- (f) All defendants named in the petition desiring to make defense shall do so by answer, in which grounds of demurrer shall be incorporated, to the petition within thirty (30) days from the date of the filing of the petition, unless the time be extended by the court. Any other person who may be affected by the decision to be made by the court may, upon proper leave given, intervene and file an answer in the cause. Amendments may be granted as in other chancery procedures.
- (g) The cause shall stand for trial and shall be heard and determined at the earliest practical date, as one having precedence over other litigation, except suits involving state, county or municipal revenue. The review of the court shall be limited to the written record of the hearing before the board and any evidence or exhibits submitted at the hearing. Additional evidence or testimony shall not be admitted except as to establish arbitrary or capricious action or violation of statutory or constitutional rights by the board.
- (h) The chancellor shall reduce the chancellor's findings of fact and conclusions of law to writing and make them parts of the record.
- (i) Any party dissatisfied with the decree of the court may appeal as provided by the Tennessee rules of appellate procedure, where the cause shall be heard on the transcript of the record from the chancery court.
Acts 1951, ch. 76, § 17 (Williams, § 2345.17); Acts 1981, ch. 449, § 2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 49-1417; Acts 1992, ch. 535, § 83; 1992, ch. 952, § 6; 2012 , ch. 801, § 3.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 52
cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987).
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Emory v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 514 S.W.3d 129 (Tenn. 2017). “1987) (alteration in original) (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 (g) as of 1986).”
Lee v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 237 S.W.3d 322 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “"To this end, when any tenured teacher is dissatisfied with the administrative decision of a school board regarding suspension or dismissal, the Teacher Tenure Act permits judicial review of the board’s actions pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 49-5-513." Cooper, 746 S.”
Nedra Finney v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. Of Educ., 576 S.W.3d 663 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “Finney sought review in the Williamson County Chancery Court by filing a petition for a writ of certiorari in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 . In the de novo hearing before the chancery court, Ms.”
Van Hooser v. Warren Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 807 S.W.2d 230 (Tenn. 1991). “19, 1984, to seek the judicial review afforded by T.C.A. § 49-5-513. A trial was held at the close of which the chancellor determined that the school board was justified in dismissing Van Hooser.”
Saundra Thompson v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 395 S.W.3d 616 (Tenn. 2012). “§ 49-5-513(a)-(b). Ms. Thompson received absolutely none of the pre-termination protections the Tenure Act provides.”
Winkler v. Tipton Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 63 S.W.3d 376 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “16, 2000): Judicial review of a teacher dismissal case pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513 requires the chancery court to review the transcript of the hearing before the board in order to determine whether there was any material evidence to support the board’s decision.”
Wallace v. Mitchell, 303 S.W.3d 685 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “1995), this Court said: Judicial review of a teacher dismissal case pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513 requires the chancery court to review the transcript of the hearing before the board in order to determine whether there was any material evidence to support the board’s decision.”
Ripley v. Anderson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 293 S.W.3d 154 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). “Thereupon, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 , Ms. Ripley filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Anderson County Chancery Court, seeking judicial review of the Board’s decision.”
Reed v. Washington Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 756 S.W.2d 250 (Tenn. 1988). “The Board has appealed directly to this Court pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513®. See Hyde v. Bills, 696 S.”
Morris v. Clarksville-Montgomery Cnty. Consol. Bd. of Educ., 867 S.W.2d 324 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1993). “1987) The review afforded by Section 49-5-513 is not limited to a determination of whether the School Board acted within its jurisdiction, or acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or illegally.”
Saunders v. Anderson, 746 S.W.2d 185 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiffs Petition for de novo review of the Board’s decision was timely filed in the Chancery Court for Shelby County pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513 on June 11, 1985. The Petition stated that Plaintiff had been charged with incompetence and insubordination and that these…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(1) — 1 case
Lee v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 237 S.W.3d 322 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “"To this end, when any tenured teacher is dissatisfied with the administrative decision of a school board regarding suspension or dismissal, the Teacher Tenure Act permits judicial review of the board’s actions pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 49-5-513." Cooper, 746 S.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(a) — 7 cases
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Dave Brundage v. Cumberland Cnty., 357 S.W.3d 361 (Tenn. 2011).
Emory v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 514 S.W.3d 129 (Tenn. 2017). “1987) (alteration in original) (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 (g) as of 1986).”
Wallace v. Mitchell, 303 S.W.3d 685 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “1995), this Court said: Judicial review of a teacher dismissal case pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513 requires the chancery court to review the transcript of the hearing before the board in order to determine whether there was any material evidence to support the board’s decision.”
Saundra Thompson v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 395 S.W.3d 616 (Tenn. 2012). “§ 49-5-513(a)-(b). Ms. Thompson received absolutely none of the pre-termination protections the Tenure Act provides.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(b) — 3 cases
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Saundra Thompson v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 395 S.W.3d 616 (Tenn. 2012). “§ 49-5-513(a)-(b). Ms. Thompson received absolutely none of the pre-termination protections the Tenure Act provides.”
Rebecca Byrd v. Clarksville-Montgomery Cnty. Sch. Sys. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2024).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(e) — 2 cases
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Saundra Thompson v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 395 S.W.3d 616 (Tenn. 2012). “§ 49-5-513(a)-(b). Ms. Thompson received absolutely none of the pre-termination protections the Tenure Act provides.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(f) — 1 case
Saundra Thompson v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 395 S.W.3d 616 (Tenn. 2012). “§ 49-5-513(a)-(b). Ms. Thompson received absolutely none of the pre-termination protections the Tenure Act provides.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(g) — 20 cases
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Lee v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 237 S.W.3d 322 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “"To this end, when any tenured teacher is dissatisfied with the administrative decision of a school board regarding suspension or dismissal, the Teacher Tenure Act permits judicial review of the board’s actions pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 49-5-513." Cooper, 746 S.”
Emory v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., 514 S.W.3d 129 (Tenn. 2017). “1987) (alteration in original) (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 (g) as of 1986).”
Nedra Finney v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. Of Educ., 576 S.W.3d 663 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “Finney sought review in the Williamson County Chancery Court by filing a petition for a writ of certiorari in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513 . In the de novo hearing before the chancery court, Ms.”
Van Hooser v. Warren Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 807 S.W.2d 230 (Tenn. 1991). “19, 1984, to seek the judicial review afforded by T.C.A. § 49-5-513. A trial was held at the close of which the chancellor determined that the school board was justified in dismissing Van Hooser.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(h) — 5 cases
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Lee v. Franklin Special Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 237 S.W.3d 322 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “"To this end, when any tenured teacher is dissatisfied with the administrative decision of a school board regarding suspension or dismissal, the Teacher Tenure Act permits judicial review of the board’s actions pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 49-5-513." Cooper, 746 S.”
Van Hooser v. Warren Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 807 S.W.2d 230 (Tenn. 1991). “19, 1984, to seek the judicial review afforded by T.C.A. § 49-5-513. A trial was held at the close of which the chancellor determined that the school board was justified in dismissing Van Hooser.”
Roy Jones v. Perry Spurling (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002).
Rogelynn Emory v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., now known as Shelby Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-513(i) — 4 cases
Cooper v. Williamson Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 746 S.W.2d 176 (Tenn. 1987). “Plaintiff subsequently filed a Petition in the Chancery Court for Williamson County on March 7, 1986, to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-5-513. On November 5, 1986, a hearing was held in Chancery Court in this case.”
Jones v. Brown, 727 S.W.2d 497 (Tenn. 1987).
Smith v. State Technical Inst. at Memphis, 682 S.W.2d 915 (Tenn. 1984).
Rogelynn Emory v. Memphis City Schs. Bd. of Educ., now known as Shelby Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015).
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