Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL)
The Tennessee Academy for School Leaders (TASL) provides ongoing high-quality professional development for school and district instructional leaders. Effective Tennessee instructional leaders must incorporate knowledge of current research in cognitive science, skill at building collaborative cultures, and awareness of local needs into their daily work. Ongoing professional growth is critical if school and district leaders are to be successful in meeting the needs of today’s students. In accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated 49-5-5703, school administrators and district supervisors are required to attend TASL-approved professional development activities.
TASL programs, which are supported by rigorous research and established best practices, are aligned with the Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards (TILS).
Who is TASL mandated?
School principals and assistant principals must complete TASL requirements. District supervisors are also TASL mandated.
Since Tennessee schools districts are able to configure administrator responsibilities in a variety of ways, there can be some confusion in some cases about whether an individual is TASL mandated. For guidance, school leaders may go to here to see lists of mandated positions.
Responsibility for TASL compliance rests with the individual administrator.
What are the TASL attendance requirements?
As of July 1, 2006, the TASL cycle changed from five years to two years in duration. Administrators and supervisors must attend 28 hours of TASL-approved professional development within two years of the cycle beginning date.
All cycles begin on July 1 of the fiscal year in which the individual assumes an administrative position. All cycles end on June 30.
TASL credit may NOT be carried over from one cycle to the next. All TASL-mandated individuals begin each new cycle with zero TASL hours.
School administrators and supervisors with fifteen or more years of experience in Tennessee as administrators or supervisors may be exempted from participation in TASL unless the local Board of Education requires attendance. Applications for exemptions must be filed with the TASL office. The exemption application may be obtained at the bottom of this page.
What should new administrators do first in meeting TASL requirements?
New administrators and supervisors should contact the TASL office via e-mail or phone in order to get set up in the “system.” The TASL Assistant, Debbie Hines, will assign new administrators and supervisors a PIN and password that will allow them to check TASL credit online.
Contact information for Debbie Hines:
debbie.w.hines@tn.gov
615.532.6210
How do administrators and supervisors find TASL-approved professional development opportunities?
TASL credit hours may be earned both through TASL-sponsored professional events and through TASL-approved events sponsored by other agencies or organizations.
TASL offers a full catalog of opportunities that may be viewed by clicking the links at the bottom of this page. Select “TASL Academies” and “Catalog.” All TASL-sponsored events are offered at no cost to participants. Participants are, however, responsible for any travel expenses they may incur.
Professional organizations, school districts, state agencies and others may offer events that have been approved by the TASL office for credit. Sponsoring organizations must receive approval prior to the professional development event. Individual attendees may not apply for credit for events that have not been approved through the sponsoring organization. TASL-approved events sponsored by outside entities may have associated costs. Attendance reporting is the responsibility of the sponsoring organization.
TASL credit is available for attendees at the annual LEAD and TETC conferences.
How do administrators and supervisors register for TASL-sponsored events?
Participants can register by faxing an application http://www.tn.gov/education/tpd/tasl_fax.shtml to 615.532.8312, or by email to Debbie Hines at debbie.w.hines@tn.gov.
Participants receive a confirmation by mail approximately two weeks after registration. About two weeks prior to the event, participants receive “fact sheets,’ which contain directions to the event venue, starting and ending times, and other logistical information.
How can administrators and supervisors check their TASL status?
Cycle end-dates and number of hours needed to fulfill requirements may be viewed at the CHECK HOURS link at the bottom of this page . The TASL PIN and password are needed. If the PIN and password are unknown, participants should contact Debbie Hines at debbie.w.hines@tn.gov.
Can any of the TASL Academies be used to meet the professional growth plan requirement for advancement from the PAL to the BAL?
Completion of the Beginning Principals’ Academy, the Assistant Principals’ Academy, or the Beginning Supervisors’ Academy meets the professional growth plan requirement for license advancement. In addition to meeting the licensure advancement requirement, participants in these two-year academies receive 56 hours of TASL credit.
Governor Bill Haslam
