Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-803
This is the official text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-803, part of Tennessee’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Tennessee, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Reasonable accommodation for student, teacher, or employee who desires greater privacy when using multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for student's, teacher's, or employee's sex
Official statutory text
(a) A public school shall, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation to a student, teacher, or employee of the public school who: (1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and (2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf. (b) The school principal shall evaluate the request on behalf of the public school and, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation. The principal shall issue a decision approving or denying the request in writing. If the principal denies the request, then the grounds for denial must be provided in the principal's written decision. (c) This section does not prohibit public schools from adopting policies necessary to accommodate persons protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ( 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), or persons in need of physical assistance when using restrooms or changing facilities located in public schools. Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 452, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.
(a) A public school shall, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation to a student, teacher, or employee of the public school who: (1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and (2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf.
(1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and
(2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf.
(b) The school principal shall evaluate the request on behalf of the public school and, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation. The principal shall issue a decision approving or denying the request in writing. If the principal denies the request, then the grounds for denial must be provided in the principal's written decision.
(c) This section does not prohibit public schools from adopting policies necessary to accommodate persons protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ( 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), or persons in need of physical assistance when using restrooms or changing facilities located in public schools.
Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 452, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.
(a) A public school shall, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation to a student, teacher, or employee of the public school who: (1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and (2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf.
(1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and
(2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf.
(b) The school principal shall evaluate the request on behalf of the public school and, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation. The principal shall issue a decision approving or denying the request in writing. If the principal denies the request, then the grounds for denial must be provided in the principal's written decision.
(c) This section does not prohibit public schools from adopting policies necessary to accommodate persons protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ( 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), or persons in need of physical assistance when using restrooms or changing facilities located in public schools.
Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 452, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Tennessee?
Find a Tennessee lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.