Admissions
The Tennessee School for the Blind (TSB) is a public state special school located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSB enrolls students who are blind and visually impaired in preschool through 12th grade. Students attend TSB both as day students and on-campus residential students.
Families of students with visual impairments seeking to learn more about TSB may request a tour of the school at any time, separate from the admissions process. This is highly encouraged, to develop an initial understanding of student life and educational programming at TSB. They may do so by contacting Lavette Sales.
Eligibility Criteria
Any student ages three (3) through twenty-one (21) who is a resident of Tennessee and who has a visual impairment, including blindness, even with correction, that adversely affects the student's educational performance is eligible for admission to TSB.
Students who have been evaluated and found to meet the definition of visual impairment, and have established vision eligibility on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP), may be referred to TSB by their local IEP team. TSB's admissions team must review a student's admissions materials to determine their eligibility for enrollment.
Residential Note: Eligibility to attend TSB does not guarantee a student will be accepted for TSB's residential program. This is a separate application with its own policies (see TDOE Policy 3.7000). In general, applicants for the residential program should reside beyond a 90-minute commute between home and TSB, and the applicant must have the ability to live independently and without un-rehabilitated behavior within the provided residential supports offered to all students.
Admissions Process
The admissions process to TSB consists of three phases.
NOTE: As of April 1, 2024, TSB is in the process of updating its admissions procedures. The steps outlined below are subject to change.
Application
Once the intent to apply to TSB is established, the school district and family will work together to submit the TSB school application, along with the documents listed below:
- Current eye report (within 1 year of time of application)
- Functional Vision/Learning Media Assessment
- Current IEP
- Current and initial vision eligibility documents
- Most recent re-evaluation summary report
- Related service evaluations (OT/PT/SLP, etc.)
- Psychological evaluation report (if applicable)
- Functional behavioral assessment/Behavior intervention plan (if applicable)
- School Transcript
- Medical care plans (if applicable) for all emergency conditions
- Any additional educationally or medically relevant documents
Decision
Once the application and accompanying documentation has been received, TSB's admissions team will review the records to confirm the applicant's eligibility to attend TSB. Additional requests for information may occur. During this review of records, the applicant will be observed in their home district setting, and the family will be invited to take a tour of TSB if they have not done so already.
Eligible
If an applicant is determined to be eligible to attend TSB, TSB Admissions will instruct the applicant's school district to set up a Least Restrict Environment (LRE) Options IEP meeting to discuss placement options.
Not Eligible
If an applicant is determined to be not eligible to attend TSB, the reasoning for this decision will be shared with the applicant's family and school district. It is possible that the applicant may become eligible in the future if conditions change.
At the LRE Options IEP meeting, school district and TSB representatives will discuss the applicant's current educational programming and participation alongside educational programming opportunities at TSB. The IEP team will ideally come to a decision regarding the student's LRE placement.
Decision to place at TSB Discussion and decision will be recorded in a Prior Written Notice, shared with TSB Admissions along with a formal Referral Letter.
Decision to remain at LEA If the IEP team decides the school district remains the best LRE placement, the application will be closed. The applicant may reapply in the future if circumstances change.
Enrollment
When the applicant's school district has submitted the prior written notice and formal referral letter for enrollment at TSB, TSB Admissions will distribute the school and clinic's registration documents for completion.
When all registration materials are received, the school district will be instructed to schedule a Final Placement IEP in which the applicant's IEP is formally adjusted to reflect attendance at TSB, and a start date will be set.
Dr. Allen Huang
Director of Accessible Instructional Materials, Outreach Services & Admissions
615-231-7317