Tennessee Code Title 49. Education § 49-5-717

(a) An LEA or public charter school may compensate the estate of an employee who died on or after September 1, 2024, while employed by the LEA or public charter school, for the employee's unused and accrued annual and sick leave in the same manner estates of deceased state employees are compensated pursuant to § 8-50-808.

(b) An employee may designate a beneficiary to receive payment for accrued annual and sick leave upon the employee's death.  Unless an employee designates differently, the beneficiary is the same as the beneficiary designated for receipt of retirement benefits with the Tennessee consolidated retirement system.