Rutherford County Schools says it had reasons far beyond controversial statements about teachers to deny American Classical Education’s application to open a charter school.
The district says the organization’s application not only failed to show a plan for students with disabilities and learning needs, but it also lacked evidence of true community support.
“The letters our district received, the 31 survey responses in favor included many of today’s speakers,” said Rutherford County Schools Director of School Choice Dr. Kaitlin Bullard at Wednesday public hearing on the application. “Data indicates the voices of a small segment of our community do not represent the entire Rutherford County steak holders.”
American Classical Education (ACE) originally applied to open public charter schools in Madison, Montgomery, and Rutherford County earlier this year. Each district voted the application down in July following public outcry over the organization’s connections to Michigan based Hillsdale College and its President Larry Arnn who made controversial statements about teachers on hidden video.
“The teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country.” said Arnn in that video that was later broadcast by NewsChannel 5 in Nashville.
American Classical Education has since made attempts to distance itself from Hillsdale and the organization appealed all three denied charter applications to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. The state board has the authority to overturn district decisions.
Commissioners held a public hearing on the organization’s American Classical Academy Rutherford appeal in Murfreesboro Wednesday morning.
Rutherford County Schools told commissioners there were concerns about how the proposed public charter school would provide quality instruction and intervention matched to a student’s needs if that student already had deficiencies. The district also felt the application offered no plan to adequately serve students with disabilities.
“American Classical Academy Rutherford has revealed a lack of understanding and an inability to plan to provide access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities,” said Bullard. “We believe a school that’s not prepared to serve special populations is not prepared to serve all learners.”
American Classical Education pushed back against those concerns and framed their application as a needed classical school choice option for a community that’s facing problems with overcrowding and lacking funds to build new schools.
“The application would enable students to thrive academically and achieve success by delivering proficiencies in ELA (English Language Arts) and math infinitely higher than the current 5-year average, creating a virtuous cycle of student success with the district narrowing existing academic gaps and ultimately yielding higher graduation rates and success,” said ACE board member Dennis Pearson.
The public hearing also included comments from several parents who support American Classical Education and believe the county needs more options for school choice.
“Kids don’t come in a one size fits all,” said Michael Dewey. “Parents want options for their children. It’s really that simple. Don’t let politics get in the way of using common sense.”
“We moved to Tennessee for more opportunities of choice and for a community that better represents our values,” said Crystal Mellinger. “We’re excited about a classical school model including an outstanding curriculum and a rigorous academic experience that we believe will be a better fit for our two younger children.”
Rutherford County schools pointed out the district already has two new public charter schools on the way.
Bullard says it’s a concern the organization hasn’t identified what city it would establish American Classical Academy Rutherford in yet or the right experience to staff it.
“The governing board experience and competency are insufficient to effectively oversee a public K-12 charter school in Rutherford County,” said Bullard. “There’s a lack of K-12 public education experience on their governing board as well as a lack of diversity in their source of funding.”
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission plans to decide all three of American Classical Education’s appeals next month.
