Tennessee could see nearly two dozen new public charter schools proposed next year

School districts across the state received 23 letters of intent this month for applications to open new public charter schools next year. That’s the first step potential charter operators must take before submitting their formal application by February 1, 2023.The letters of intent include proposed schools in four counties that do not currently have public charter schools and they’re coming from both existing charter operators in Tennessee and those who were rejected this year.

American Classical Education Returns

The five proposed public charter schools from American Classical Education Inc. will likely receive the most attention next year.The organization faced bipartisan criticism earlier this year for its connections to Hillsdale College and all three of its proposed new public charter schools were resoundingly denied by their local school districts. American Classical Education intended to appeal those denials to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission but opted to withdraw each appeal in September.“We believe, with complete conviction, that there will be many future opportunities in Tennessee as there are in most of America. The nationwide movement away from monopolistic public schools is an expression of the fact that parents have a natural love and, therefore, a natural say over how and what their children are taught in school. This parental love was evident in the efforts of the many parents who have supported our efforts and to whom we remain committed. It remains a much stronger claim than the claim of the bureaucracy that continues to stifle quality public education options for families,” said American Classical Education board member and former Tennessee State Senator Dolores Gresham following the appeals withdrawals.American Classical Education sent letters of intent to apply to open new public charter schools next year in five counties.   Three of the school districts that received those letters (Madison, Montgomery, and Rutherford County) denied applications from American Classical Education this year.  The organization additionally sent letters of intent to two new counties, Robertson and Maury County.It’s unclear how American Classical Education plans to address the criticisms that its applications this year failed to adequately serve the needs of at-risk students and those with disabilities.

More Applications for Nashville

Metro Nashville Public Schools in Davidson County received five letters of intent for new public charter schools, despite multiple examples of “playing politics” to the detriment of existing public charter schools this year.Those letters include one from operators of the proposed Saber Stem Academy that Metro Schools denied this year along with letters from existing charter operators of Nashville Collegiate Prep to open a high school and LEAD Public Schools for a new elementary school in Southeast Davidson County.The district also received letters of intent for two potential new charter operators to open the Pathways in Education High School and the Invictus Nashville Charter School.“Invictus Nashville will prepare our K-12 students to become engaged members of society by helping them identify their unique path to personal and professional success. Through a diverse culture, personalized learning, and community service, Invictus Nashville graduates will be equipped with the necessary habits of success and a heart for service in their communities,” wrote Invictus Nashville on its website.

Charter Interest Remains Strong in Shelby County

Shelby County continues to have the most interest for new public charter schoolsPotential operators sent 10 letters to two school districts.  These include letters from operators of the Memphis Grizzlies Prep STEAM School for Girls, the Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy, and Stellar University Charter School who were all denied by the Memphis Shelby County Schools Board of Education this year.The Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy additionally sent a letter of intent to open a K-12 public charter school in Shelby County’s Millington School District, serving an opening enrollment of 1,950 students.Knox County received letters of intent from Prep Public Schools to expand the organization’s Chattanooga Prep concept to Knoxville along with proposed operators of a K-5 school called the Academy that would serve an opening enrollment of just 12 students.Tennessee’s fourth most populous county, Hamilton, did not receive any letters of intent for new public charter schools.

List of Letters of Intent

Rutherford County:

• American Classical Academy Rutherford

Robertson County:

• American Classical Academy Robertson

Maury County:

• American Classical Academy Maury

Montgomery County:

• American Classical Academy Montgomery

Madison County:

• Jackson Leadership Academy
• American Classical Academy Madison

Davidson County:

• Nashville Collegiate Prep High School
• Pathways in Education – Nashville
• Invictus Nashville Charter School
• Saber STEM Academy
• LEAD Southeast Elementary School

Shelby County:

• Pathways in Education – Memphis
• BridgeWell Prepatory Academy
• Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy – Memphis
• Tennessee Workforce Academy
• Empower Memphis Career and College Prep Charter School
• Memphis Grizzlies Prep STEAM School for Girls
• TGAND Academy
• Harwood Academy at University of Memphis
• Stellar University Charter School
• Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy - Millington

Knox County:

• Knoxville Preparatory School
• The Academy