Dozens of parents are lending their support to American Classical Education (ACE)’s appeal to open the first public charter school in Madison County.
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission received 80 written comments from the public related to ACE’s appeal and nearly 50 of them came from parents like Linda Lipford who are offering their support.
Lipford told commissioners she made sacrifices to send her kids to private school in part because of concerns about the Jackson-Madison County School District (JMCSS).
“I have never regretted the financial sacrifice I made to keep them in TCA (Trinity Christian Academy) and OUT of JMCSS schools. But many parents are unable to pay for private education, no matter how superior it may be,” wrote Lipford. “This would be a great thing for a Charter school to implement in Jackson; (an) independent school with no ties to existing curriculum or the internal policies and procedures that presently exist. Unless and until the JMCSS can demonstrate that they have school discipline under control and focus less on the lowest performing students, I will continue to urge the acceptance of this Charter school application.”
ACE initially applied to open a public charter school in Madison County last year but school board members denied the application following public outcry over the organization’s connections to Hillsdale College and the controversial statements Hillsdale President Larry Arnn made about teachers. ACE has since made moves to distance itself from the college and supporters hoped it might win approval to open public charter schools in five Tennessee counties this year including Madison County.
The Jackson-Madison County School Board voted the application down in July and ACE appealed to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission whose members have the option of overturning local district denials. Commissioners will utilize written public comments in making their decision next month.
Parents submitting public comments in support of the appeal repeatedly told commissioners that ACE’s Classical education curriculum is in demand. Supporters wrote the curriculum’s inclusion will fill in the gaps left by the public school system and bring back important topics that are no longer taught in school.
Grandparent Debbie Barnette told commissioners the Classical education model would be a perfect fit for her granddaughter and provide a strong foundation to develop critical thinking skills.
“I want her to have the opportunity to have a strong curriculum that includes the 4 disciplines of math, science, literature, and history. I want her to learn to read using phonics. She is a smart and bright child and a Classical education would allow her to develop critical thinking skills and gain deeper understanding of history and culture,” wrote Barnette. “Our current public schools aren’t the same public schools I went to when I was a child. They are teaching subjects that children have no business learning or even knowing about. Some of our history has been deleted from the textbooks as well. I believe every parent in Madison County should have the opportunity to choose what school best fits their child’s needs.”
Commissioners also heard from Madison County residents who oppose ACE, including some who expressed a similar desire for more school choice, but don’t consider the school to be a good fit for the county and worry the organization is prioritizing a more affluent population with American Classical Academy – Madison.
“ACA (American Classical Academy) has discussed openly their choice of curriculum, American Classical Education as used and created by Hillsdale Academy. This curriculum is largely based upon a biased thought process and viewed by outside academic scholars as highly questionable. Their ACA website even quotes Hillsdale educators as their model for why the ACE curriculum is the ‘best option,’” wrote parent David Wicker. “I believe in school choice when it is fair for all students, not when it caters to the more affluent of a population.”
Other parents and residents expressed a concern with deficits in ACE’s application. The school district review committee identified 74 deficiencies and commissioners received comments from one of those committee members.
“I have reviewed the application and was a part of the review committee that heard from the Charter school administration, as well as other informed parties. I came to the committee full of hope, with an open mind, wanting what is best for the children and families of our community. After everything I learned, I did not feel in good conscience that we could support this application,” said Elly Riley. “I was particularly concerned about the lack of details regarding how special and at-risk population needs will be addressed, as well as parent and community engagement and support, which I think is intrinsic to the success of an educational entity. I was also concerned about the lack of a facility plan.”
ACE is also appealing a denial from school board members in Maury County to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.
Only Rutherford County has approved its application to open a public charter school.
