The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission unanimously cleared the way Friday for Memphis educator Muna Olaniyi’s dream of disrupting the cycle of poverty in Orange Mound and South Memphis through education.
Olaniyi’s Empower Memphis Career and College Prep will serve K-8 students in the communities with a career technical education (CTE) model that’s designed to provide students with academic and technical skills through hands-on training and experience. The school will also provide a “two-generation’ approach that serves the needs of students and their families struggling with poverty.
“I think it’s crystal clear based on the record that this will benefit the students and the community,” said Commissioner Chris Tudor. “I think this a beautiful and hopeful option for the students and community especially with the career-oriented options.”
The commission’s decision overturns a denial last July by the Memphis-Shelby County School Board. At the time board members were concerned about oversaturation in the area as there are more seats than students.
Members of the state commission agreed that oversaturation is an issue, but several expressed a greater concern with the quality of the existing seats in Memphis.
Commission Chair Chris Richards pointed out many schools in these communities have a Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) rating of below expected student growth.
“The quality seats needed in the elementary level in this area 2,622. So while there is certainly available capacity in schools in this area, there is available capacity for schools that are not providing quality seats,” said Richards. “Parents in this area are looking for quality opportunities for their children.
Pathways in Education Voted Down
Commissioners also voted against an appeal from Pathways in Education (PIE) to return to Memphis and establish a new public charter school.
PIE previously operated a school for at-risk students under the state-run Achievement School District from 2014-2022. The school applied earlier this year to return to Shelby County as a new charter school in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) district but school board members voted it down in July.
PIE’s proposed a unique flexible hybrid-schedule to serve at-risk students including those who have been expelled due to disciplinary issues, students who are overaged and over-credited, students who mare the primary wage-earners, caregivers, and students on the verge of dropping out.
Multiple commissioners applauded the intent of the proposed school but felt the application had deficiencies to align with state academic requirements.
“This has merit at some point down the road, even now. I just don’t think this one is ready,” said Commissioner Eddie Smith.
