Proposed Nashville public charter schools make appeals to the state next week

Members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board of Education have seen four of their decisions against proposed public charter schools overturned by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Next week two new proposed schools will make the case to be added to that list.The commission has public hearings scheduled for charter appeals from Invictus Nashville Charter School and Nashville Collegiate Prep High School (NCPHS) on Monday. MNPS board members denied applications from both in July.Under state law, denied applications can appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Its members have the option of overturning local district denials.

Invictus Nashville

MNPS graduate and former teacher Dr. Brenda Jones founded Invictus Nashville in hopes of providing students in the Donelson and Hermitage communities with another option for a more holistic education.The proposed K-8 school would provide a Montessori curriculum for elementary schools then change to a project-based learning model in middle school, so students are able to self-direct their learning path.“Invictus Nashville is a proposed single-site, public charter school serving Nashville-area students and families in grades K-8. The mission of Invictus Nashville is to prepare our K–8 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 that fosters high academic achievement, and community service, Invictus Nashville graduates will be equipped with the necessary habits of success and a heart for service in their communities,” wrote the Invictus team.Supporters for Invictus spoke in favor of the school when the amended application was up for vote in July and the board received nearly 100 emails in support of its application.Members denied the initial application in April, despite partially meeting district requirements, claiming the application lacked community support. District reviewers then surprisingly gave the proposed school’s amended application a lower grade citing it failed to meet financial and operational requirements.Invictus founders believe there’s a demand for an additional Montessori curriculum in Donelson and Hermitage and they say the proposed school’s blending of the curriculum and project-based learning would be the first of its kind in the district as well.“In conclusion, the Invictus Nashville team believes that we have met the expectations of the rubric (requirements). As we have stayed abreast of the changes in the educational landscape, we have been intentional with reasonable enrollment targets, a facility that will allow growth, a conservative budget for sustainability, and partnerships to support licensure requirements for Montessori teachers,” wrote the Invictus team.

Nashville Collegiate Prep High School

The proposed Nashville Collegiate Prep High School would serve up to 600 students in the fast-growing Southeast Davidson County area. The school is designed to serve a large at-risk population of students including those in need of learning support or those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with a college preparatory curriculum that would offer students access to unique pathways in art and technology.“As outlined in Tennessee state charter law, the purpose of charter schools is six-fold: To improve learning for all students; provide options for parents to meet educational needs of students; encourage use of different and innovative teaching methods; measure performance of students; ensure opportunities to reach academic proficiency on state assessments; and create new professional opportunities for teachers.  The NCPHS school model meets each of these purposes, has been well-researched, and provides a foundation for student success that extends well beyond the years they spend in our school,” wrote ReThink Chairman Dan Boone.MNPS district charter reviewers found that the initial application partially met state standards for academic, operational, and financial plans. Board members unanimously voted down the amended application following another recommendation for denial from district reviewers.Leaders of NCPHS say that the school will be able to meet the academic needs of students in that area by providing a high-quality, rigorous education in a state-of-the-art school building. Additionally, the fast growth of that area will need new schools sooner rather than later.“The application clearly demonstrated that NCPHS will benefit the families and children of southeast Nashville by providing a high-quality educational choice option that maximizes the chance for success at the highest level, offering the opportunity for students to forge their own pathway to the future.  We appreciate and look forward to the opportunity to present our vision for providing excellent educational options for all Nashville students to the Tennessee Public Charter Schools Commission,” wrote Boone.In 2021, the commission overturned an MNPS charter denial against Nashville Classical West and then followed that up last year by overturning denials against three high-quality applications.Commissioners are expected to decide this year’s appeals in October.