School districts received nine applications for new public charter schools. A new tool puts each under the microscope.
Stock photo of kids in a classroom
This year nine potential charter operators met the February 1 deadline to file an application to open a new public charter school.
School board members in Memphis, Nashville, and Rutherford County will vote on those applications later this spring, and any parents who are interested in them now have access to an independent evaluation of the proposed schools.
TSS President and CEO Lana Skelo (Photo by Tennesseans for Student Success)
Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) launched this year’s edition of the Quality Charter Review on Monday with an evaluation of each application’s academic, operations, and financial plans. The review also provides an outline of each proposed school's strengths and needed improvements.
The Tennessee Firefly is a project of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.
"We launched the Quality Charter Review with the goal of empowering both communities and potential charter operators with feedback to improve applications and ensure any school that's approved is ready to deliver proven, effective, education strategies," said incoming TSS President and CEO Lana Skelo. "High-quality public charter schools are an important part of our state's dynamic public education landscape, and we hope the nine reviews we conducted this year help guide community and parent choices towards a future where every Tennessee child has an equal opportunity to succeed."
The Quality Charter Review recommends school board members approve the 7 proposed public charter schools below and deny two.
QCR Recommendations for Metro Nashville Public Schools
Encompass Community School (approve)
LEAD Cameron Elementary (approve)
LEAD Southeast Elementary School (approve)
Nashville School of Excellence (deny)
Nurses Middle College Nashville (approve)
QCR Recommendations for Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Journey Northeast Academy (approve)
Blueprint College and Career Prep (approve)
Memphis Grizzlies Prep STEAM School for Girls (approve)
QCR Recommendations for Rutherford County Schools
Novus SMART Academy (K-8) (deny)
Among the recommended application approvals are two proposed schools from existing charter operator LEAD Public Schools and a return proposal for Memphis Grizzlies Prep STEAM School for Girls.
Last year’s QCR review also recommended Memphis-Shelby County School Board members approve Memphis Grizzlies Prep but the board ultimately voted against it.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools also received an application from charter operator Green Dot Public Schools to move the existing Wooddale Middle School into district authority. The Memphis public charter school is currently operating under the authority of state run Achievement School District (ASD).
The ASD provides academic intervention for the lowest performing Tennessee schools.
