Memphis-Shelby County Schools approves two new public charter schools

Memphis-Shelby County School Board (Screenshot)

Shelby County is adding two new public charter schools.

Members of the Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education voted to approve amended charter applications for both the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls and Journey Northeast Academy at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The board’s decision comes after last week’s school board work session meeting, where the district’s Office of Charter Schools recommended the approval for the Memphis Grizzlies’ recently revised charter application. School leaders made revisions to their initial application to include details requested by the district about the school’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) based curriculum and professional development.

The new school will serve more than 500 female students in grades 6-8 and will offer an education model that focuses on closing the gap for the underrepresentation of women of color in STEAM-related careers, according to officials. It will serve as a sister school to the all-boys Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School that has served the community for more than a decade.

The district's charter review team recommended denying Journey’s amended application last week claiming the application failed to provide additional requested details related to its 5-year academic literacy plan or outreach strategies. Board members ultimately ignored the recommendation and voted for its approval without comment.

The  new K-8 school will serve more than 500 students in the Sycamore View community and will be run by an organization that operates two other public charter schools in Memphis. Journey Community Schools initially proposed the new school partly due to the fact that many families in Northeast Memphis don’t have easy access to a public elementary or middle school nearby that isn’t overenrolled. Journey leaders say the new school will serve a predominately black and economically disadvantaged population of students, with a focus on closing academic achievement gaps for underserved students in the area.

Following the vote, the Tennessee Charter School Center praised both decisions on social media.

"Memphis is getting its first all-girls charter school! Congrats to CEO Tim Ware and the entire Grizzlies Prep team. The success of the male students paved the way for this incredible opportunity. We are SO PROUD and excited for Memphis girls," wrote the Tennessee Charter School Center on Facebook. "Journey Northeast Academy will go on to serve 500+ K-8 students, easing access for families in an area currently underserved. BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Journey Community Schools!"

Achievement School District transfer denied

Board members additionally voted to deny an amended charter application from Wooddale Middle School to transfer into the district from the state-run Achievement School District (ASD).

District charter review staff recommended denying the transfer application, partly due to the fact that questions still remain around the school’s ability to operate successfully throughout a 10-year term, among other concerns noted at last week’s meeting.

The board ultimately agreed with that assessment and voted to deny Wooddale, which district charter review staff said failed to address concerns about the school’s lack of detailed planning for homeless students and other “special populations.” Moving forward, the school will be allowed to appeal its decision to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission within 10 days of the board’s denial.

“If the commission overturns that denial and approves the school, the school will have an opportunity to have a 30-day mutual agreement whereas the district and the applicant can either agree to be under the LEA (local education agency) of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, or they will be a [Tennessee Public Charter School] Commission School,” Arlandra Parker, the district’s director of Charter School Development, said during Tuesday's meeting.

Before the vote, local community members urged the board to approve all three of the schools. Among those public comments, one Wooddale student spoke in support of the school.

“My parents chose Wooddale Middle School because it’s a safe, healthy environment where teachers help students grow into better versions of themselves every day,” she said.