Last July supporters of Novus SMART Academy (K-8) came just one vote short of approval when the Rutherford County School Board voted 4 to 3 against their application to open the public charter school.¶
Novus SMART would have provided students with a co-teaching model in literacy and math along with a science, math, arts/electives, research, and technology (SMART) focus, but ultimately board members rejected it because of concerns about the financial impact a fourth charter school in the county might create.¶
“I don’t want to deny a charter school because I do believe in parental choice but at the same time, we have to look at fiscal impact it is causing right now,” said board member Frances Rosales before casting the deciding vote.¶
Supporters are hoping for a better result this year. Novus SMART is among the 11 new start charter applications that met this month’s filing deadline in five school districts across the state. That’s up from last year when school districts across the state received 9 charter applications. Charter schools are free public schools operated by an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.¶
Novus founder and CEO Jeremy Sager is a former Metro-Nashville Public Schools middle school principal and district literacy specialist, and he summarized the need for his proposed school in a late January post on Facebook.¶
“As someone who was the first in my family to graduate from college and grew up in a blended family, I understand just how powerful education can be, especially as a black man. I know firsthand what it’s like to grow up as a black boy in today’s world, and that’s what inspired me to create and lead a school that truly supports and uplifts underserved families,” wrote Sager.¶
Rutherford County’s other applicant comes from a charter operator that’s already established in Middle Tennessee. Rocketship Public Schools operates three public charter schools in Nashville and is applying to open a fourth in Rutherford County and a fifth in Nashville.¶
Metro Nashville Public Schools also received an application from what would be the first Opportunity Public Charter School in the state. These schools are designed to serve students in grades 6-12 who are at-risk because they’ve either dropped out, faced criminal charges, have been retained at least twice, or are more than a year behind academically. Former Smithson Craighead Academy Principal Dr. Ahmed White is leading the effort to establish the Rock Academy as an Opportunity Public Charter School.¶
Memphis-Shelby County Schools received three applications, including one from KIPP Memphis. The charter operator currently has three schools in Memphis.¶
Hamilton County received two applications including one from the founders of the proposed Tennessee Wildflower Public Charter School who are proposing creating a Montessori micro school.¶
Madison County received an application from founders of the proposed Jackson Museum School. The county currently does not have a public charter school though Madison Classical Academy is scheduled to open next fall.¶
The full list of proposed schools includes:¶
Rutherford County Schools¶
- Novus SMART Academy (K-8)
- Rocketship Rutherford Elementary (TN 4)
Hamilton County Schools¶
- Little Kings & Queens Charter Academy
- Tennessee Wildflower Public Charter School
Jackson-Madison County School System¶
- Jackson Museum School
Memphis-Shelby County Schools¶
- Dream Catchers Charter School
- Still I Rise Academy
- KIPP Memphis Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School
Metro Nashville Public Schools¶
- The Rock Academy
- Rocketship TN 5
- The Forge School
Individual school boards will vote on these applications this coming spring.¶
