House subcommittee advances legislation that would make it easier for some public charter schools to receive approval

House committee room (Photo by Sky Arnold)

Legislation that would provide a smoother approval process for some new public charter schools comfortably advanced out of the House K-12 Subcommittee Tuesday morning on a bipartisan 5-0 vote.

The proposed legislation would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission if they want to open a school in a district that has had three charter denials overturned in three years. That charter commission’s “direct authorization” would be in effect for the district for up to five years.

State Representative Mark White (Photo by the Tennessee General Assembly)

Governor Bill Lee’s administration is behind the legislation that would also allow public colleges and universities the ability to apply directly to the commission along with existing charter operators who want to replicate an existing academic model. Commissioners would additionally have new flexibility to renew charters every 5 years instead of every ten under the bill.

Representative Mark White, R-Memphis, is co-sponsoring the legislation for the governor. He told subcommittee members it’s a needed change to help increase the charter school options for Tennessee students.

“Demand is growing to join the charter school movement, yet the supply is limited in Tennessee due lengthy and limited pathways for new charter schools,” said White. “Personally, I’m a big believer our ability of a good charter to serve our students in Tennessee.”

Subcommittee members also unanimously advanced another charter bill proposed by Representative Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna allowing state funding for charter schools to flow directly to the school.

Currently state funding goes to the school board first and then to the charter school.  The legislation would not alter how local and federal dollars are provided to charter schools.

Both charter bills move on to the full House Education Committee for a vote that could happen as early as next week.