State Representatives Antonio Parkinson (left) and John Ray Clemmons (right) (Photos by the Tennessee General Assembly)¶
State Representatives John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, and Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, both serve districts where multiple public charter schools are outperforming traditional public schools nearby. Still both lawmakers openly questioned the performance of those schools during debate over new charter legislation Monday morning in the House Government Operations Committee.¶
Supporters of the legislation say it’s needed to ensure the approval process for charters is fair and free of politically motivated delays. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization through an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.¶
Under current law, potential charter applicants first apply to their local school board for approval. Board members are supposed to follow state guidelines when making those decisions and denied charter applicants have the option of appealing to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission if they believe guidelines weren’t followed. ¶
In its history, the charter commission has upheld exactly the same number of denials as it has overturned, but concerns about political bias in some school districts led charter supporters, including Governor Bill Lee, to back legislation co-sponsored by Representative Mark White, R-Memphis.¶
It would allow charter applicants the ability to apply directly to the charter commission if they want to open a school in a district that has had three charter denials overturned in three straight years. The charter commission’s “direct authorization” would be in effect for the district for up to five years.
