Governor Lee’ is legislation would allow public charter school applicants the ability to apply directly to a state commission in communities with a history of denying charter schools that were later overturned.

Novus SMART Academy is among the 11 new start charter applications that met this month’s filing deadline in five school districts across the state.

Alison and Tremayne Haymer say their seventh-grade son Caleb has truly thrived during his time at LEAD Cameron Middle School and they’re upset with a decision that could divert other students away from attending the school.

Supporters of three proposed new public charter schools in Nashville are receiving support from the Executive Director of the state board tasked with deciding their future. Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall released written recommendations this week supporting the appeals from Nurses Middle College, LEAD Southeast Elementary, and Encompass Community School.

The mastery-based approach Encompass Community School program wants to bring to Nashville is designed to ensure students receive the instruction they need when they need it and for as long as they need it, instead of a traditional approach that uses a predetermined schedule.