Efforts to establish new public charter schools in Memphis hit a potential roadblock this week.¶
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) Executive Director Tess Stovall recommended that commissioners reject all four charter appeals they’re scheduled to vote on Friday.¶
Those votes include appeals from proposed new charter schools, Dream Catchers Charter School and Still I Rise Academy, along with requests for existing charters, Kirby Middle School and Hillcrest High School, to continue operating under commission authority.¶
The Memphis-Shelby County School board denied all four schools’ applications last July, and each appealed to the state board, hoping to see that decision reversed.¶
Dream Catchers Charter School¶
The proposed K–12 Dream Catchers Charter Schools is seeking to become Tennessee’s first public charter serving homeless and housing-insecure youth, a model that drew strong community support at a September public hearing.¶
On Monday, Stovall advised commissioners to uphold the denial of Dream Catchers’ application, saying the denial “was not contrary to the best interests of students, the local education agency (LEA), or the community.”¶
Stovall said reviewers found the application lacked key operational and financial details, including a clear plan to recruit students, meet diverse learning needs, and maintain long-term stability. This echoed concerns district officials had about the proposed school when they noted an underdeveloped Montessori model, limited early literacy and work-based learning plans, and gaps in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.¶
“I agree with the sponsor that students experiencing housing insecurity is an epidemic, and I admire the desire to design an academic program tailored to those students and their needs,” Stovall said in her recommendation. “However, the sponsor’s application lacked critical details and plans to warrant my recommendation for approval.”¶
Supporters of the proposed school have argued that it could fill a gap for the more than 2,900 Memphis students experiencing homelessness and provide wraparound services, case management, and even savings accounts to promote long-term stability.¶
Retired educator Annie Miller was among those speaking in favor of Dream Catchers at last month’s public hearing, telling commissioners that “too many bright and eager children never had a chance to reach their full potential, not because of a lack of ability, but a lack of stability.”¶
Still I Rise Academy¶
The proposed Still I Rise Academy aims to become Tennessee’s second opportunity charter school, designed for youth who’ve been held back, dropped out, or struggled with chronic absenteeism, teen pregnancy, or abuse. The proposed school would serve at-risk middle schoolers in the Orange Hill and Hickory Mound neighborhoods.¶
Stovall recommended that commissioners deny Still I Rise’s appeal, citing issues with clarity as to the governing board, adequate contingency plans for funding, and who would be responsible for the oversight of finances for the school, among other issues. ¶
“Any authorized public charter school is entrusted with the great responsibility of educating students and a significant amount of public funds,” wrote Stovall.[SA1] “For these reasons, the Commission expects that only those schools that have demonstrated a high likelihood of success and meet or exceed the required criteria in all areas will be authorized.”¶
At last month’s public hearing, community members, including parents and retired educators, championed the proposed school as a lifeline for students they said were “failed by a system that has left them unprepared, unsupported, and unsafe.”¶
“Every year, we bury the dreams of students who are failed by a system,” said retired teacher Carolyn Quinn at last month’s hearing. “Let’s not bury anymore.”¶
Executive Director Dr. Gerald Kiner argued the district’s review process was unfair, pointing to “24,000 chronically absent students” in Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MCSC).¶
“They’re presenting themselves as if they’re the Harvard of education systems,” he said. Stovall, however, sided with the district’s evaluation, saying the school did not demonstrate readiness or financial stability to meet state standards."¶
Kirby Middle School¶
Stovall cited similar deficiencies in her recommendation against Kirby Middle School’s appeal.¶
IOTA Community Schools has been overseeing Kirby Middle under a ten-year charter agreement with the state-run Achievement School District. That agreement is ending, and the charter operator hopes to continue running the school under the authority of the commission. Memphis-Shelby County School Board members denied a transfer request into the district last July.¶
Commission staff found the academic plan lacked specificity in curriculum design and strategies for serving students with special needs or English learners. The operational plan raised concerns about governance, staffing, and an unclear facility timeline, while financial plans showed limited oversight and weak contingency measures.¶
Stovall maintained that Kirby’s proposal did not provide enough evidence of academic or financial readiness to warrant approval.¶
“Over the last ten years, the sponsor has consistently performed below the averages of the local district, under circumstances with more targeted support,” wrote Stovall. “While I acknowledge the recent adoption and use of state-recommended materials, the results of this transition do not demonstrate enough improvement.”¶
At last month’s public hearing, IOTA Community Schools emphasized the community backing and promised funding, insisting Memphis-Shelby County Schools failed to give fair consideration to its request to transfer.¶
Hillcrest High School¶
IOTA Public Schools has also been running Hillcrest High School under the Achievement School District, and much like Kirby Middle School, the charter operator is hoping to transition under commission authority.¶
Stovall advised commissioners to deny Hillcrest’s appeal, citing a determination from commission staff that the school’s academic plan only “partially meets standard.” That review noted limited evidence of student growth and few concrete strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism and persistently low math scores.¶
While Hillcrest’s operations and finances were rated as meeting or exceeding standards, with clear facility options and strong management, its past academic record also proved a sticking point. Stovall argued Hillcrest has not shown enough academic progress to merit a new ten-year charter.¶
“As the sponsor is intimately aware, the students that enroll at Hillcrest are often several grades below math and reading levels,” wrote Stovall. “However, I do not believe the sponsor sufficiently detailed its plan to address these gaps beyond their current practices, which are not yielding the desired outcomes.”¶
IOTA leaders pointed to career and technical education programs and a detailed leadership plan at last month’s public hearing, arguing the school’s community ties and improved systems should earn a second chance.¶
Members of the charter commission do not have to follow Stovall’s recommendations when they vote on each appeal on Friday.¶
Commissioners have overturned 3 charter denials from Memphis-Shelby County Schools and upheld 4 of them since 2022.¶
