Two unanimous charter approvals Friday will open new doors for Nashville students – and provide prospective operators a pathway around Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS)’s consistent track record of public charter school denials.¶
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) unanimously overturned MNPS’s denials of Music City Academy and The Gate School after its executive director Tess Stovall recommended authorizing both schools. The decisions became the Commission’s second and third district reversals in the past two years, reaching a threshold that now permits future Nashville public charter school applicants to choose whether to apply directly to the Commission or to begin the process with MNPS.¶
The Reversals
Commission members came to different conclusions than MNPS after independently reviewing both schools’ academic, operational, and financial plans.¶
Stovall found that Music City Academy met or exceeded the state’s scoring rubric in each key area and would bring a unique education model to Nashville students through sports-aligned, career-connected learning. She also highlighted the experience of founder Dr. Kevin Dyson and Chief Academic Officer Christina McDonald, the strength of the school’s governing board, community interest, and its ability to replace lost federal startup funding through fundraising.¶
Those findings came after a September hearing where MNPS leaned heavily on concerns about the school’s potential fiscal impact and facility plans to defend its denial. Commissioners rejected the district’s argument that Music City Academy would create a substantial negative fiscal impact, highlighting the need for state clarity on the threshold for a potential school's fiscal impact. Tennesseans for Student Success’s Quality Charter Review had also independently recommended approving the school.¶
“I would only consider approving a charter school in Nashville if I felt like it was excellent and I had confidence that it would succeed,” Commission Vice Chair Lauren Smith said. “And I do feel that way about this application.”¶
Commissioner Michael Carter was also skeptical of MNPS’s repeated fiscal argument. The district had argued that opening new charter schools would shift millions of dollars away from existing schools as students and their funding followed them elsewhere. Carter strongly questioned whether those projections really showed the kind of impact MNPS was claiming. He argued that simply attaching a large dollar figure to projected enrollment losses did not necessarily convince commissioners that a new charter school would cause a substantial negative fiscal impact.¶
“Repeatedly, we were hearing concerns about the fiscal impact of schools that we look at (in Nashville), and there is a fiscal conversation about the impact it's going to mean to other schools in that specific region (where) they're looking at operating,” Carter said. “At the end of the day, when we listen the response of, ‘It's going to have a $6 million or $5 million impact over five years or a million dollars in terms of one year,’ I don't buy the numbers, and I think there are commissioners here that don't buy the numbers in terms of that impact… So, I would highly suggest (that) we really have a conversation (about) what that fiscal impact is going to be, or is, in terms of that region.”¶
He also said he disagreed with the idea that existing schools should be protected from competition simply because a new option could attract their students.¶
“There's no guarantees in life, and specifically, we're in a competitive environment. We're here to serve clients. We're here to serve scholars and students. And if you have a school that is not performing, look out because there's competition coming, and we're about trying to make sure that we're serving the community and having the best competitive environment.”¶
The Commission reached the same conclusion for The Gate School. Stovall found that its application met or exceeded state standards and highlighted the proposed middle school’s discussion-based Harkness Method, experienced leadership, community demand, transportation planning, and governing board. The Quality Charter Review also recommended its approval. MNPS again focused on finances and facility costs during the school’s appeal.¶
The school’s leadership was another major reason commissioners felt confident in the application. Founder Burrus Cox previously worked at Valor Collegiate Academies, while operations partner Jim Leckrone brings experience from East End Prep. Commission Vice Chair Lauren Smith pointed to that history, saying Cox and Leckrone have “an excellent track record in Nashville” at what she considers two of the city’s best charter schools. Commissioner Thomas Lehman also highlighted the involvement of founding board member Todd Dickson, the founder of Valor, saying his willingness to join The Gate School’s board spoke to his confidence in the proposed school. Lehman said he has “a very high regard” for Valor’s academic achievement and ultimately viewed The Gate School’s experienced leadership team as even more important than the uniqueness of its Harkness model.¶
“This is not the end, this is the beginning,” Commission member Eddie Smith said. “We expect results for the kids in this community. That is non-negotiable.”¶
New Application Parameters
Friday’s votes have ramifications beyond the reversals themselves. Tennessee law allows proposed charters to apply directly to the Commission after it overturns three denials from the same local district within three years. Once that happens, the direct application option remains available for five years. The Rock Academy’s approval last year counted as MNPS’s first applicable reversal. Music City Academy and The Gate School became the second and third.¶
However, this does not mean MNPS can no longer authorize charter schools. The new pathway is optional, meaning that future sponsors wanting to open a school in Nashville can still apply through MNPS if they choose to.¶
“Today’s approval of two new start appeals out of Metro Nashville Davidson County will trigger a new pathway for direct applications to the commission,” Commission Chair Chris Richards said.¶
