WCS: If Charters Are So Great, Why Can’t We Act Like One?

Williamson County Schools director Mike Looney has spent days at the state capitol lobbying for charter-like treatment.

Williamson County Schools – which put up some of the best scores in the state – have opposed opening charter schools. Instead, the entire district wants to act like one. A measure sailing through the state legislature would give charter-like treatment to high-performing districts, allowing them to come up with their own teacher evaluation systems – just as charters do. They could also lengthen the school year.

“I think it’s past time that we do something for the schools that are performing,” said Rep. Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett), a member of the House Education Committee that passed the bill unanimously Tuesday.

Districts would need to meet three of five criteria such as graduation rates above 90 percent and an average ACT score of 21. At least 17 systems would qualify this year, including Franklin City Schools, Rutherford County and Williamson County schools.

According to the legislation’s summary, a qualifying district could also apply for a waiver of “any state board rule” that “inhibits or hinders the district’s ability to meet its goals.”

The bill is sponsored by most of the lawmakers from Williamson County and has – so far – received little resistance. The state’s Education Department is taking no position.

“Leave us the heck alone and let us do our jobs,” says WCS director of schools Mike Looney.

“If the belief system is that there are other models out there that with increased flexibility they could produce better results, then why on earth would you not provide that same equity for traditional public schools, particularly those that perform very, very well?”