Hillsdale-affiliated charter school American Classical Academy Madison is still planning to open, despite being denied by the Jackson-Madison County school district.
The school’s sponsor, American Classical Education, filed an appeal with the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. The Madison charter is the first of three rejected schools with connections to Hillsdale College to formally ask that the decision be overturned.
More: The fallout over Hillsdale College, charter schools and Tennessee school districts, explained.
ACAM’s application was denied by the Jackson-Madison County Board of Education for failing to meet the district’s standards for financing, in addition to a list of other reasons. The board also adopted a resolution in July to repudiate insulting remarks made by Hillsdale president Larry Arnn against teachers.
In an appeal statement, ACAM board members said that the rejection was politically motivated, and wrote, “The Board repeatedly and intentionally tied ACAM’s application to Hillsdale College.”
The appeal also stated that “all current board members are residents of Tennessee and only one has any prior affiliation with Hillsdale, having graduated from there in 1977.”
This is despite the charter’s board chair, secretary and treasurer all being listed as employed with Hillsdale in its amended application. The Tennessee charter commission has 75 days to make a decision.
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