Entire Congressional Delegation Invited To Tour Charter Schools, Even Those With None In Their Districts

Pictured here, Rep. Diane Black visits students in Cookeville. She also recently ventured outside her district to visit a charter school in Nashville. Credit: Black’s Office via Facebook

One charter school advocacy group is offering tours to Tennessee’s Congressional delegation, even though most of their districts don’t have any charters.

Gallatin Republican Diane Black accepted the invitation from the Tennessee Charter School Center. On her visit to STEM Prep Academy in Nashville, Black says she walked the halls, peeked into classrooms and chatted with a pair of seventh graders.

“I think charter schools have a future. I don’t think there’s a one size fits all. And for some children, that’s the appropriate place for them to be.”

But Representative Black is unsure if charters will ever become an option in the sixth district. One charter operator has tried to open a school in Springfield, but the Robertson County School Board voted to deny the application on two separate occasions. Exalt Academy is expected to file an appeal with the state.

Currently, all of the state’s charters are located in Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis.

The Tennessee Charter School Center says Chattanooga Republican Chuck Fleischmann also agreed to take a tour. Nashville Democrat Jim Cooper visited the city’s KIPP Academy on his own. The center plans to send a new round of invitations to state legislators later this fall.