One of Metro Nashville’s brand new charter schools will go before the school board next week to explain why its violating its agreement with the district.
Global Academy has 30 fourth graders enrolled this year; problem is they’re only allowed to have students in grades K-3. The school now must reapply for their charter by August 31st.
If the school board decides against it, the fourth graders will have to go back to their zoned schools and their teachers could lose their jobs.
The problem came to light during Tuesday night’s school board meeting. Alan Coverstone, who was appointed a couple weeks ago to oversee charter schools, says a lack of oversight on Global and the district’s part are to blame.
School board vice chair Gracie Porter says reworking a charter after school has started is not a precedent she wants to set.
PORTER: “It is troubling when you’re approved under one set of guidelines and then you’re asking us to change it so that you know, it’s just puzzling to me.
COVERSTONE: “I agree with you. I agree wholeheartedly. That’s why I’ve cited them being out of compliance with their charter.”
Coverstone says Global Academy was confused and thought they were approved for K-4 this year. To keep the grade, the school must prove it has the money and manpower to handle the fourth grade class.
Coverstone says his position and a new monitoring plan will hopefully prevent something this serious from happening again.
Another charter school, Smithson Craighead, was put on probation because it failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress in its elementary grade levels.
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