This weekend, families can head to Nissan Stadium for a school fair, hosted by Metro Nashville Public Schools. But when looking over their options, there will be a notable absence: charter schools.
Those schools are funded with public dollars, but operate independently from the district. Critics say that this model takes money away from traditional public schools, while proponents say charters offer an alternative option to meet students’ individual needs.
Laurie Brown is senior vice president for Nashville Advocacy at the Tennessee Charter School Center. In a release about the fair, she says excluding charters is “a disservice to Nashville families.” Brown says parents should be allowed to consider all their public options. The release notes 14 of MNPS’s 48 Reward Schools this year were public charters.
In the past, charters had participated in the fair. But according to a statement from MNPS, superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle wanted to showcase district-run schools this year. A Metro Schools spokesperson says that’s “not unusual” for district events.
This development comes as tensions around charter schools are high. Last month, the state’s public charter commission approved three charters in Metro, overriding local rejections.
The event, Celebration of Schools Parade and Fair, will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. A parade around Nissan Stadium will kick off the event. The fair opens at 11:30 a.m.
Save the date, Nashville, because we're having a parade and a whole lot of fun next Saturday, November 19. Bands, music, performances, food and family-friendly games, plus the opportunity to visit with our school teams at the fair. https://t.co/iDrZIDMaHN 🎶🥁#ExperienceMNPS pic.twitter.com/AE9WokgM9l
— Metro Schools (@MetroSchools) November 10, 2022
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