State Board Director Recommends Approval of Great Hearts Charter

Gary Nixon says the Metro school board made an “arbitrary” decision in turning down the application of Great Hearts Academies. Image courtesy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

The Tennessee Board of Education appears poised to overturn a controversial decision by the Metro school board.

In a letter signed Wednesday, state board executive director Gary Nixon says an “arbitrary decision was made” to turn down the charter school application of Great Hearts Academies. The Arizona-based organization is one of the first to test Tennessee’s expanded charter law that allows anyone – not just disadvantaged students – to attend one of the publicly-funded, privately-run schools.

Nixon compliments Metro Schools for its process to consider charter applications. But he says the district needs to stick with its process, noting that a review committee found Great Hearts to meet all four criteria to get approval.

Metro Schools board members cited concerns about a lack of diversity for a charter intending to locate in affluent West Nashville.

The state Board of Education meets Friday to vote.