The executive director of Tennessee’s charter commission recommends siding with local school boards on upcoming appeals

A state-appointed commission will meet next week to decide whether half a dozen charter schools can open, overriding denials by local school boards.

But executive director Tess Stovall of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission recommends that they uphold every one of the local rejections. In her recommendations, Stovall wrote that the charters don’t fully meet the state’s standards.

The reasons range from unclear financial plans to concerns that the schools won’t properly serve students with special needs.

Founders Classical Academy

In her recommendations for two Founders Classical Academies proposed in Brentwood and Hendersonville, Stovall raised questions about their plans to accommodate students with disabilities. And she questioned whether the Hendersonville school might be seen as “exclusionary” to English learners.

Stovall also wrote that the applications didn’t show they were familiar with the state’s academic standards and that their budgets were “understated and incomplete.”

One big difference between the two proposed charters was the level of community support.

Stovall said the application for Founders Classical Academy of Hendersonville “contained a lack of evidence of community demand.” She said even after gathering community input, “the significant majority of public comments do not demonstrate support for approving this amended application.”

Meanwhile, Stovall noted a strong desire for a school with a classical education model in the Brentwood area.

“There is clear evidence within the application and throughout the record that there is parent demand within Williamson County for this type of educational option,” Stovall wrote.

But she said community support is not enough to approve the charter.

“There is insufficient evidence that the school has a robust plan to market to, recruit, and serve all students. Without this plan, the amended application does not meet the standard for approval.”

Tennessee Nature Academy

Tennessee Nature Academy will appeal to the commission next week as well. Stovall praised the school’s academic model and its plan to serve a diverse student body. But she recommended against approving this school, largely because of its finances.

She wrote that the application “does not include a realistic plan sufficient to support the opening of a new charter school.” Stovall raised concerns about the school’s ability to deliver on its goals and recruit teachers with the salaries it planned to offer.

What’s coming before the commission

In each of the six appeals heading to the commission Monday and Tuesday, Stovall recommended upholding local school boards’ decisions to reject the charter schools. Still, the nine-member commission doesn’t have to heed the director’s recommendations. They could vote to approve the charters. Members of the commission were appointed by Gov. Bill Lee, who has been a vocal supporter of charter schools.

You can find the full executive director’s recommendation for each school below:

• Founders Classical Academy of Brentwood
• Founders Classical Academy of Hendersonville
• Tennessee Nature Academy (Nashville)
• Binghampton Community School (Shelby County)
• Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy (Shelby County)
• Academy of the Arts Charter High School (Fayette County)

WPLN News will cover the commission’s meeting next week and provide updates.