Three charter school applications denied by MNPS board

Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean
·4 min read

The Metro Nashville Public Schools board denied three charter school applications this week.

The MNPS Board of Education discussed the applications from Pathways in Education, Invictus Nashville and Nashville Collegiate Prep High School during a Tuesday meeting. Pathways in Education and Nashville Collegiate Prep would have spanned grades 9-12, with proposed enrollments of 350 and 600 students, respectively. Invictus applied for a K-8 charter with a proposed enrollment of 792.

With each charter application, the board considers four main elements: academic plan design and capacity; operations plan and capacity; financial plan and capacity; and, when applicable, portfolio reviews and performance records. The board also examines the fiscal impact on MNPS for each charter school.

Here's a look at why the board denied each application.

MNPS Board of Education Chair Rachael Anne Elrod looks on during a meeting on March 26, 2019.
MNPS Board of Education Chair Rachael Anne Elrod looks on during a meeting on March 26, 2019.

Pathways in Education

Pathways in Education proposed an alternative high school with a flexible hybrid schedule for at-risk students in the Glencliff neighborhood.

A draft of the board's review of the application said the school only partially met expectations for its operations and financial plans. The review said it lacked transportation plans for students with disabilities, and noted the school only planned to provide snacks — but not breakfast or lunch — since it would not have a standard school day. The board raised concerns over students facing food insecurity.

The board also said the charter's academic plan did not meet expectations, flagging shortcomings in its approach to serve diverse learners, and a lack of clarity on attendance and enrollment counts, among other issues.

Nashville Collegiate Prep

Nashville College Prep High School proposed a college preparatory high school in the Cane Ridge neighborhood. The board said its application only partially met its standards for academic, operations and financial plans, and only partially met portfolio review and performance record standards.

Some of the issues highlighted in the review were unrealistic enrollment goals; out-of-date English Language Learners standards; insufficient funds for transportation; and achievement data that either matched or underperformed that of MNPS.

Invictus Nashville

Invictus Nashville proposed a community co-design learning model that would place a Montessori elementary school and a project-based learning middle school in the McGavock neighborhood.

The board's review of the application said it only partially met standards for academic, operations and financial plans. It pointed to issues like a calendar that fell short of the state-mandated 6.5 hour school day; insufficient funds to transport students with disabilities; and no definitive plans for a permanent school site.

See the charter school applications, MNPS board review for yourself

MNPS Charter School New Start Applications - April 2023 by USA TODAY Network on Scribd

Hillsdale College-affiliated charter school approved in Rutherford County; rejected by four others

American Classical Academy charter school won approval from the Rutherford County Board of Education on Tuesday after a 5-2 vote. The controversial charter will use curriculum and teacher training from the conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan. Plans for Hillsdale-affiliated charters have the backing of Gov. Bill Lee.

The school is set to launch for the 2024-25 school year in Rutherford County and aims to serve 340 students in grades K-5. It plans to phase in more grades until reaching K-12 and 690 students by 2029-30.

Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn came under fire last summer after he reportedly made disparaging comments about public school teachers. Arnn is influential in Republican and conservative circles, serving as chair of former President Donald Trump's 1776 Commission. The commission was formed in 2020 in the wake of antiracism protests and growing concerns on the right about K-12 instruction on issues like race.

Supporters of the American Classical Academy Charter School Joel Schellhammer, left, and Michelle Garcia, right, react to the vote to accept the school during a special called Rutherford County School Board meeting on Tuesday. In the background, at left, Oceana Glantz holds a sign in opposition.
Supporters of the American Classical Academy Charter School Joel Schellhammer, left, and Michelle Garcia, right, react to the vote to accept the school during a special called Rutherford County School Board meeting on Tuesday. In the background, at left, Oceana Glantz holds a sign in opposition.

American Classical Education, the umbrella organization for the schools, abruptly withdrew three applications statewide in September. All three were appealing local school board denials to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, a nine-member body appointed by Lee.

American Classical Academy later submitted applications in Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson and Rutherford counties.

The Robertson County Board of Education unanimously rejected the charter's application Monday. The school's application also failed in a 6-1 vote by the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System board and a 6-5 vote by the Maury County Public Schools board Tuesday. Finally, the Jackson-Madison County school board denied the charter in a 7-1 vote Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Board denies three charter school applications