Governor signs legislation supporters say will improve the application process for public charter schools

Governor Bill Lee signing the charter legislation Tuesday (Photo by Sky Arnold)

The Libertas School of Memphis is a model of the impact public charter schools can have on students.

A decade ago, the K-5 school replaced the struggling district-run Brookmeade School in Memphis’ Frayser community under the state’s Achievement School District (ASD).

In the years since, Libertas improved to qualify for a transfer out of the ASD, and today the state considers it a Reward school for demonstrating a high level of performance and improvement.

Governor Lee (center) standing with Bob Nardo (third from the right) and students from Libertas School of Memphis (Photo by Sky Arnold)

“The thing that makes us really unique is we’re the first charter school in Tennessee to offer the personalized learning model of Dr. Maria Montessori. So, we’re the first Montessori charter school in Tennessee,” said Libertas Executive Director Bob Nardo.

Tuesday morning Nardo and some of his students joined Governor Bill Lee for the signing of legislation that could pave the way for more public charter schools to open in Tennessee. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under a contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency like a school district or the state.

Under the new law, charter operators that want to replicate an existing academic model, or public colleges and universities that want to establish charters, now have the option of applying directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission for approval. Previously those applicants had to first seek approval from their school board.

“This legislation creates more pathways for schools that are proving to be delivering on their promises to have the opportunity to expand and serve more families,” said Nardo. “In the areas where there (is) a mismatch between the number of quality schools and the number of families needing another school option, this legislation will allow charters to expand and create more seats where they are really needed.”

Supporters say the new law will also help ensure the charter approval process itself is fair for applicants proposing a completely new charter model.  Those applicants will still need to apply to their local school board first and if denied, they will continue to have the option of appealing to the charter commission as they have in the past.

Under the new law, applicants applying in a school district that’s had three denials overturned in three straight years would now have the option of applying directly to the Charter Commission, like existing charter operators and public colleges and universities. The charter commission’s “direct authorization” would be in effect for the district for up to five years.

Charter supporters hope the change will address concerns of political bias in some school districts, including Metro Nashville Public Schools. The district has had at least one charter denial overturned in each of the last four years and hasn’t approved a new public charter school since 2021.

Governor Bill Lee told charter supporters and students Tuesday that this year’s charter legislation continues a string of legislative changes he’s signed to help support the more than 100 public charter schools in Tennessee.

This includes the creation of the charter commission itself and last year’s passage of legislation to help make it easier for these schools to acquire facilities.

“A little at a time we just keep improving the environment and this makes it all worth it,” said Lee. “Scholars and kids that have 14 choices about where they’re going to go to school and it just makes it all worth it.”