Memphis Residents Champion Proposed Charter School as a Fix for a District That’s “Failed Thousands”
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Logo — (MCSC)
Memphis-based community members, including parents and retired educators, spoke out in support of a proposed public charter school they hope will help bandage a school district they say has “failed thousands.”
Supporters of the proposed Still I Rise Academy say it’s needed to help at-risk children in grades 6-8 in the Orange Hill/Hickory Mound neighborhoods of Memphis-Shelby County.
“Every year, we bury the dreams of students who are failed by a system that has left them unprepared, unsupported, and unsafe. Let’s not bury anymore,” said retired educator Carolyn Quinn.
The Memphis-Shelby County School Board denied the proposed school in July, and its leaders appealed to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, hoping to overturn the decision. Quinn was among those speaking in support of the appeal at a public hearing earlier this month.
If commissioners approve the appeal, Still I Rise Academy would become the state’s second opportunity charter school under a law passed last year aimed at creating new learning options for at-risk youth. Its model would focus on middle and high school students who have previously dropped out, been held back, and are experiencing chronic absenteeism, teen pregnancy, or abuse and neglect. The school’s proposal includes more flexible learning opportunities for these students, such as Saturday school, summer school, remediation, and acceleration.
District Backlash and Rationale
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Director of Charter School Development Arlandra Parker told commissioners at the public hearing that the district already offers “extensive” services to support the at-risk student population, including academic and credit recovery, coaching and mentoring, and teen parent support.
Parker also said the school’s application failed to fully meet state standards or outline how its promised quality education would deliver results.
“(“Still I Rise Academy”) did not articulate an academic plan or provide sufficient evidence that supports the expected results.....the applicant’s facilities, startup, and teacher recruitment & retention plans are limited....and, there were misalignments within the application and budget, overestimations with student enrollment growth, and details of a strong contingency plan were not evident should the school not meet their enrollment targets.”
Still I Rise Executive Director Dr. Gerald Kiner pushed back on the district’s reasons for denial, accusing Memphis-Shelby County Schools of systematically failing its vulnerable students.
“They (MCSC) are presenting information as if they are the Harvard of education systems,” said Connor. “Over 100,000 students are enrolled in the district. Nearly 24,000 (2023 TDOE) middle and high school students are chronically absent, and 8,000+ students qualify as opportunity youth. Even with your Accelerated Education division, you have 24,000 students you cannot address by yourself.”
Commissioners are scheduled to decide Still I Rise’s appeal on October 17.
