Memphis-Shelby County Schools Approves Fourth KIPP School

Image of KIPP students (Photo by KIPP Memphis)

Akia Green says all three of her children have thrived in KIPP Memphis’ public charter schools.

 On Tuesday, she was among those speaking in favor of the charter operator’s request to add a fourth school in Shelby County. Green told members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board that families in Cordova deserve to have the same opportunities her children received.

 “My children and I have experienced the KIPP journey firsthand, and I can truly say it’s been transformative. I’ve watched my three children thrive in KIPP Memphis,” said Green. “The love, structure, and academic excellence we’ve received has supported my family’s growth in every way possible.”

According to its application, KIPP Cordova Collegiate Elementary would be centered around “rigorous academics” and a focus on performing arts. KIPP hopes to have at least 50 percent of students in third-grade and up meeting or exceeding state academic performance standards within three years, with students also participating in at least one dance, theatrical, or vocal performance each year.

The Memphis-Shelby County School Board denied the school’s application last April, but KIPP Memphis submitted an amended application for the board to consider this week.

 Unanimous Approval for KIPP Cordova

After hearing from Green and other supporters, board members unanimously approved the new school.

The vote aligns with a recommendation from the district charter review team that found the school met all state standards. District staff complimented the changes KIPP Memphis made to its amended application to integrate creative and performing arts with core subject areas.

“Adjustments were made to the daily schedule to include all core subject areas, in-school tutoring, and intervention times throughout the week. Corresponding changes to professional development opportunities for teachers were noted and built into the annual academic calendar,” wrote district reviewers in documents provided to the board.

KIPP Cordova is scheduled to open next year with an initial class of kindergarten through third-grade students.  The school will add a fourth and fifth grade in future years, with an eventual proposed enrollment of more than 500 students.

Denial for other Public Charter Schools

Board members unanimously voted down two other proposed new public charter schools, Still I Rise Academy and the Dream Catchers Charter School.

Still I Rise Academy leaders applied to become one of the state’s first opportunity charter schools 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.

In its application, the Dream Catchers Charter School proposed a kindergarten through twelfth-grade Montessori model of instruction, which emphasizes child-centered learning through self-directed activity and hands-on activities in mixed-age classrooms. The school would be focused on children who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and the operator plans to offer intervention services to those families.  

Leaders of both denied schools will have the option of appealing to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission in the fall.