Proposed Public Charter Schools in Rutherford and Madison Counties Receive Key Support

Logos of the Jackson Museum School (left) and Rocketship Public Schools (right)

Of the more than 100 public charter schools in Tennessee, only three are located outside of the state’s four biggest cities. Those in favor of expanding that number received key support this week when Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall recommended approval for new charter schools in Rutherford and Madison County.

Those proposed schools include a Rutherford County expansion for Rocketship Public Schools and the Jackson Museum School. Local school board members denied each application in the summer, and both appealed to the commission, hoping to overturn that decision.

The commission is holding a meeting tomorrow to decide both appeals, and Stovall’s recommendation could play a key role.

Jackson Museum School Praised for Innovation

The proposed kindergarten through sixth-grade Jackson Museum School would be Madison County’s first charter school. It would utilize a “museum model” similar to schools in Atlanta and Chattanooga, infusing subjects like science and math into weekly expeditions to local cultural centers.

Tess Stovall (Photo by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission)

Stovall recommended approval for the school’s appeal, praising its leadership, community support, and innovation.

“One purpose of public charter schools is to 'encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods…in exchange for greater responsibility for student performance,” wrote Stovall. “I believe that Jackson Museum School has proposed an innovative academic plan that is not currently offered within Jackson, and the plan is thorough, well-researched, and has a high likelihood of success.”

Stovall also questioned the reasons board members gave for denying the school. The district’s review committee that evaluated Jackson Museum’s application initially found the Jackson Museum School met all state standards for approval and then reversed that determination when school leaders submitted an amended application. Board members also cited concerns about Jackson Museum School’s reliance on place-based education.

“It was difficult to follow how the reasons for denial aligned or did not align with the work of the JMCSS Review Committee,” wrote Stovall.

Rocketship’s Performance in Nashville Cited in Recommendation

Rocketship Public Schools currently runs three elementary schools in Nashville, and it hopes to open a fourth school to serve the Lavergne and Smyrna communities of Rutherford County. Each Rocketship school provides students with a personalized learning model designed to help children receive exactly what they need for literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skill building. Unlike most elementary schools, Rocketship also utilizes specialized teachers for humanities and STEM classes.

Stovall complimented Rocketship’s model and performance in Nashville in her recommendation to approve the expansion.

 

“The sponsor has demonstrated that its academic plan, specifically its community-centered school culture plan, serves a targeted population in Tennessee. I believe the sponsor’s plan to continue developing its culture plan specific to Rutherford County is sound and will contribute to the school opening successfully,” wrote Stovall.

 

Rutherford County School Board members narrowly denied Rocketship on a 4 to 3 vote, citing discrepancies in its application last July.

 

Commissioners do not have to follow Stovall’s recommendations when they vote on each appeal on Thursday.

Sky Arnold

Sky serves as the Managing Editor of the Tennessee Fireflly. He’s a veteran television journalist with two decades of experience covering news in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Tennessee where he covered government for Fox 17 News in Nashville and WBBJ in Jackson. He’s a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a big supporter of the Oklahoma Sooners.

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