State Commission Overturns Metro Nashville Board of Education Decision and Approves The Rock Academy

Dr. Ahmed White (wearing hat on the back row) and leadership of The Rock Academy celebrating after Wednesday’s decision (Photo by The Rock Academy)

Members of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission approved one new charter school for Nashville and denied another at Wednesday’s special-called virtual meeting.

Commissioners unanimously voted to reverse the Metro Nashville Board of Education’s (MNPS) June decision denying The Rock Academy’s application and upheld the board’s denial of The Forge School on a split 5-3 vote.

This marks the fifth straight year commissioners have overturned an MNPS charter denial. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under a “charter” with a school district or the state.

Tennessee’s First Opportunity Charter School

The decision in favor of The Rock Academy clears the way for the state’s first opportunity charter school to open for high school students in August 2026. These schools are designed for students who are at-risk because they’ve either dropped out, faced criminal charges, have been retained at least twice, or are more than a year behind academically.

The Rock founder, Dr. Ahmed White, says his charter school offers the type of long-term support these students need.

“This school is not just another option, it’s a lifeline for students who are too often overlooked or left behind,” said White. “Our mission is to re-engage disconnected youth, provide them with a sense of belonging, and prepare them for bright futures.”

MNPS Questions Need

MNPS board members initially denied The Rock, claiming it’s not needed because existing district schools and alternative learning centers offer similar programs for at-risk students. MNPS Executive Director of Charter Schools Shereka Roby-Grant made a similar case at Wednesday’s meeting.

“The Rock Academy is only proposing to serve a total of 333 students,” said Roby-Grant. “The existing MNPS schools can and do serve the population that The Rock Academy is targeting.”

Board members disagreed, praising the application and school leaders’ commitment to serving at-risk students.

“This is not a school where they’re expecting these students to enroll and be there for a short period of time,” said Commission Chair Christine Richards. “They are committing to staying with them and creating a world where even if they are relocated due to family issues, or foster issues, or whatever issues might cause them to be relocated, they will have a school home, and the school support to let them know that they do have a place where they belong.

The Forge School Voted Down

Multiple board members also expressed praise for the innovation in The Forge School’s application, including some who voted against it.

Leaders of The Forge proposed a school model that provides hands-on, real-world learning to sixth through 12th grade students who are interested in careers in architecture, construction, or engineering. Those students would have begun working on career certifications as early as their first year at The Forge, and their academic journey would have included job shadowing and internships.

In advance of Wednesday’s meeting, Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall cited multiple concerns with the proposed school, including questioning whether its enrollment plan of opening with an initial sixth and ninth grade class and then growing by two grades a year could provide the necessary revenue.

Commission Member Alan Levine was among the three voting against Stovall’s recommendation. He acknowledged improvements needed to be made with The Forge’s application, but said its innovation was worth supporting.

“I want to vote for this,” said Levine. “I want to find a way to vote for this and allow them to keep going forward to begin their implementation under the watchful eye of our very capable executive director as well as her staff, as opposed to delaying and having a whole year go by when the students aren’t being given the opportunity to experience this particular very innovative approach to a pathway program.”

Encouragement to Reapply in Nashville

Other board members, including Michael Carter, weren’t willing to provide that leeway. Carter encouraged leaders of The Forge to address Stovall’s concerns and reapply next year.

“It’s not a matter of need. We know that there’s a need. We know that you can potentially fill it,” said Carter. “My view, there’s a need to shore up some of these areas around, again, academics, regarding finances. As well as again, the issue of operations.”

The Forge School founders Sara Tuttle and Derrick Williams (Photo by The Forge)

Following the 5-3 vote, school co-founders Sara Tuttle and Derrick Williams posted a statement indicating they are seriously considering reapplying next year.

“While we are disappointed by the outcome, we are incredibly encouraged by the strong support from commissioners who voted to approve our school, as well as from others who expressed a desire for us to return in the next cycle and apply again,” wrote Tuttle and Williams. “Over the coming weeks, the Forge School Board and Leadership Team will be mapping out next steps to move our mission forward. We will share our plan of action with this community as soon as possible.”