Sky Arnold 7/28/25 Sky Arnold 7/28/25

Novus SMART Academy Approval Brings a Fourth Public Charter School to Rutherford County

Board members Tammy Sharp, Katie Darby, Stan Vaught, and Vice-Chair Frances voted in support of Novus SMART, while Chair Claire Maxwell, Butch Vaughn, and Caleb Tidwell voted against it.

Sky Arnold 7/22/25 Sky Arnold 7/22/25

Jeremy Sager has Helped Students in Memphis and Nashville Achieve Success. His ‘Two-Educator Model’ Could Do Even More in Rutherford County

On Thursday, members of the Rutherford County Board of Education will decide whether to approve Jeremy Sager’s application to open Novus SMART Academy (K-8).

Alison Nickas 4/25/25 Alison Nickas 4/25/25

Rutherford County School Board turns down applications from two proposed public charter schools

Leaders of Rocketship Public Schools and Novus SMART Academy (K-8) have the option of submitting an amended application for approval this summer.

Sky Arnold 2/26/25 Sky Arnold 2/26/25

Applications filed in 5 counties to open 11 new public charter schools

Novus SMART Academy is among the 11 new start charter applications that met this month’s filing deadline in five school districts across the state.

Sky Arnold 12/9/24 Sky Arnold 12/9/24

Tennessee could see as many as 17 new public charter schools next year

Five Tennessee school districts across the state received letters of intent for 17 proposed new public charter schools by last week’s deadline. Letters of intent are the first official step in next year’s new start charter application process.

Sky Arnold 10/17/24 Sky Arnold 10/17/24

State commission overturns Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to approve three new public charter schools

Tennessee Public Charter School Commission overturns Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education to approve two new public charter schools.

Sky Arnold 10/15/24 Sky Arnold 10/15/24

Three proposed public charter schools in Nashville receive positive recommendation for approval

Supporters of three proposed new public charter schools in Nashville are receiving support from the Executive Director of the state board tasked with deciding their future. Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Executive Director Tess Stovall released written recommendations this week supporting the appeals from Nurses Middle College, LEAD Southeast Elementary, and Encompass Community School.

Brandon Paykamian 9/10/24 Brandon Paykamian 9/10/24

Supporters make the case for Novus SMART Academy in Rutherford County

Following the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education’s recent decision to deny Novus SMART Academy’s application to become the fourth charter school in the district, supporters and educators from the charter school have taken their appeal to the state.

Sky Arnold 8/13/24 Sky Arnold 8/13/24

Six proposed public charter schools appeal denial to state commission

Last month school board members in Nashville and Rutherford County voted down six proposed new public charter schools.Next month supporters from all of them will make their case to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission for why the decision was the wrong one.

Sky Arnold 7/18/24 Sky Arnold 7/18/24

Rutherford County School Board says no to a fourth public charter school

Members of the Rutherford County School Board voted 4 to 3 Wednesday night to reject what would’ve been the county’s fourth public charter school. Financial concerns ended up playing a bigger role in the close decision against Novus SMART Academy (K-8) than academics.

Sky Arnold 4/23/24 Sky Arnold 4/23/24

Rutherford County School Board votes down proposed fourth public charter school while leaving the door open for approval later

Members of the Rutherford County School Board unanimously rejected what could be the district’s fourth public charter school Thursday but not without offering a gleam of hope for its supporters.The board provided more than a dozen stipulations for leaders of Novus SMART Academy (K-8) to address if they choose to file an amended application.