Madison County’s First Public Charter School Approved to Open in 2026
Dr. Jean Little (second from the right) and supporters of the Jackson Museum School (Photo by Sky Arnold)
Dr. Jean Little told members of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission that she has personal reasons for wanting to open the first public charter school in Madison County.
Little grew up in public housing in Kentucky and was raised by a teenage mother who dropped out of school. She says education changed everything for her.
“I want to offer the same lifeline for students from low-income families so that no child has to repeat the same obstacles that I had to overcome,” said Little.
Little’s plan to create that lifeline is the Jackson Museum School. The kindergarten through sixth-grade public charter school will utilize a “museum model” similar to schools in Atlanta and Chattanooga, which infuses subjects like science and math into weekly expeditions to local cultural centers. Charter Schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under a “charter” with a school district or the state.
School Board Decision Overturned
The Jackson-Madison County School Board turned down Little’s application to open the school in July, but she appealed the decision to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.
Thursday afternoon, the state board unanimously voted to overturn the school board’s decision and clear the way for the Jackson Museum School to open in 2026.
“I’m so thankful for the review, and I’m really just thankful for the thorough discussion of our application and everything that we’ve worked so hard on to be taken seriously and to feel like there’s strength there,” said Dr. Little in an interview with the Tennessee Firefly following the decision.
Jackson-Madison County School Board members denied Little’s application in part because of skepticism about her “museum model,” along with concerns that the school wouldn’t have adequate leadership staff and questions about its facility.
District Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Teresa McSweeney reiterated some of those same concerns at Thursday’s appeal hearing.
“Critical areas of deficiency were noted by our charter review team and our school board, particularly for startup, operational budgeted costs,” said McSweeney. “The budget is inadequate in two of the most fundamental components of education, where students will learn and who will be in charge of that learning and safety.”
Application’s Strength Cited in Unanimous Approval
Members of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (Photo by Sky Arnold)
Commission members were not swayed by the district’s concerns in part because the commission’s own review of Little’s application failed to find deficiencies in budgeting, staffing, and academics.
“On the whole, I think it’s a very strong application,” said Commissioner Lauren Smith.
Little’s application includes plans to hire an assistant principal in year two and additional leaders in years four and five.
The school will additionally receive financial assistance from multiple national funders.
“Two I’m familiar with, New(Schools) Venture (Fund) and Charter School Growth Fund, which gives me a lot of confidence,” said Commissioner Tom Marino. “I know those groups are reputable and do good work.”
The commission previously approved the proposed public charter school, Madison Classical Academy, in 2023, but its operator opted to pull out of its agreement to open the school next year.
The Jackson Museum School will open with an initial kindergarten through second grade and add additional grades in the coming years.
