Memphis-Shelby County School Board denies three proposed public charter schools

KIPP Memphis students (Photo by KIPP Memphis Public Schools)

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education voted to deny applications from three proposed new public charter schools during its meeting Tuesday Night, including what would be the state’s first opportunity charter school.

The vote aligned with the district charter evaluation team’s recommendations to deny applications from Still I Rise Academy, KIPP Memphis Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School, and Dream Catchers Charter School. Members did not offer any discussion before voting down the three proposed schools on its consent calendar. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under an independent contract or “charter” with a school district or the state.

Each applicant will have the option of submitting an amended application for approval later this summer. In past years the district’s school board has preferred to wait until that part of the process to approve applications, so Tuesday’s denials were not a surprise to supporters.

Still I Rise Academy leaders applied to become one an opportunity charter school 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.

“We begin by addressing each student's current challenges-whether they are overcoming past trauma, catching up academically, or balancing parenthood with education. Through individualized learning plans, mentorship, and emotional support, we provide targeted interventions tailored to their immediate needs,” wrote school leaders in their application. “This holistic approach ensures that students feel supported in the present while developing the confidence and competencies needed for their future rise.”

The district’s charter review team found the proposed charter operator presented an underdeveloped academic plan, which does not offer any comprehensive improvement plan to close achievement gaps. District staff say the application also failed to provide enough information for how school leaders plan to set, monitor, and revise goals throughout the year. Additionally, the review team said that given the intended demographic of students in grades 6-12, the application did not include critical details about programming, opportunities, diploma types, high school requirements, and classroom structures.

KIPP Memphis Public Schools currently operates three other charter schools in Memphis. KIPP Memphis Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School would be its fourth school in the area, and the operator says its model would be centered around rigorous academics and a focus on performing arts. It 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.

“We will provide every student with voice and dance performance instruction as part of their daily course schedule,” wrote KIPP Memphis Public Schools in its application. “Performance is joyful for students. We expect to enroll many students who will enter school with some struggles around reading and other basic skills. Data from schools in Cordova bear this out, for both traditional district schools and charter schools. These students need ongoing messages from the adults who lead their schools that their voices matter and that they have many ways to express things that are important to them. Dancing, public speaking, singing, and other forms of performing, especially when done in partnership with organizations that reflect Memphis’ rich history in music and dance, are ways to bring joy into school.”

The district charter evaluation team felt the application was not clear on exactly how the proposed school would execute infusing arts within all classrooms. Staff also noted the application failed to provide specifics of the curriculum the school plans to implement and pointed out additional details are needed around goal monitoring at the school level. Evaluators also said limited explanation was provided on how the school culture will embrace populations such as students with disabilities, English learners, and those at risk of academic failure.

In its application, Dream Catchers Charter proposed a K-12 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.

“Dream Catchers Charter School will employ a rigorous and innovative academic model that integrates differentiated instruction and Montessori principles to meet the diverse learning needs of homeless and at-risk youth. This approach prioritizes personalized learning, hands-on engagement, and the development of critical thinking and life skills,” wrote school leaders in their application.

MSCS charter evaluators praised Dream Catchers’ model as innovative but had multiple concerns including a failure to provide specific or measurable academic, operational, or organizational goals. Reviewers found the application did not provide an academic plan, any curriculum details, or strategies to address academic underperformance or foundational literacy and the schedule provided did not meet the state-mandated hours of instruction. It also failed to specify the area in which it hoped to open the school, and it was unclear how it planned to reach and recruit students experiencing homelessness according to district staff.

Charter applicants voted down in the summer would have the option of appealing to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

Updated on April 30 to include information on the vote.