Rutherford County Parents Make the Case to Launch a New Public Charter School

Every morning, the 500 elementary school students at Rocketship Dream Community Prep take part in a unique type of pep rally.

It’s called the “launch,” but instead of rallying support for a sports team, teachers and parents come together to help ensure students are mentally and emotionally ready for the classroom day.

“This is where we come together and we have a joyful time and also have that peaceful time before we get ready to go to class,” said Rising Principal Lakeia Covington.

Covington and other school leaders believe the launch helps improve student performance in the classroom.

It’s a big part of the school’s culture that Theresa Aiva says her daughter immediately took to, after struggling at her previous school.

“The individualized learning, the small groups, the advanced work has helped her grow beyond what I could hope for. As a parent, I have learned so much, too,” said Aiva.

Support for Expansion

Aiva joined other Rocketship parents, staff, and supporters on Friday to speak in support of Rocketship Public Schools’ bid to expand into Rutherford County. The public charter school operator currently runs three elementary schools in Nashville, including Dream Community Prep, and it hopes to open a fourth school to serve the Lavergne and Smyrna communities of Rutherford County.

Eric Dailey speaking at Friday’s public hearing (Photo by Sky Arnold)

School Board members narrowly voted down Rocketship’s application last July, and the charter operator appealed that decision to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, hoping to overturn it. Charter Schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under a “charter” with a school district or the state.

At Friday’s public hearing, Rocketship Public Schools Executive Director Eric Dailey said a recent study by Stanford University proved the schools’ model is working. That study found Tennessee charter schools, including those operated by Rocketship, provide students with the equivalent of extra days of learning.

“There should be no doubt that Rocketship Tennessee, for the past ten years, has done right by students in Nashville,” said Dailey. “On average, Rocketship students receive an equivalent of 96 additional days of learning in reading and 138 additional days of learning in math. That is because of the model that we’re implementing in our schools.”

A Model of Success

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.

Dailey told commissioners that Rocketship Dream Community Prep is outperforming many of the elementary schools Rutherford County is currently operating in Lavergne and Smyrna, despite serving a larger number of high-need students and English language learners.

The charter operator would target similar student demographics in Rutherford County. Speaking through an interpreter, LaVergne mother, Claudia Vasquez, told commissioners the proposed school offers an opportunity for children like hers.

 “As a mother, my greatest dream is for my children to receive a quality education. One that prepares them to be independent, responsible, and contribute positively to society,” said Vasquez.

Rutherford County Schools Defends Denial

Rutherford County Schools Coordinator of Choice and Charter Schools, Dr. Jeff McCann, defended the school board’s decision to deny Rocketship.

McCann told commissioners that Rocketship’s use of social-emotional learning concepts conflicts with board members’ preferences, and he said there were other worries about how the proposed school would handle science and social studies.

“We had concerns over their four-content block schedule and the fact that it was very unclear on the amount of time provided for science and social studies instruction,” said McCann. “If you looked carefully into it, it was only 9 to 18 minutes per day for both of those.”

Unexpected Case for School Choice

A high school senior at Rutherford County’s Central Magnet School was the only member of the public to speak against Rocketship’s application during the public hearing, but school supporters questioned whether Isaac Dickey may have inadvertently helped make the case for more school choice in the district.

“I’m a very strong believer in the power of a good education, and I have received an amazing education from this district for the past 13 years,” said Dickey. “But I do believe at the same time that this education should come from our traditional public schools.”

Charter schools are seen by supporters as providing an option for families who want an option other than their traditional zoned school but can’t afford to move or can’t get into a magnet or choice school.  Dickey’s high school has strict admission requirements, and it serves lower percentages of students of color and English language learners than Rocketship would be targeting for admission. Less than 1 percent of Central Magnet School’s students are English language learners.

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will decide Rocketship’s appeal on October 16.