Stakeholders in the quest for education reform in Tennessee have closely followed House Bill 702/Senate Bill 830, the charter school authorizer reform bill, while it travels through House and Senate committees. Recent amendments have altered the scope, though not the intent, of the bill as a floor vote draws near.
“We believe in this legislation because it would bring Tennessee under nationally recognized best practices for charter school authorization as acknowledged by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, an organization that works with school boards and other authorizing agencies across the country,” said Matt Throckmorton, executive director of the Tennessee Charter Schools Association.
The bill establishes a panel of experts, appointed by the governor and the speakers of the state house and senate, to review applications for charters on appeal. Schools approved under this appeals process would be overseen by the panel.
The legislation specifies that this panel is tasked with reviewing appeals only for districts that have schools on the state’s “high priority” list, which is composed of schools in the bottom 5 percent of performance. Districts with schools currently on the priority list are: Memphis/Shelby County, Metro Nashville, Chattanooga/Hamilton County, Knox County, and Hardeman County.
“Charter schools have demonstrated significant results in Tennessee, particularly for students who have previously struggled academically, such as those in priority schools,” said Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), the bill’s house sponsor. “The amendment to the bill allows the panel to provide accountability in the establishment of high quality schools where they are needed most.”
In all other school districts, the LEA remains the primary authorizer for charter schools. Appeals to the LEA’s decision are taken to the State Board of Education, where approval or denial is final. If a school is approved by the state board, the school still remains under the administration of the LEA.
The bill is championed by the Tennessee Charter Schools Association, Stand for Children, and StudentsFirst Tennessee, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and House Speaker Beth Harwell, along with sponsors White and Senator Delores Gresham. Earlier this week Governor Bill Haslam provided for the funding of the bill by placing the item in his supplemental budget.