All About Charter Schools inTennessee: Charter Legislation and Law, Charter School Numbers, Enrollment and Academic Achievement, and Charter School Resources and Support Organization Contacts, as well as Tennessee Department of Education Charter School Offices

Charter Schools in Tennessee

Law:  Passed July 2002.

Rank: 9th weakest of the nation's 40 charter laws

CER Grade:  C

Schools:   0

Students:   0

POLITICS:

CELEBRATE: Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is one of eight U.S. Congressional leaders serving as honorary co-chairs of the Congressional Salute to Charter Schools in conjunction with the fourth annual National Charter Schools Week, April 28-May 2, 2003. The co-chairs will participate in various events showcasing the importance of charter schools in improving all schools.

A WAYS TO GO: Tennessee debuts as a low "C" on CER's Charter Law Scorecard with local board-only approval, limited autonomy, and a weak appeals process. The new charter law has a long way to go if the movement in Tennessee is to be sustained and successful. Charter School Laws Across the States: Ranking Scorecard and Legislative Profiles, January 2003.

IN NAME ONLY: Tennessee's charter school bill was signed into law last week -- on Independence Day, ironically, given the law's clear lack of freedom for potential charters. Not only does the new law limit the creation of new-starts to districts that have failing schools, it also has restrictions on which types of applications can be appealed to the state board. Despite reading versions much worse than what eventually ended up on the Governor's desk, there is still little to cheer. There is no automatic waiver from regulations and only school boards can approve charters. The children of Tennessee may have some new choices next year, but given the obstacles that marked the bill's deliberation, we're convinced the local school boards will not stop short of creating roadblocks. To review the entire bill, go to: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0850.pdf. Click here for CER's ranking of charter school laws. From CER Newswire July 10, 2002. For more, see CER Back to School 2002 Monthly Letter.

EMBATTLED: As former Education Secretary William J. Bennett noted at the recent National Charter School Conference put on by the U.S. Department of Education, there is a war on charter schools that needs to be recognized, fought and won, but that message appears all but lost in the Volunteer State, where this following sentence says about all that needs to be said about the charter bill that is likely to soon pass:

"I've always hated charter schools, but this bill is… full of protections. It will be the tightest-drawn [READ - RESTRICTIVE] bill in the country."
-- Senator Roscoe Dixon, Democrat from Memphis.

If the bill makes it into law, it may well get a failing grade in CER's ranking book, in company with 2002's other new charter law in Iowa. Get more details in the June 2002 Monthly Letter, and stay tuned for CER updates.

TWO STEPS BACK: A hearing before a Tennessee legislative committee shows the challenge faced by parents and school improvement advocates everywhere. Considering a charter school bill that would only allow schools to open under certain circumstances, Memphis lawmakers jumped all over the concept. Said one: "Says who we need options? The federal government has been wrong about a lot of things," as if charters were born in Washington. Another asked for a guarantee that they'd get federal money before they would even consider the bill, arguing that the state "shouldn't move forward with a plan for charter schools without state and federal funding firmly in place." To her credit, Education Commissioner Faye Taylor spoke passionately about the charter school model, arguing that "it's a parental choice, and if a charter school fails a parent then that parent can pull their child out of the school. That's where you get true accountability. You can't have schools without students." The bill's next stop is a Senate Education Committee hearing on Wednesday. (From CER Newswire April 23, 2002.)

STEP-BY-STEP: Charter school activists have been fighting for charter school legislation well over 3 years, and all along the same obstacle has stood in their way: the union. But if the activists and legislators depend on facts, not myths, they will get the law they so badly need. A study committee has heard testimony, and it will soon give its recommendation on whether the bill should move forward. Commissioner Faye Taylor and the state Department of Education are working on draft legislation. She has proven to be a strong reformer, and many are hopeful her recommendations will center on key elements that make for a strong law. From CER Newswire March 12, 2002.

MUGGING FOR THE CAMERA: Tennessee is in the news for its growing activity toward charter schools which while still in the early stages, is giving its union indigestion. A quite big plum of a document was leaked from union headquarters, outlining its most enlightening slant toward charter schools. While publicly the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and its national colleagues spout all manner of tepid praise for charters, privately they speak otherwise. TEA's summary of a bill to create charters begins with this comment: "What is wrong with Charter Schools? A short course follows on the crime of mugging children and taxpayers…" Link to more sad, but true excerpts. [From CER Monthly Letter, December 2001]

UNION BLOCK: In May 1999, for the second straight year, the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) killed a charter school bill in the state, regardless of the fact that the legislation had been watered down with union-sanction provisions regarding teacher certification and collective bargaining. Despite ample evidence to the contrary around the country, TEA spokesman Jerry Winters called charter schools "too experimental and unproven." Charter Schools Today: The Obstacles and Opposition

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:

Charter School Resource Center of Tennessee
6363 Poplar Avenue, Suite 410
Memphis, TN 38119

Contact: Dale Berryhill
Tel: 901-844-0046
Fax: 901-844-0045
Email: TNCharters@aol.com

Website: http://www.tncharters.org

The Charter School Resource Center of Tennessee is a non-partisan, non-profit, educational organization that assists the citizens of Tennessee in the building of a strong charter school system.

Tennessee Teachers for Public Charter Schools
An affiliate of Charter School Resource Center of Tennessee (see above).
TN

Email: TNTeachers@aol.com

Tennessee Teachers for Public Charter Schools is a non-profit association that works to educate teachers about the professional opportunities provided by public charter schools, and network teachers who are interested in starting, operating, or teaching at public charter schools.