Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Approves New Public School Choice for North Nashville

NASHVILLE —  Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) released the following statement to applaud today’s decision by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission to support the needs of families in North Nashville by approving the innovative new public charter school Encompass Community School.

“The approval of Encompass Community School is a win for families in North Nashville who simply want a different kind of public education for their children than existing zoned schools are providing,” said Lana Skelo, President and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success. “Nearly 60 percent of families with middle school students in the area Encompass plans to serve are already choosing to opt out of their zoned school. These families want another high-quality option for their children and the innovative mastery-based academic model Encompass is bringing has a proven background of success this growing part of Nashville needs.”

Encompass Community School will employ a mastery-based approach to learning to ensure students in grades K-8 receive the instruction they need, when they need it, and for as long as they need it, instead of a traditional approach that uses a predetermined schedule.

The Commission’s vote in favor of Encompass overturns a misguided decision last July by members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education, who have deliberately chosen to reject the wishes of families by voting down every application for a new public charter school three years in a row.

Our independent Quality Charter Review analyzed Encompass Community School’s application earlier this year and recommended its approval.

Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of parents and caregivers, teachers, community leaders, volunteers, and advocates dedicated to championing and supporting Tennessee’s students and their futures.