Tennessee Senate Passes Bill to Prevent Politics from Halting Student Achievement

NASHVILLE – Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) released the below statement to thank members of the Tennessee Senate for approving legislation that ensures public charter school applications are considered fairly and at a reasonable pace, without the politics that too frequently lead to delays.

In Tennessee, public charter school applicants first apply to their local school board for approval and if denied, they have the right to appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Senate Bill 1310 allows applicants the ability to apply directly to the commission if they want to open a school in a district that’s had three charter denials overturned in three years, a sign the district is likely not reviewing the school based on the required merits.

“While the majority of school districts are following state guidelines to honestly evaluate proposed public charter schools, a few have unfortunately become a rubber stamp of denial for every applicant,” said TSS President and CEO Lana Skelo. “Public charter school applicants that are wrongfully denied lose valuable planning time going through the appeals process, and in the past, some have even had to move back their opening date. These delays harm families who want a high-quality public-school option for their children and we applaud the Tennessee Senate for helping remove politics from the classroom and ensuring children have more opportunities to succeed.”

The legislation would additionally provide the charter commission with new flexibility to renew charters every 5 years instead of every ten and allow charter operators who want to replicate an existing academic model and public colleges and universities the ability to apply directly to the commission. It still needs approval in the Tennessee House.

Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of parents, guardians, teachers and community leaders that champions economic freedom and mobility for all Tennesseans by supporting high-quality educational opportunities and working to ensure every Tennessee student has access to a great public education.