CHARTER SCHOOLS UPDATE

Currently, the Tennessee charter school law is the most restrictive in the country in regard to which students can attend.  Students must come from a failing school, be previously enrolled in a charter school or perform poorly on achievement tests.  Sen. Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville) is currently sponsoring a bill that would open attendance to allow at risk and low income students to attend charter schools.

Charter schools are public schools that have the flexibility to craft education programs that fit the needs of their students.  In exchange, they are held to a higher degree of accountability than their traditional public school counterparts.  In fact, if they don't meet the standards they have agreed with the local board of education, they can be shut down. 

There are 12 public charter schools in Tennessee – nine in Memphis and three in Nashville.   How are they performing?    Recently, the State Comptroller's Office of Education Accountability released its long-awaited report on Tennessee's charter schools.  The report concluded that the schools are succeeding in their mission to educate the state's most at-risk students -- those who come from failing public schools or students who themselves are failing.  Unfortunately, these are the only students eligible to attend charter schools. 

This past year, the Tennessee Business Roundtable has partnered with the administration and education leaders to create positive changes in our education system.   Without a doubt, we need new and innovative approaches that challenge students to be all they can be, to achieve beyond their past performance, and to aspire to a life that is both productive and satisfying.   

While charter schools are not the "magic bullet" for what ails our public schools... they are a part of the solution.   The Comptroller's report gives insight into why these schools are working as stated below:

 -- Charter schools have adopted "broad missions," including revitalizing the local community, educating parents, and preparing students for college.

 -- Charter school teachers have "significantly higher positive perceptions of their schools' educational programs than their traditional school counterparts."

 -- Many charter schools make it clear that parental involvement is strongly encouraged and expected.

 -- Charter school administrators "grant teachers professional flexibility, but require increased accountability."

Tennessee's charter schools have proven they deserve a greater vote of confidence from our state legislature.  Although the statute creating these schools is set to sunset this year, there is little danger the legislature will allow it to do so.  The General Assembly also should make sure the doors of charter schools are open to a broader student population.  This year's bill would allow charter schools to fill vacant slots with children who are on free and reduced price lunch, defined by the federal government as "at risk" youngsters, but who do not have to be failing students or from failing schools. 

The Tennessee Education Association opposes this change in the law.  It is concerned that any expansion of charter school eligibility will result in students leaving traditional schools to attend charters.  With this small change, that is not likely to occur.  It is time that we offer our students new and challenging opportunities to grow, learn and the promise of being successful in the future.  Let's hope our state legislators are tired of "more of the same" and will pass this much-needed piece of legislation. 

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