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Charter review panel recommends denying two new charter school applications in Rutherford County
Summary
The Charter Application Review Committee recommended denial of initial applications from Novus Smart Academy K–8 and Rocketship TN4, citing weaknesses in academics, operations and finance and low community support. The board must vote within the statutory 90‑day window or the applications are deemed approved.
A district review committee recommended that the Rutherford County Board of Education deny the initial charter applications from Novus Smart Academy (K–8) and Rocketship TN4, citing academic, operational and financial shortcomings and low community support.
The Charter Application Review Committee, represented at the board meeting by Dr. Jeff McCann, presented a written report and summary of a 90‑day review process. "We recommend denial of the initial application because we determined that they failed to meet or exceed the criteria in all 3 of their areas: academics, operations and finance," McCann said. He reminded the board the local deadline to act falls within a 90‑day statutory window; if the board does not vote, the applications are automatically deemed approved under state law.
The committee found specific concerns with Novus Smart Academy’s plan for science and social studies…
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