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Tennessee Public Charter School Commission upholds Metro Nashville denial of Forge School application
Summary
After public comment and lengthy debate, the commission voted 5–3 to uphold Metro Nashville Public Schools’ denial of the Forge School’s New Start amended application, citing gaps in enrollment projections, operational readiness and special‑education supports.
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission on Aug. 27 voted 5–3 to uphold Metro Nashville Public Schools’ decision to deny the Forge School’s New Start amended charter application, concluding the record did not demonstrate the application met the Department of Education’s scoring rubric and was not clearly ready to open in August 2026.
The commission’s decision follows a public comment period during which more than 160 written comments and 15 registered speakers—parents, industry partners and charter supporters—urged approval. The Forge School’s founders and community partners said the school would provide career and technical education (CTE) pathways in architecture, construction and engineering for rising sixth- and ninth-grade students across Nashville.
Commission staff, led by Executive Director Tess Stovall, recommended upholding the district denial. Stovall told commissioners the commission’s review found the application “partially meets” rubric standards across academics, operations and finance and identified specific risks: ambitious enrollment projections…
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