Commission reviews NewStart appeals process, sets timelines for MNPS hearings and special meeting

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission received a detailed overview of the NewStart appeals process at its July 25 meeting and was briefed on upcoming timelines for appeals from Metro Nashville Public Schools and other districts.

Beth Figaro, the commission’s director of authorizing, reviewed the full appeals workflow required by statute: initial application to the local LEA, denial and a second denial of any amended application, filing of an appeal with the commission, a de novo review by the commission’s review committee (including a 90‑minute capacity interview with the sponsor and governing board), a public hearing in the proposed geographic district, and the commission’s consideration of an executive director recommendation within a maximum 75‑day window. Figaro emphasized that the review committee compares applications to the Department of Education scoring rubric and does not receive the LEA’s rationale for denial as part of its scoring work.

General Counsel Ashley Thomas and Figaro outlined the schedule and materials timeline for the near‑term reviews: - Metro Nashville appeals: public hearings are scheduled beginning Aug. 8 at 8:30 a.m.…