Tennessee Public Charter School Commission approves three 10‑year renewals, moves Bluff City to Tier 2 and adopts policy updates

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission met Jan. 24, 2025, in Memphis and approved multiple authorizer actions, including three 10‑year charter renewals, an addendum to allow KIPP Antioch Global Elementary to open in a temporary facility, and a one‑year delay for American Classical Academy Jackson‑Madison. The commission also voted to move Bluff City High School from Tier 3 probation to Tier 2 intervention and approved a package of policy and rule updates.

Why it matters: approved 10‑year renewals extend operating authority and, in some cases, begin facilities negotiations with local districts; the tiering change for Bluff City alters the school’s oversight status ahead of its 2026 renewal; the policy updates and charter agreements set terms and expectations the commission will use for oversight.

Votes at a glance (motions, roll calls and outcomes) - Approve addendum request: KIPP Antioch Global Elementary School — Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded as 6 ayes; outcome: approved. (Transcript roll call began at ~00:36:40 / s=2206.4248–2223.6199.) - Approve petition to delay one academic year: American Classical Academy Jackson‑Madison — Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded as 5 ayes, 1 no (one recorded “No” in the roll call); outcome: approved. (Roll call at ~00:37:44 / s=2244.025–2266.505.) - Move Bluff City High School from Tier 3 to Tier 2 intervention — Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded as 6 ayes; outcome: approved. (Discussion and vote spanned ~00:38:00–01:12:00; final roll call at s=4341.625–4354.2.) - Renewals (each approved by recorded roll call): Cornerstone Prep Denver — approved (6 ayes); Lee Neely’s Bend — approved (6 ayes); Libertas School of Memphis — approved (6 ayes). Each renewal authorizes a new 10‑year charter term and, where noted in staff recommendations, begins or continues facilities discussions with the local district. (Renewal presentations and votes from s=4939.27 through s=5586.2847.) - Approve package of commission policy updates and rules on first and/or final reading (policies referenced in meeting: 1.000, 1.100, 1.200, 1.302, 2.100, 2.200, 3.100, 3.600 and related rule 1185‑01‑01.02) — Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded as 6 ayes; outcome: approved on the votes shown. (Discussion and votes s=4650.0103–4908.83.) - Approve multiple new or amended charter agreements (including Rocketship Dream Community Prep, Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary and agreements for schools authorized in October) — Motion made and seconded as a package; roll call recorded as 6 ayes; outcome: approved. (s=5614.95–5690.)

Staff and committee recommendations - School Performance & Accountability committee recommended the KIPP addendum and American Classical Academy Jackson‑Madison delay to the full commission and presented an extended review of Bluff City High School that included academic gains, declines and contextual factors. Beth Figueroa, director of authorizations, presented the committee materials. - Business Operations committee reported the FY24 authorizer fee report, budget status and a possible clawback related to Davidson County collections; Melanie Burrow (finance/operations) presented those updates. - Rules, Policy & Governance committee presented multiple policy updates and a proposed change to how the commission handles requests to delay openings beyond the statutory one‑year right; Ashley Thomas, general counsel, presented those items.

Clarifying details cited in staff reports and discussion - Renewal term: Tennessee Code Annotated § 49‑13‑121 requires authorizers to decide renewal before February 1 of the final year of the charter term; an approved renewal results in a new 10‑year contract. (Staff: s=4939.27–4970.325.) - KIPP Antioch Global Elementary addendum: staff said the school would open in 2025–26 in an existing KIPP campus serving kindergarten through 2nd grade with a temporary maximum capacity of 300 students while retaining a 600‑student capacity in its charter when it moves to its permanent facility. (s=1959.2001–2015.295.) - Budget note: commission staff indicated an anticipated clawback associated with Davidson County collections—staff estimated a clawback in the neighborhood of $1.5 million that could require refunds of previously collected authorizer fees; staff noted final numbers were pending Tennessee Department of Education reconciliation. (s=4458.69–4498.2646.)

Speakers (selected, first reference shows role/title as in transcript) - Chair Richards (Chair) — presiding officer and vote caller. - Commissioner Michael Carter (Commissioner) — Business Operations committee chair who presented committee report items. - Commissioner Grissom (Commissioner) — participated in roll calls and discussion. - Commissioner Patterson (Commissioner) — School Performance & Accountability committee chair who led the Bluff City discussion and motions on committee items. - Eddie Smith (Commissioner) — participated in roll calls. - Commissioner Tudor (Chris Tudor) — Rules, Policy & Governance vice chair who presented committee items. - Beth Figueroa (Director of Authorizations) — presented school performance and renewal materials. - Melanie Burrow (Director of Finance & Operations) — presented budget/authorizer fee updates. - Ashley Thomas (General Counsel) — presented policy and rule updates. - Ted Stovall (Executive Director) — executive director updates and recommendations.

Authorities referenced in meeting materials - statute: Tennessee Code Annotated § 49‑13‑121 (renewal timing/requirements) — referenced by staff during renewal presentations and recommendation summary. - commission policies: 1.000; 1.100; 1.200; 1.302; 2.100; 2.200; 3.100; 3.600; rule 1185‑01‑01.02 — policy and rule numbers were discussed and voted for first/final reading in committee and by the commission.

Proper names and organizations cited - Tennessee Public Charter School Commission - Cornerstone Prep Denver (Capstone Education Group) - Lee Neely’s Bend (LEAD Public Schools) - Libertas School of Memphis - KIPP Antioch Global Elementary School - American Classical Academy Jackson‑Madison - Bluff City High School - Rocketship Dream Community Prep; Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary - University of Memphis

Discussion/next steps noted on the record - For each approved renewal the operator is to begin or continue facility negotiations with the resident district (Metro Nashville Public Schools or Memphis‑Shelby County Schools) where indicated in staff recommendations. - Staff noted planned follow‑up on policy language for requests to delay openings beyond the statutory one‑year right and on proposed changes to the federal funds allocation methodology to reflect increased student needs.

Provenance (transcript evidence) - topicintro: {"block_id":"s=2200.45","tc_start":"00:36:40","tc_end":"00:36:50","evidence_excerpt":"Do I have a motion to approve the addendum request from KIPP Antioch Global Elementary School?","reason_code":"topicintro"} - topfinish: {"block_id":"s=6144.387","tc_start":"01:42:24","tc_end":"01:42:32","evidence_excerpt":"Thank you all very much.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}

Ending: The commission’s actions extend authorization and oversight terms for multiple schools and adopt procedural changes staff said will inform upcoming renewals and budgeting; staff signaled further follow‑up on financial reconciliation with state agencies and continuing oversight of schools on intervention status.