Tennessee Public Charter School Commission approves four charter amendments, including Empower Memphis relocation

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission approved four amendment petitions Dec. 2, 2024, allowing Empower Memphis Career and College Prep to move its planned campus, permitting Invictus Nashville to open with kindergarten through second grade, and approving governance and enrollment changes for two Rocketship schools.

The approvals came at a special-called virtual meeting that the commission said was held under TCA “eight-forty four-one 8” to permit electronic participation when a physical quorum is not possible. Ashley Thomas, general counsel, read the necessity statement at the start of the meeting.

Beth Figueroa, director of authorizing, presented the staff recommendations and the School Performance and Accountability Committee’s findings on each petition. Figueroa said Empower Memphis — approved in the 2023 Newstart appeal cycle to open K–8 with a maximum enrollment of 450 students — has been unable to secure a facility in its originally targeted Orange Mound/South Memphis area and requested an amendment to locate roughly five minutes from the original recruitment site, co-located with Tennessee Career Academy. Figueroa said the alternative site is vacant, that renovation costs fall within the school’s budget and that Empower committed to provide transportation for students from its original target area.

Commissioners moved and seconded the Empower Memphis item; the roll-call vote was recorded as eight ayes and the amendment was approved.…