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. Chair Richards announced, “The motion to approve the amendment petition and updated charter agreement for Empower Memphis Career and College Prep has been approved.”

The commission next approved an amendment for Invictus Nashville, also a 2023 Newstart approval. Figueroa said Invictus requested permission to add second grade in its opening year so the school could meet demand from families and implement mixed-age classrooms sooner. The staff review noted the school is negotiating a preferred site, has engaged a contractor and architect for renovations, and reported grant and philanthropic fundraising (including a grant from SPORE) that contribute to a financial plan projecting positive cash flow and annual surpluses over the next five years. Commissioners confirmed there were no conflicts of interest for members participating in the vote. The motion to approve passed on a roll-call vote of eight ayes.

Rocketship Dream Community Prep’s petition included three items: transfer of governance from the National Rocketship Education Board of Directors to a Tennessee-based Rocketship Education board of trustees, addition of fifth grade (to align with local elementary grade bands), and an increase in maximum enrollment from 560 to 630 to accommodate the added grade. Figueroa summarized the school’s academic performance and a facilities plan that shifts space within the current building; the commission approved the petition by roll call.

A separate amendment for Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary requested the governance transfer from the national board to the Tennessee board (the local board has been advising to date). The commission approved that governance change as well.

Votes at a glance

- Empower Memphis Career and College Prep — Motion to approve amendment petition and updated charter agreement (relocate campus approximately five minutes from original recruitment area; co-location with Tennessee Career Academy; transportation commitment to original target area). Mover: Terrence Patterson. Second: Tom Griscom. Vote: 8–0 (eight ayes). Outcome: approved.

- Invictus Nashville Charter School — Motion to approve amendment petition to add second grade in opening year (to open K–2), site negotiations ongoing; financial plan includes grant and philanthropic revenue (including SPORE). Mover: Michael Carter. Second: Tara Patterson. Vote: 8–0 (eight ayes). Outcome: approved.

- Rocketship Dream Community Prep — Motion to approve amendment petition to transfer governance from the National Rocketship Education Board to a Tennessee-based Rocketship board of trustees (effective July 1, 2025), add fifth grade, and increase maximum enrollment from 560 to 630. Mover: Lauren Smith. Vote: 8–0 (eight ayes). Outcome: approved.

- Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary — Motion to approve amendment petition to transfer governance from the National Rocketship Education Board to the local Tennessee board (effective date not specified in the record). Mover: Michael Carter. Second: LaVine. Vote: 8–0 (eight ayes). Outcome: approved.

Discussion and context

Commissioners asked few substantive questions during the meeting; Figueroa and staff emphasized facility readiness, contingency planning, and financial viability in the records supporting each petition. For Invictus, staff noted the school was pursuing a preferred site and had contingency planning and design teams in place to meet preopening checklist timelines. For Empower Memphis, Figueroa noted that limited availability, renovation costs and building-code requirements had driven the need to locate outside the original geography and that the proposed site offers lower renovation costs and space to open. For Rocketship Dream, Figueroa highlighted local control as the rationale for the governance transfer and cited the Tennessee board’s receipt of tax-exempt status and its advisory role to date.

Procedural notes

Ashley Thomas read the statutory basis for holding the special meeting and confirmed that a statement of necessity would be filed with the Secretary of State; Commission policy 1.2 was cited for the public comment process (no public commentators were registered for this meeting). Roll-call voting procedures were followed throughout. The commission’s next regular meeting was announced for Jan. 24, 2025.

Ending

The meeting concluded after the four amendments were approved and a motion to adjourn carried by roll call (eight ayes).