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Staff recommends denying six initial-round charter applications, cites rubric gaps and reliance on outside providers
Summary
At the April 21 work session, district staff recommended denial of six initial-round charter applications, saying applicants failed to meet the Tennessee State Board rubric and raised concerns about academic models, community need and heavy reliance on external education service providers.
Arlandra Parker, director of charter school development, told the Shelby County Board of Education at its April 21 work session that staff recommends denying six initial-round charter applications — Blueprint College and Career Prep; Empowerment Academy; Memphis Elite STEAM Academy; Opportunity Youth Academy; Urban Dove Memphis 1 and Urban Dove Memphis 2 — because they did not meet the state scoring rubric or board policy.
"These applications were received on February 2, and the ninetieth day concludes on May 3, so that's why we're bringing these recommendations before you in the April agenda," Parker said, explaining the statutory timeline and the district's obligation to act. She said the CART review team (district staff, current charter leaders and independent reviewers) found common deficiencies across applications.
Staff cited incomplete or misaligned budgets, unclear academic models, insufficient plans for at‑risk and high‑needs subgroups, questions about community need and recruitment plans, governance and facilities concerns, and missing information that the rubric requires. Parker noted that several applicants propose contracting with an Education Service Provider or Charter Management Organization, and said staff needs "additional clarity" about those partnerships because of the district's interest in local context and ownership.
Board members pressed staff about the potential effects on district schools. Board member Hugo Garcia asked whether opportunity‑youth charters could "poach our high school students," and Parker and other staff responded that, "according to the information in the application," applicants say they intend to recruit disengaged or out‑of‑school students, but staff acknowledged real‑world results can differ from stated intent.
Parker also reviewed historical patterns in the authorization cycle and the process for applicants denied in the initial round: denied applicants can submit an amended application within 30 days; staff then has 60 days to review, with amended‑round decisions expected to return to the board around July 2026. If an applicant is denied locally after the amended round, the school may appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission in September–October timelines.
The recommendation to deny the initial‑round applications was presented for first reading; no final adoption occurred at this work session. Parker said staff will provide full rubrics and written feedback to applicants and offer support for amended‑round resubmissions.
What happens next: denied applicants may submit corrected applications for the amended round; the board is scheduled to review amended‑round results in July 2026, and applicants retain state appeal rights if denied a second time locally.
