Tennessee Public Charter School Commission denies Empower Memphis petition to add grades 4–5

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted June 2 to deny an emergency amendment petition from Empower Memphis Career and College Prep that would have allowed the charter to add fourth and fifth grades beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

Executive Director Tess Stovall told commissioners the school opened in the 2025–26 school year serving kindergarten through second grade and ended that year with roughly 30 students, far below its stated goal. After staff’s review and additional follow-up with the operator, Stovall recommended denial, saying accelerating to add two grade levels would place “too much pressure on an already extremely fragile school.”

Stovall said staff requested additional information, held calls with the school leader and convened a school performance and accountability meeting for further review. She said the proposed expansion relied on recruitment assumptions and facility changes that staff had not verified and noted the commission would continue to monitor the school regardless of the outcome.

Commissioner Terrence Patterson, chair of the School Performance and Accountability Committee, summarized committee concerns about underenrollment, budget and operational challenges and the risk of adding tested grade levels before the school’s model had been validated. Patterson emphasized conversion-rate uncertainty for applications the operator reported, saying a proposed 4-to-1 conversion “still will face a very significant challenge of converting the current … applications into actual student enrollment.”

Several commissioners praised the school leader by name — Muna Alani — and described her as an “exceptional leader,” but said leadership strength did not offset the operational and financial concerns raised by the record. Commissioners cited issues including uncertified teachers in year one, transportation barriers that depressed enrollment, and the prospect of rental costs that could rise sharply if the school relocated.

Commissioner Marino announced he would recuse from the vote and described multiple conflicts of interest; commissioners later proceeded without him. Commissioner Eddie Smith moved to deny the petition and Tom Drisco seconded. The motion passed by roll call; a majority of commissioners voted in favor and the motion was approved.

Chair Richards closed the item by reiterating the commission’s commitment to the school’s success and noting staff would continue monitoring enrollment and compliance under the commission’s intervention policy.

The commission did not approve the school’s requested amendment, and staff materials included an alternative amended charter agreement and a proposed October enrollment audit that would apply if the commission were to approve changes in the future.