Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

Last Update: 05/03/2013

Charter Schools Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding public charter schools in Tennessee, with links to relevant statutes, rules or other information.

Charter schools are public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies that must include parents. In Tennessee, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools. Local boards of education ensure that only those charter schools open and remain open that are meeting the needs of their students, district and community. Local boards do this through rigorous authorization processes, ongoing monitoring of the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, when necessary, through the revocation or non-renewal of charters.

The questions below are sorted by subject area. Simply click on the question and you will be directed to the answer below. The Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act is contained in Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.). Title 49, Chapter 13. cept the terms of agreement by clicking the "I Agree" button. To access, enter "49-13" in the Search Field and hit "Search".

Many of these answers are adapted from the FAQs provided by the Tennessee School Boards Association More questions, particularly those for authorizing local boards of education, are answered in TSBA’s FAQ document.

Recent Changes to Tennessee’s Charter School Law

How did the law change because of legislation passed during the 2012 session of the Tennessee General Assembly?

In 2012, the Tennessee General Assembly passed several bills affecting public charter schools.

Changes to Charter School Accountability
The accountability system changed for all public schools, including charter schools. Instead of failure to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two consecutive years, being placed on the list of priority schools (the lowest five percent in student achievement) will be the one ground for revocation of a charter school that may not be appealed to the state board of education. 2012 Public Chapter 962, Sections 3-5

Changes to the Charter School Application Process
Starting in 2013, charter school applications will have to be submitted to all LEA chartering authorities no later than April 1. Districts that currently have an October 1 deadline will still hold a competition in the fall of 2012. Chartering authorities will have an extended time to review initial and amended applications (90 and 30 days, instead of 60 and 15, respectively). Chartering authorities may now charge an application fee of up to $500. No more than five hard copies of applications may be required. 2012 Public Chapter 1097

Sponsors must now identify the proposed charter school’s “academic focus,” and an LEA chartering authority’s failure to act on an amended application within the prescribed 30 days renders a charter school application approved. 2012 Public Chapter 1021

Laws Affecting LEA-Charter School Finances
LEA chartering authorities may now require that 1% of the BEP funds flowing to a charter school be put in an escrow account for the first four years (up to a maximum of $20,000 annually), but only if the charter school is purchasing services from the LEA (not including insurance or retirement). And, the LEA chartering authority may withhold BEP funds to cover the insurance and retirement contributions for charter school employees. Public Chapter 1021 clarifies that LEAS may adjust prepaid local funding to charter schools based on actual local revenues received in October, February and June. 2012 Public Chapter 1097

Charter School Website Requirements
Charter schools' websites must align with the authorizing LEA’s website as far as listing board meetings, board member contact information, and board policies. 2012 Public Chapter 794

Charter Schools and Employment of Non-U.S. Citizens
LEAs may deny or revoke a charter if the school plans to or hires a number of non-U.S. citizens exceeding 3.5% of the staff. 2012 Public Chapter 879 does not make this mandatory, however, and it may not be the sole reason for denial of a charter school application.

General Questions

How may public charter schools be formed in TN?

A sponsor may apply directly to a local board of education to receive a charter.
A local board of education may convert an existing school to a charter school (but the local board must give control of the charter school to an independent governing body).
Parents or teachers (60%) at a particular school may petition the local board of education to convert an existing school to a charter school.
Starting in 2011, sponsors may apply to the Achievement School District (ASD) to be qualified to help turnaround one or more of the State's lowest performing schools. This may be done through conversion of a school to a charter school or by formation of a new charter school serving students zoned to attend ASD eligible schools. More details on chartering schools within the ASD are available here.

May a for-profit entity operate a public charter school in Tennessee?

Though a few states allow for-profit entities to operate public charter schools, and many states allow non-profit charter school governing bodies to contract with for-profit entities to operate or manage charter schools, Tennessee law prohibits either of those arrangements.

Tenn. Code Annotated § 49-13-104(7) defines the sponsor: as “any individual, group, or other organization filing an application in support of the establishment of a public charter school . . .” That section notes that “a sponsor cannot be a for-profit entity.”

The law requires the governing body, which operates the charter school to be “a not-for-profit organization” with 501(c)(3) exemption. The law in that same section (§ 49-13-106)(b)(1)(B)) says “no charter shall be granted to a for-profit corporation.”

Tennessee law does allow a charter school governing body to “contract for services,” but it specifically limits that authority: “except for the management or operation of the charter school by a for-profit entity.” So, a charter school could contract with a for-profit entity for limited services, but cannot give up the actual management or operation of the school to that entity.

Must charter schools follow all the same laws, rules and policies as other non-chartered public schools?

No. The governing body of the public charter school is responsible for managing and operating the public charter school. There are certain laws (or statutes) and rules that charter schools must follow, such as licensing of teachers, open meetings and public records, civil rights, health and safety standards, public records, immunizations, open meetings, etc. (see Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-13-105 and 111), the sponsor of a proposed charter school may apply either to the local board of education or the commissioner of education for a waiver of any state board rule or statute that inhibits or hinders the proposed charter school’s ability to meet its goals or comply with its mission statement. Charter schools are not required to follow local board of education policies, but the policies of the governing body of the charter school.

Who may attend charter schools?

All students residing within the jurisdiction of the authorizing LEA may attend a public charter school. Also, an LEA may authorize charters to enroll students residing outside the LEA in which the public charter school is located pursuant to the LEA out-of-district enrollment policy.

For those charters authorized by the Achievement School District, all students within the LEA who are zoned to attend or enrolled in a school that is eligible to be placed in the achievement school district.

Charter schools must enroll all students if they submit a timely application and if space permits.

What happens if the school does not have space for all the students who want to attend the charter school?

Subject to T.C.A. § 49-13-113, if the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the school, then preference must be given to students in the following order:

Pupils in attendance in the previous school year at any public school that converts to a charter school;
Pupils attending public schools within the school district in which the charter school is located, if those pupils would otherwise be included in the area in which the public charter school will focus;
Children residing within the school district but who are not enrolled in public schools;
Children residing outside the school district whose needs are included in the area in which the charter school will focus.

May charter schools deny enrollment to students based on eligibility for special education services?

No. Charter schools may not refuse to enroll students because of their eligibility for special education services. T.C.A. § 49-13-111(b). Though charter schools may not presently have the infrastructure or personnel to meet the needs of special education students identified in the students’ individualized education programs (IEPs), charter schools are responsible for ensuring their students receive those services.

Because Tennessee charter schools are considered part of the LEA (except for ASD chartered schools), the LEA must treat the chartered schools just as any other school in the district in the provision of and monitoring of special education services.

In some cases, the charter school may contract with the local board of education to provide the services through a separate fee for services contract to ensure funding is directed to the entity providing the services.

A team of LEA special education directors, State Department and Board of Education staff and national special education experts developed primers for charter school sponsors, authorizers and operators relative to the provision of special education services. These are available on the Department of Education’s website: http://www.tn.gov/education/fedprog/Charter_Sch_SpecEd.shtml.

How are charter schools different from non-chartered schools in my district?

Charter schools, by law, have a different governance structure, but their formation alone does not distinguish them. Differences and similarities vary based on the individual charter school and the public schools located within the same community. As authorizers of public charter schools, the local board of education can determine what kinds of charter schools are authorized.

The purposes of the Public Charter Schools Act, including providing “options relative to the governance and improvement of high priority schools, the delivery of instruction for those students with special needs, improv[ing] learning for all students and clos[ing] the achievement gap[s],” can be accomplished in any LEA school. T.C.A. § 49-13-102. However, chartered schools “provide [one] alternative means within the public school system for ensuring accomplishment of the necessary outcomes of education by allowing the establishment and maintenance of public charter schools that operate within a school district structure but are allowed maximum flexibility to achieve their goals.” T.C.A. § 49-13-102.

Can a religious entity sponsor or operate a charter school?

No. T.C.A. § 49-13-104(7) defines sponsors of charter schools (those who file the applications). That subsection includes this prohibition: "a sponsor cannot be . . . a religious or church school or promote the agenda of any religious denomination or religiously affiliated entity."

Federal law also prohibits a charter school from being operated by a religious organization.

ESEA Sec. 5210(1)(E) defines a charter school as "a public school that . . . is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution."

What happens if a charter school student wants to leave the charter school during the school year?

Public charter school students are students of the school district (LEA). If they want to transfer from one public school to another (whether chartered or not), they would have to comply with the LEA’s transfer policy (and they would have the same right of appeal as all students eligible to attend the public schools).

Whom do I contact with a concern about something that happened at my child’s charter school?

At any public school, including a public charter school, concerns about school operations should first be directed to the school, starting with the teacher or school administrator with oversight over the particular issue. From there, you can take concerns to the charter school’s governing body—an independent, non-profit governing body that must include a parent of a child at the school.

In Tennessee, charter schools are authorized by and considered part of the school district in which they operate. The local board of education, as the authorizer, has the ultimate authority over a charter school, because failure to comply with the law or meet the terms of the charter agreement (including meeting academic performance goals) may be grounds for the local board of education to revoke the charter and close the school.

So, if you do not feel that your concern was adequately addressed by the school leader or the governing body, you can share your concerns with the local board of education staff member with responsibility for charter school issues.

If you feel that a child is being discriminated against because of disability, national origin, sex or race, you should contact the local school district's civil rights officer and/or the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.

If you believe that child abuse has occurred, you should contact the Department of Children’s Services.

Questions About Charter School Application, Approval and Revocation

Is charter school data (e.g., academic achievement, free or reduced price lunch eligibility) included in district level data for accountability purposes?

Charter schools in Tennessee, unlike charter schools in some other states, are part of the LEA. So, data from the charter schools is included with district level data (the charter schools, of course, must provide the data to the LEA).

Can local boards of education, after voting to approve a charter school, require further negotiation over the terms of the charter agreement?

No. The law does not allow further negotiation after approval of the charter by the local board of education. Just like any other contract approved by the local board of education, the charter agreement should be ready to sign when the board votes to approve the charter. See T.C.A. § 49-13-110 and this AG opinion.

In the approval process,what is the role of the local board of education? What is the role of Tennessee Dept. of Education?

Local boards of education are the authorizers of public charter schools. They decide which charter school applications are approved or denied.

Pursuant to State Board of Education Rule 0520-14-01, the Dept. of Education provides the application charter school sponsors must use when applying to a local board of education for a charter school, and sample scoring criteria for the local board of education to use when evaluating applications.

Other than providing those materials, the Dept. of Education does not play any role in the approval process. The State Board of Education (not the Dept.) may hear appeals of denials by local boards of education. T.C.A. § 49-13-108.

Once a charter school is authorized, what oversight does the local board of education have? And what oversight role does the State Dept. of Education fill?

Charter schools are public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies that must include parents. In Tennessee, charter schools are still part of the LEA in which they operate (in some states, charter schools function as their own LEA).

As authorizers, local boards of education ensure that only those charter schools open and remain open that are meeting the needs of their students. Local boards do this through rigorous authorization processes, ongoing monitoring of the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, when necessary, through the revocation or non-renewal of charters. See, e.g., T.C.A. §§ 49-13-108, 111, 120, and 122. Charter schools must provide annual audits, performance and financial reports to the LEA (and to the Dept. of Ed.).

The Dept. of Education currently oversees a federal charter schools program grant that includes competitive sub-grants for the planning year and first two years of operation of charter schools that receive the grants ($600,000 spread over those three years). The Dept. of Education has ongoing monitoring of those schools receiving grants, including on-site visits and data collection.

The Dept. also provides regular training for local boards of education to help them increase their capacity as authorizers.

Out of the annual reports required in T.C.A. § 49-13-120, the Dept. of Education provides an annual report to the legislature on all public charter schools in TN. The Dept. also helps disseminate best practices between charter and non-charter public schools, T.C.A. § 49-13-131, and has served on legislatively appointed task forces studying charter school issues in the State.

If the operator of an existing charter school applies for a new school, may the authorizer consider the performance of the existing school in reviewing the application for the new charter school?

Yes. T.C.A. § 49-13-107 requires sponsors to include in their applications the “proposed instructional goals and methods,” the “proposed rules and policies for governance and operation of the school,” “the qualifications required of employees of the proposed public charter school,” and identification of the sponsoring individuals and proposed governing body members. If those or other elements of the application are common to an existing school, it would be reasonable for the authorizer to assess whether approving another school with similar leadership, operational plans or instructional methods would be “in the best interests of the pupils, the school district, or community.” T.C.A. § 49-13-108.

If a sponsor applies to open more than one school at the same time, could the authorizer deny one or more schools, but approve others?

Yes. Authorizers are required to review the capacity of the sponsoring organization and proposed governing body to comply with applicable laws; hire, supervise and train staff; implement an academic program; and manage millions of dollars in order to help students meet the goals established in the charter application. T.C.A. § 49-13-107. If the same organization is proposing to launch multiple schools, the authorizer may determine that the sponsor has only demonstrated the capacity to do all of those things in some, but not all of the proposed schools. The authorizer may determine that approving all of the schools at the same time would not be “in the best interests of the pupils, the school district, or community.” T.C.A. § 49-13-108. Tennessee law does not allow an authorizer to approve a single charter for multiple schools. However, a sponsor seeking to open additional schools could duplicate applicable portions of the sponsor’s earlier applications and include the performance of existing schools in applications for new schools.

Operational/Oversight Questions

How does special education money flow to charter schools?

Charter schools may receive funds to meet the needs of eligible students through the BEP, federal IDEA Part B funds and high-cost reimbursements if received by the LEA from the State. BEP funds are generated on an on-going basis, regardless of the level of need at an individual school. IDEA funds are provided on a reimbursement basis for services provided. LEAs submit high cost reimbursement from the State at the end of each year. Qualifying services provided to students at any public school in the LEA, including charter schools, should be included in that LEA request to the State.

The BEP Blue Book shows that several positions are generated specifically for special education. Those positions are generated and then funded at a certain rate. By taking those special ed. positions generated (classroom teachers, supervisors, assistants, etc.), multiplying them by the appropriate rate (includes salary & benefits), and then divide by the prior year’s total average daily membership, a charter school can determine the amount generated for special education. This funding is not additional funding, but it is generated for charter schools to help meet special education needs.

Must charter schools provide transportation? If they do, how is the amount of funding for transportation calculated?

A charter school, like an LEA, is generally not required to provide transportation to students. If the charter school decides to provide transportation and does so in compliance with Tennessee statutes on transportation (§ 49-6-2110 et. seq.), the transportation component of BEP funds would flow to the charter school. The BEP transportation component is paid for all students at the school, not just those actually using the transportation (just as the State pays LEAs transportation funds regardless of how many students use the service).

State and Federal special education and homeless education laws (e.g., IDEA or McKinney-Vento) may mandate charter schools provide transportation to certain students, even if the school is not otherwise providing transportation.

The applicable laws are found in T.C.A. § 49-6-2101 through 2118, and State Board of Education Rule 0520-01-05. These include the following provisions:

Annual inspection of buses by the Department of Safety (49-6-2109(d)), and
Limits on the age of school buses used to transport students (49-6-2109 and rule 0520-01-05-.01(6).

More information on pupil transportation can be found

On the Dept. of Education’s website. The TN Pupil Transportation Resources Directory, available there, provides an overview and links to extensive resources on pupil transportation.
By contacting Sam Cameron, who oversees transportation issues for the Dept. of Education (sam.cameron@tn.gov or 423-883-3527), or
By contacting Lt. Ray Robinson, who oversees pupil transportation and school bus inspections for the Dept. of Safety (ray.robinson@tn.gov or 615-812-8435).
By contacting your LEA’s transportation office.

How do blended learning models fit into Tennessee charter schools?

Any public school in Tennessee may use blended learning as part of its curriculum. Blended learning may be defined as mixing different learning environments. Today, “blended learning” is usually used to describe environments that use computers and online resources instead of or in addition to a reduced amount of paper-based materials like workbooks and worksheets.

The Virtual Public Schools Act regulates situations where students could participate in public education from someplace other than a public school. It does not appear to prohibit blended learning in any public school. T.C.A. § 49-16-203(2) defines a “virtual school” as “a public school in which the school uses technology in order to deliver a significant portion of instruction to its students via the Internet in a virtual or remote setting.” And, T.C.A. § 49-13-106(c)(2) states that “no cyber-based public charter school may be authorized.” In this context, “cyber-based” seems synonymous with “virtual.” Neither the Virtual Public Schools Act nor the Public Charter Schools Act seems to prohibit a charter school from incorporating computers and online resources as part of the instruction overseen by licensed teachers in the school building.

Students in any public school may use online or computer-based materials as part of the instruction overseen by licensed teachers (T.C.A. § 49-13-111(i) requires all teachers in a public charter school to be licensed.). Tennessee law allows teachers to deliver instruction in a variety of ways, including through physical textbooks and workbooks, student-led instruction, online or electronic media, and in coordination with tutors or educational assistants or specialists. In other words, Tennessee public school teachers may send students to a computer lab monitored by an educational assistant, to complete assigned online or electronic materials. This is similar to students spending time in a study hall, monitored by an educational assistant, completing material in a physical workbook for social studies or history class.

A school incorporating blended learning can meet the class size requirements set in T.C.A. § 49-1-104. The law sets specific average class sizes per grade level unit (K-3, 4-6 and 7-12) and maximum class sizes that schools must adhere to. Certain classes may exceed the limits (e.g., art or physical education), and the limits do not apply to pullout classes. Having students spend parts of their day in a learning lab (overseen by an educational assistant) would not negatively affect the class size as long as the groups of students meeting with the licensed teachers met the applicable limits. Public charter schools may apply for waivers from the class size statute, if compliance with the statute wound hinder the school’s proposed mission.

Below are examples of public schools that purposefully incorporate “blended” learning into their academic programs:

Merrol Hyde Magnet School (Hendersonville, Tennessee):

A PLATO/Learning Lab provides computer based differentiated instruction to help students who may need remediation or enrichment in various courses. The lab director coordinates assignments with individual teachers.

East End Preparatory School (Nashville, Tennessee):

Students rotate through classes with three teachers each day: language arts, math and science, and a third block of time that includes either supplemental, individualized work in the learning lab, arts or social studies.

Rocketship Education (California):

Time in class with teachers is focused on “instruction, guided practice and extending critical thinking skills.” This work in the classroom builds on online instruction in a learning lab and response to intervention (RTI) programs with tutoring and small-group work.

How may an existing public school be converted to a public charter school?

An eligible public school may convert to a public charter school in two ways. The parents of sixty percent (60%) of the children enrolled at the school or sixty percent (60%) of the teachers assigned to the school may petition the LEA. The LEA must agree for the school to be converted. Or, an LEA may convert an eligible public school on its own initiative. Decisions to convert a public school to a public charter school are not appealable to the state board of education.

What is the application process for conversion charter schools?

Tennessee law does not require that the application process and timeline for new charter schools be applied to conversion charter schools. However, the law does require that any conversion occur at the beginning of the school year, and that parents and staff be given opportunities to transfer from the converting school. Thus, an LEA is likely to require parents and charter operators applying to convert a school to follow a similar timeline and process to allow the LEA to thoroughly review a proposal and for affected students and staff to transition according to their desires

An LEA might, for example, require parent or teacher petitions to be submitted earlier than letters of intent for new charter schools (currently 60 days prior the application deadline). Doing so would allow the LEA time to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for sponsors to apply to run the converted school if it desired to do so.

If the parents or teachers initiate the conversion, the process could be as follows:

Parents or teachers gather required support and
Charter school sponsor or sponsors submit charter school application(s) to the LEA (and copy the department of education), along with evidence of support from 60 percent of the parents or teachers.
The LEA reviews the application according to its timeline and process (which may mirror its timeline and process for new charter school applications).
To approve an application, the local board votes and then signs a charter agreement that includes all components of the application and is binding on the local board (the chartering authority) and the governing body of the charter school. T.C.A. 49-13-110.
The conversion takes place at the beginning of the school year and the charter school governing body operates the school (the charter school may convert all of the grades or convert one or more each year until it operates all grades in the school).

If the LEA initiates the conversion the process would be as follows:

The LEA solicits one or more entities to submit charter school applications. The LEA may use a request for proposals (RFP) process and include specific guidelines for the sponsors to address in their applications.
Each sponsor submits a charter school application to the LEA (and copies the department of education).
The LEA reviews the applications according to its timeline and process (which may mirror its timeline and process for new charter school applications).
To approve an application, the local board votes and then signs a charter agreement that includes all components of the application and is binding on the local board (the chartering authority) and the governing body of the charter school. T.C.A. 49-13-110.
The conversion takes place at the beginning of the school year and the charter school governing body operates the school (the charter school may convert all of the grades or convert one or more each year until it operates all grades in the school).

A sample timeline is below:

Date	Action	Potential Ongoing activities
January 1, 2013	Parents or teachers submit petition to LEA	LEA verifies petition includes signatures from 60% of parents or teachers.
February 15, 2013	LEA (optional) issues RFP for charter school sponsors to apply to operate the school.	LEA and petitioners could collaborate on this RFP. LEA could also discuss other conversion options (magnet, Innovation Zone, e.g.).
April 1, 2013	Applications submitted in response to RFP received by LEA.	LEA forms and prepares review team(s). Reviewers interview applicants, and Prepare recommendation to local board. If recommending approval, charter contract prepared.
July 1, 2013	Local board votes on applications, signs charter agreement.
Fall 2013	Transition activities	LEA informs parents and teachers of conversion to occur in 2014, provides information on school and employment options. Charter school operator recruits students.
Winter 2013-14	Preparation for transition.	Parents and teachers at current school apply to transfer to other schools (if desired).
Spring 2014	Enrollment.	Charter school conducts enrollment period and lottery.
August 1, 2014	Converted school or grades open.	If converting less than the whole school, transition activities would continue until conversion complete. Depending on the LEA’s approach, the converted school may remain the school of zone, or become a choice school open to students from a larger geographic area.

What options are available to students and teachers in a school that converts to charter status?

Parents may enroll their children in another public school without penalty. If the converted school has more applicants and has to conduct a lottery for enrollment, students previously enrolled at the school receive first preference. The transfer rights of teachers, administrators and other personnel outlined in T.C.A. § 49-13-106 must be protected. Unless noted otherwise within Tennessee Code, conversion charter schools must comply with the requirements in Title 49, Chapter 13 of state law.

What happens if the LEA is agreeable to a parent or teacher petitioned conversion, issues an RFP for sponsors, but no sponsors apply to run the school?

Given this unlikely but possible scenario, it is important that parents or teachers petitioning to convert a school, and the LEA discuss alternative plans throughout the process. Instead of chartering the school, for example, the LEA might convert it to a magnet school or move the school into an Innovation Zone, allowing for more school level autonomy, regardless of the governance type of the school.

Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

Charter Schools Frequently Asked Questions

Recent Changes to Tennessee’s Charter School Law

General Questions

Questions About Charter School Application, Approval and Revocation

Operational/Oversight Questions

Recent Changes to Tennessee’s Charter School Law

General Questions

Questions About Charter School Application, Approval and Revocation

Operational/Oversight Questions

Governor Bill Haslam

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TN.gov Services

Department of Education Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

Charter Schools Frequently Asked Questions

Recent Changes to Tennessee’s Charter School Law

General Questions

Questions About Charter School Application, Approval and Revocation

Operational/Oversight Questions

Recent Changes to Tennessee’s Charter School Law

General Questions

Questions About Charter School Application, Approval and Revocation

Operational/Oversight Questions

Governor Bill Haslam

Follow Us On

Featured Sites

Agency Services

TN.gov Services

Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner