Charter commission approves five‑year renewal for Knowledge Academy at the Crossings with 700‑student cap

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission voted to renew Knowledge Academy at the Crossings’ charter for five years with a maximum enrollment of 700 students, approving the executive director’s recommendation after a lengthy appeal and public hearing.

The decision came after pleas from students, staff and legal counsel and a recommendation from Executive Director Tess Stovall that a full 10‑year renewal was not warranted now. "While a full 10 year renewal is not merited at this time, a total denial would be contrary to the best interest of the students," Stovall said, recommending a shorter term to allow the school to demonstrate sustained gains.

Why it mattered: Metro Nashville Public Schools had voted to deny a 10‑year renewal. MNPS executive director Sharika Roby Grant asked commissioners to uphold the district’s decision, saying the district’s review team found ongoing academic concerns and planning deficiencies and arguing a 5‑year remedy could create inequities across LEAs. "I respectfully urge each commissioner to cast a vote today to uphold the collective decisions … by voting no on the renewal application," Roby Grant told the commission.

Supporters of Knowledge Academy — including students, parents, school leaders and counsel — pointed to recent academic progress and improved finances. Sherry Hage, speaking for Knowledge Academy, cited the school’s upward trajectory and operational stability: "The school has demonstrated growth over time and most recently earned a TVOS level 4," she said.

Commissioners probed the record on several fronts before voting. Commissioners pressed KA leaders on persistent challenges, including chronic absenteeism (reported by staff at roughly 38 percent) and an attrition rate near 36 percent. Tess Stovall and KA leaders acknowledged those concerns but pointed to year‑over‑year gains in TVOS, growth among the lowest‑performing students and a stronger fund balance. Stovall said the commission can use the five‑year term to monitor whether recent gains are sustained.

The vote and what follows: Commissioner Lamond moved to accept the executive director’s recommendation; after discussion the commission recorded six ayes and two noes and approved a five‑year term with an enrollment cap of 700. The commission noted the term will allow the school to demonstrate whether recent improvements are durable; commissioners said they expect close monitoring and annual evidence of progress and warned that failure to meet the commission’s performance standards could trigger further intervention.

Legal and procedural context: Counsel and staff cited Tennessee Code Annotated §49‑13‑121 and Public Chapter 275 as underpinning the commission’s authority to set renewal term lengths between five and ten years on appeal.

Next steps: The commission’s decision makes the commission the authorizer for KA for the five‑year term and imposes monitoring expectations: staff and commissioners said they will track chronic absenteeism, retention and ELA proficiency closely and will report annually on progress.

Sources: Executive Director Tess Stovall; Sharika Roby Grant, Metro Nashville Public Schools executive director of charter schools; Sherry Hage, Knowledge Academy representative; public hearing testimony and capacity interview presented to the commission.