Charter school commission defends appeals record and facilities oversight at sunset review

The committee took up HB 1615 to extend the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Tess Stovall, executive director, led commission testimony along with Hayden Pendergrass (director of external affairs), Ashley Thomas (general counsel) and Lawrence Walker (director of finance and operations).

Stovall told the committee the commission has received 40 new-start appeals since 2021: 16 were approved, 18 of the local education agency decisions were upheld, and six were withdrawn before a vote. She said appeals that resulted in commission approval included several in Metro Nashville, Rutherford County, Shelby County and Jackson/Madison.

Members asked how the commission assesses applications, including facilities and financial readiness. The commission staff described a rubric that evaluates academic, operational and financial readiness, and said facilities planning is an important part of an application. "A huge part of their application is facilities," Stovall said; staff said the commission also holds public meetings in the jurisdiction and accepts public and written comment as part of its process.

Lawmakers raised concerns about the cost of facilities, the charter school facility fund proposal, and whether the commission evaluates applicants' prior operational performance; commission staff said past performance and state scoring rubric results are considered in approvals and renewals. Committee members requested follow-up on the dollar amounts associated with the 18 appeals that were upheld and on monitoring closures and fiscal impacts.

The committee moved HB 1615 out to calendar and rules (recorded vote: 7 ayes, 4 nays).