Committee forwards Empower Memphis charter amendment to full commission amid enrollment and fiscal concerns

Chair Terrence Patterson opened the May 26 meeting of the School Performance and Accountability Committee of the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission and said, "Today, we'll be considering an amendment petition for Empower Memphis Career and College Prep." The committee voted 3'0'00 to forward the petition to the full commission for deliberation and a final vote on June 2, 2026.

Staff told the committee the petition would change Empower Memphis's approved grade span so the school could serve kindergarten through fifth grade beginning in the 2026'27 school year while keeping the same total enrollment target of 150 students. Executive Director Tess Stoval and Beth Figureroa, director of authorizing, said their recommendation to advance the petition reflects the record submitted by the operator but includes significant caveats grounded in enrollment, fiscal and facility uncertainty.

"The 120 student figure does represent the true threshold required to maintain a sustainable operational model without adjusting the personnel structures or making cuts to programming," Figureroa said, summarizing staff financial modeling that contrasted a "bare minimum" 65'student scenario and a more sustainable 120'student model. Staff told commissioners the school served roughly 30 students this year, and that the limited size of the current cohort makes percentage increases in internal assessment data difficult to interpret.

Commissioners pressed the operator and staff on teacher licensure, special-education compliance, transportation costs and conversion rates from applications to actual enrollment. Empower's school leader (referred to in the meeting transcript as Miss Alani/Muna) said the school closed the year "with fully licensed teachers for kindergarten and our first and second grade split as well as a special education teacher that is fully endorsed," and described ongoing recruitment and plans to add transportation if enough students require it.

Staff and the operator described preliminary interest and application upticks—one staff remark cited about 216 applications in the pre-opening record—but repeatedly cautioned that application-to-enrollment conversion rates are uncertain. Staff also said the operator presented several long-term facility options, but those options would materially increase costs; staff modeled a much larger facility scenario at roughly 350 students on TISA funding alone and concluded the operator could not reasonably afford such a move today.

Commissioners said they were sympathetic to the operator's recruitment efforts and the local context of school closures in Memphis that could create enrollment opportunities, but several members urged the operator to demonstrate stability at the K'3 configuration before pursuing accelerated grade expansion. Commissioner Chris Richards voiced particular concern about IEP and operational compliance, saying staff had documented compliance issues that are improving but still warrant caution.

Commissioner Tom Griskum moved to forward the amendment petition to the full commission for deliberation and vote, with language highlighting the committee's concerns; Commissioner Chris Richards seconded. The roll-call motion carried with Commissioners Griskum, Richards and Chair Patterson voting yes.

The full Tennessee Public Charter School Commission will consider the petition at a special called meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. Central time; meeting details are available on the commission's website. The committee record and staff memo will be provided to commissioners in advance of that meeting.