Charter School

New Start Amended

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Applications

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RA
Office of Charter Schools

D July 25, 2023

 State Law

FT
T.C.A. 49-13-108 - The grounds upon which the local board of
education based a decision to deny a public charter school

A
application must be stated in writing and must specify objective
reasons for the denial. Upon receipt of the ground for denial,
the sponsor has thirty (30) days from receipt to submit an

R
amended application to correct the deficiencies.

D
The local board of education has sixty (60) days from receipt of
an amended application to deny or to approve the amended
application. If the local board of education fails to approve or
deny the amened application within sixty (60) days, the
amended application shall be deemed approved.

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 MNPS Office of Charter Schools

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Ensures the quality
Leads the authorization

F
authorizing for 27
process
existing charter schools

RA
D
Coordinates internal and
external experts to
review each application
and presents evidence
findings to the MNPS
Board of Education

3
Review Team Members

Academics

FT
Special Populations Facilities/Planning

Strategic
Investments

RA Research and
Assessment
Operations

D
Curriculum External Reviewer
Teaching and
Learning

4
Process for a New Start
Amended Application

FT
The review committee evaluates the new start amended
application utilizing the published evaluation criteria from TDOE.

A
The review team looks for responses of corrected deficiencies
outlined and identified in the original new start application.

DR
The evaluation team reaches consensus regarding each section
of the new start amended application, which comprises the final
report produced by the Office of Charter Schools. Each section
is given a rating of Meets or Exceeds Standard, Partially Meets
Standard, or Does Not Meet Standard.

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New Start Amended Application
Sections

Design andT
Academic Plan

F
Operations Plan
and Capacity

A
Capacity

DR
Financial Plan
and Capacity
Portfolio Review
Performance
Record

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Rubric Guidance New Start

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Amended Applications

A
TDOE Standard RatingsF
Meets or

D
Exceeds Standard-
R
The response reflects
a thorough understanding
of key issues. It clearly
Partially Meets Standard-
The response meets the
criteria in some respects,
aligns with the mission and but lacks sufficient detail
vision of the school. and/or requires additional
Does Not Meet Standard-
The response is
incomplete; demonstrates
lack of preparation;
does not align with the
mission and vision of the
school; or otherwise raises
The response includes information in one or
specific and accurate significant concerns about
more areas. the viability of the plan or
information that
shows thorough the applicant’s ability to
carry it out.
preparation.

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 Board Action Options

FT
Approve or deny new start amended charter

A
applications.

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State law requires each charter application be considered

D
and voted on separately.

Note: T.C.A. 49-13-108(A) A sponsor may appeal a local

board of education's decision to deny a public charter school
application to the commission no later than ten (10) days
after the date of the local board of education's decision.

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 T
Pathways in Education
F
RA
D
 Pathways in Education

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Proposed Model: Alternative High School with a flexible hybrid schedule for at risk
high school students.

A
Proposed Grades 9-12

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Proposed Enrollment Cap 350

D
Proposed Location Glencliff Cluster

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 Pathways in Education
New Start Original Application
Evidence Findings Overview

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Portfolio

F
Academic Plan and Operational Plan and Financial Plan and Review/Performance
Capacity Capacity Capacity Record

A
• The service model in the • The applicant provided • The original application N/A
original application was inadequate student lacked clarity in
not compliant. support services for calculating per pupil

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• The closure of two meals and transportation. revenue.
Pathways in Education • The waivers and hybrid • The applicant provided
schools was a concern model noted in the inadequate funds for pre-

D
for review team original application raised opening expenses and
members. concerns of allowability. tenant improvements.

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Pathways in Education
New Start Amended Application
Evidence
Academic Plan Design Operations Plan
and Capacity
• The application lacks
details around student
scheduling and how that
would impact funding and
viability to determine if the
hybrid model is allowable
under TCA 49-13-106(d).
• The application lacks
detail around student
scheduling and staffing for
English learners.
T
F
Findings
A
Portfolio
Financial Plan Review/
and Capacity and Capacity Performance
R
Record
• The application still does not • There is still a lack of
N/A
D
address the applicant having only tracking and funding per
three board members or that none student related to School
of the three members have a local Based Budgets (SBB) and
presence. Tennessee Investment in
• The application still has numerous Student Achievement
errors in the waivers submitted (TISA).
causing concerns for allowability for • The application does not
approval. reflect salaries consistent
• The startup plan does not have a with year-round school.
logical timeline, nor does it address
the realities of a Nashville real
estate market.
• The application does not address
the significant renovations required
to make a commercial space meet
educational occupancy
requirements related to the timeline
or budget.
• The application still does not
adequately explain the termination
of the Memphis contracts.
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 Pathways in Education
Fiscal Impact

T
T.C.A. 49-13-108(c) states that an LEA may deny on the basis that the
opening of the charter school will cause a substantial negative fiscal impact

F
on the district.

RA
To show the estimated fiscal impact, the district utilizes
the number of projected students and the difference between the estimated

D
charter per pupil amount and the average SBB per pupil amount.

This shows the estimated negative fiscal impact to the district assuming
these students are opting out of an MNPS school to attend the charter
school.

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 Pathways in Education
Fiscal Impact

Enrollment
Targets Each
Year 1
225

FT Year 2
250
Year 3
300
Year 4
300
Year 5
350
Capacity
350

A
Year

R
Fiscal Impact
Annual Projected BEP Allocations Based on A
($1,777,500) ($1,975,000) ($2,370,000) ($2,370,000) ($2,765,000) ($2,765,000)
to MNPS

D
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 Pathways in Education

FT
Review Team Findings
Meets or
Exceeds
Partially
Meets
Does Not
Meet
N/A

A
Academic Plan Design and
Capacity

DR
Operations Plan and Capacity

Financial Plan and Capacity

Portfolio Review/Performance
Record

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 T
Invictus Nashville
F
RA
D
 Invictus Nashville

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Proposed Model: Community co-design learning model with a Montessori
elementary and Project Based Learning Middle School.

A
Proposed Grades K-8

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Proposed Enrollment Cap 792

D
Proposed Location McGavock Cluster

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 Invictus Nashville
New Start Application Original
Evidence Findings
Portfolio Review/
Academic Plan and Operational Plan and Financial Plan
Performance
Capacity Capacity and Capacity
Record
• The original application
included multiple
• The original application
lacked
• The original application did not
have sufficient funding
N/A
responses embedding the a definitive permanent for transportation for

T
use of Common Core, school site. students with disabilities.
which violates Chapters • The applicant provided • The applicant included no
205 and 471 of the Public numerous errors in the money for facility renovations in

F
Acts of 2021 (PC 205 waivers submitted causing year one that will sustain
AND PC 471). concerns for allowability. growth year after year and
• The applicant provided a additional grade expansion.

A
school calendar that did
not meet the required 6.5
hours of daily instruction

R
outlined in TCA § 49-6-
3004.

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 T
Invictus Nashville
New Start Amended Application

Academic Plan Design and

Evidence Findings
Operations Plan and

AF Financial Plan and Capacity

Portfolio Review/
Performance

R
Capacity Capacity
Record
• The applicant still does not address • The identified facilities do not meet • There are insufficient funds for the N/A

why there is a need for a charter
school in this cluster.
• The curriculum is not
cohesively aligned to state standards.
• The school calendar presents
concerns for allowability.
• The screening and progressing
monitoring plan for students is not
streamlined and will lead to over
testing.
• The application lacks details of how
WIDA standards for English Learners
will be integrated with the curriculum.
D
building code requirements for cost for tenant improvements.
storm shelters nor provide • There are insufficient funds for
adequate space for the projected facility renovation costs.
number of students. • There are insufficient funds
• The application still has numerous for transportation costs.
errors in the waivers submitted
causing concerns for allowability
for approval.
• The application has discrepancies
between the narrative and the
budget related to transportation.

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 Invictus Nashville
Fiscal Impact

T
T.C.A. 49-13-108(c) states that an LEA may deny on the basis that the
opening of the charter school will cause a substantial negative fiscal impact

F
on the district.

RA
To show the estimated fiscal impact, the district utilizes
the number of projected students and the difference between the estimated

D
charter per pupil amount and the average SBB per pupil amount.

This shows the estimated negative fiscal impact to the district assuming
these students are opting out of an MNPS school to attend the charter
school.

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 Invictus Nashville
Fiscal Impact

Enrollment
Year 1

FT Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Capacity

A
Targets Each
144 216 288 360 432 792
Year

R
Fiscal Impact
Annual Projected BEP Allocations Based on A

D
($1,137,600) ($1,706,400) ($2,275,200) ($2,844,000) ($3,412,800) ($6,256,800)
to MNPS

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 Invictus Nashville
Meets or Partially Does Not
Review Team Findings N/A
Exceeds Meets Meet

Academic Plan Design and

Capacity

Operations Plan and Capacity

FT
A
Financial Plan and Capacity

R
Portfolio Review/Performance
Record

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 FT
Nashville Collegiate Prep

A
High School

DR
 Nashville Collegiate Prep
High School

Proposed Model: College preparatory focus for high school students.

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Proposed Grades 9-12

F
Proposed Enrollment Cap 600

A
Proposed Location Cane Ridge Cluster

DR
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 Nashville Collegiate Prep High
School New Start Original
Application Evidence Findings
FT
A
Academic Operational Plan and
Plan and Capacity Capacity
R
• The original application • The original application
included unrealistic included insufficient funding
D
enrollment goals. for transportation for
• The polices and general and students with
standards cited related disabilities
to English Learners • The review team
were not compliant and noted numerous errors in
current. the waivers submitted in the
original application.
Financial
Plan and Capacity
• The applicant did
not include
appropriate staffing for
serving English
Language Learners.
• The applicant declined to
provide a network
financial plan that outlines
the fiscal health of
other schools in its
network.
Portfolio Review/
Performance Record
• The data provided in the
original
application was either
similar
to or underperformed
that of MNPS
• The original application
lacked a reporting of data
for schools managed by
Nobel Education Initiative,
the confirmed CMO.
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 Nashville Collegiate Prep High
School New Start Amended
Application Evidence Findings
FT
Academic Plan Design
and Capacity

• The applicant •
Operations Plan and
Capacity

RA
The applicant still does not •
Financial Plan
and Capacity

The applicant •
Portfolio Review/
Performance Record

The Authorizer Annual

D
continues to reference address areas of does not include Report from the
outdated EL policies. deficiencies related an EL teacher in Tennessee Charter
• The attendance goal is to professional development, the budget. Commission for SY21-22
90%, which is below the transportation, staffing, and • The applicant indicates that the middle
district goal of 95%. facilities in the budget. still does not school Does Not Meet
• The academic plan has • The application still has provide a Standard in the category
several weaknesses numerous errors in the required network of Academic
related to Ready waivers submitted causing plan. Performance.
graduate, new computer concerns for allowability for • The level of performance
science requirements, approval. of the existing middle
GPA calculations, etc. • The applicant still does not school is either similar to
• The application still does provide a contingency plan if or underperforms that of
not provide evidence of the high school construction MNPS.
community support. is not completed on time.

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 Nashville Collegiate Prep
High School
Fiscal Impact

T
T.C.A. 49-13-108(c) states that an LEA may deny on the basis that the

F
opening of the charter school will cause a substantial negative fiscal impact
on the district.

RA
To show the estimated fiscal impact, the district utilizes

D
the number of projected students and the difference between the estimated
charter per pupil amount and the average SBB per pupil amount.

This shows the estimated negative fiscal impact to the district assuming
these students are opting out of an MNPS school to attend the charter
school.

29
 Nashville Collegiate Prep
High School
Fiscal Impact

FT
A
Enrollment
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Capacity
Targets Each
150 300 450 600 600 600
Year

Fiscal Impact
to MNPS
($1,185,000)

DR
Annual Projected BEP Allocations Based on A
($2,370,000) ($3,555,000) ($4,740,000) ($4,740,000) ($4,740,000)

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 Nashville Collegiate Prep
High School
Meets or Partially Does Not
Review Team Findings N/A
Exceeds Meets Meet

T
Academic Plan Design and
Capacity

F
Operations Plan and Capacity

A
Financial Plan and Capacity

Portfolio Review/Performance
Record

DR
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