Charter Schools

Contact: Charter.Schools@tn.gov

Charter schools are public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies. In Tennessee, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools.

The Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act of 2022 established the purposes for charter schools in Tennessee, which are to:

  1. Improve the learning for all students and close the achievement gap between high and low students;
  2. Provide options for parents to meet educational needs of students;
  3. Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods, and provide greater decision-making authority to schools and teachers in exchange for greater responsibility for student performance;
  4. Measure performance of pupils and faculty, and ensure that children have the opportunity to reach proficiency on state academic assessments;
  5. Create new professional opportunities for teachers; and
  6. Afford parents substantial meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.

Resources

Tennessee Code Annotated

State Board Rules on Charter Schools

Timelines for Charter Sponsors, Operators, and Authorizers – Coming Soon

The intent of the law was to provide options relative to the governance and improvement of high priority schools failing to meet adequate yearly progress, the delivery of instruction for those students with special needs, and the development of “laboratories of teaching and learning” to foster educational innovations for statewide implementation.

Charter School Directory

To find charter schools in Tennessee, or in a particular school district, please visit the TDOE School Directory. The search can be narrowed by selecting “Public Charter” in the School Type field. A current list of charter schools can be found below.

Charter State Agencies In Tennessee there are three state agencies that work with charter sponsors, operators, and authorizers. Each agency serves a different function but work together collaboratively to provide support and oversight.  
State agency that provides support to districts and public charters schools in the implementation of state law, rules and policies and monitors compliance.  
State agency that sets the rules and policies for Pre-K through 12th grade public education and conducts charter authorizer evaluations.  
State agency responsible for hearing new creation, revocation, renewal and amendment charter school appeals, and serves as the authorizer of charter schools upon appeal.