American Classical Education Officially Appeals Charter Denials In Maury, Madison Counties

Image Credit: americanclassicalschools.com

By Adam Friedman [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –

American Classical Education continued its blistering critique of Madison and Maury counties’ school systems in its appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, filed last week.

In letters attached to the appeal applications, American Classical board member Dolores Gresham — a former state senator — called the Maury charter approval process “illegitimate” and criticized the Madison board for a “lack of integrity in the review process.”

Following denials in July, American Classical’s public relations firm Rotunda Public Affairs and Gresham sent press releases criticizing each school system’s academic testing numbers.

The nine-member charter commission appointed by Gov. Bill Lee will have to hold at least one public hearing on each school before deciding whether to overturn the local school boards. The charter commission often, but does not always, overturn local denials.

Based on past precedent, the charter commission will hold those hearings in September or October and decide later in the year.

Last year, Madison, Montgomery and Rutherford counties school boards denied American Classical’s charter applications.

American Classical applied for charters in Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson and Rutherford counties this year. The Rutherford school board was the only county to approve the school at the local level.

American Classical decided not to appeal the denials in Montgomery and Robertson.

*Note: This article was edited for length and style by The Tennessee Conservative per The Tennessee Lookout’s republishing guidelines.