Reporter’s Note
Does your child attend a charter school? Do you want Hamilton County to have more school options for parents and their children? I want to hear from you! Send an email to mmangrum@timesfreepress.com.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
Three new schools could open in Hamilton County in 2021.
The schools are charter schools, each extensions of already existing charter schools in the county.
But what is a charter school?
Charter schools are publicly funded schools managed by independent, private organizations separate from the local school district. Any student in Hamilton County can apply to the county’s charter schools, and if they attend one, the state-allocated funding moves with the student.
Hamilton County’s first charter school, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, is one of the schools looking to expand. Executive director Elaine Swafford and the school’s co-founder Sue Anne Wells applied for a new charter and submitted a letter of intent to apply to open a school to the Hamilton County Board of Education in November.
Last week, Swafford announced they hope to open Montessori Elementary at Highland Park in fall 2021.
Keep reading to find out which other local charter schools are hoping to expand.