NASHVILLE – Proposed changes to Tennessee charter school approvals narrowly cleared a major House hurdle Wednesday after Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s administration abandoned its provision allowing charter operators to bypass local school boards completely and go straight to a new state commission for permission to open.
Senate Education Committee members, however, unanimously approved the controversial bill later in the day with a minimum of debate in the Republican-dominated panel. Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, was among senators voting yes.
That outcome was a far cry from the GOP-led House Education Committee, where after lengthy debate members advanced the measure on a 13-9 vote.
But in order to win the House votes needed, the administration agreed to narrow the original bill’s scope. It originally would have allowed charter school operators to apply to either local boards of education or the nine-member commission. Critics charged that would let the charter operators bypass local districts entirely.
Under current law, the Tennessee Board of Education hears appeals of local decisions and can overrule districts when they reject applicants.