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But those who are against charter schools argue they have little oversight and pull money out of local schools, making it harder for them to improve.
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Gentry argued the board is capable of making decisions in the best interest of students, using Tuesday's votes to add fifth grade as an example, but members are charged with making decisions in the best interest of the district.Ĭharter school proponents often argue that parents choose charter schools when their zone or neighborhood school doesn't serve them well or when their only options appear to be underperforming public schools. Little said many families have children in a variety of schools, whether a charter school, a traditional zoned public school or a magnet school, and therefore parents and students should be treated equitably no matter the "brand" of their school. "They're public schools, but they're not MNPS schools," she said. Gentry also reiterated Elrod's earlier point that charter schools are not MNPS schools. I'm concerned when the tongue lashing comes." "It just concerns me that I would be chastised for serving as a school board member and making decisions that are in the best interest of MNPS. Little, I'm talking about you sir, with some of these comments you made sitting at this board," she said. "I would be remiss if I didn't say a couple things. The role of school board membersĪfter the board finished its votes - and the room nearly cleared out - Gentry questioned Little's motives I can be understanding of that," Masters said. because that is a pedagogical decision that doesn't require the addition of seats. "I had a great visit at Smithson Craighead and I was really straightforward that I'm very appreciative of everything that they're doing in that school and that I would be glad to vote for them to add fifth grade.
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Rocketship's second Nashville elementary school, United Academy, did not seek to add fifth grade because the school does not have the space, said James Robinson, executive director for the Rocketship charter school network in Tennessee.īoard member Emily Masters, who typically sides with the anti-charter school board members, voted in favor of adding fifth grade at all three schools and even spoke in favor of Smithson Craighead, which is located in her district. But Rocketship Nashville Northeast is only requested to add two fifth grade classes, which the board granted. Both Purpose Prep and Smithson Craighead asked to increase enrollment in addition to adding fifth grade. Amending charter school agreementsĬharter schools have to propose amendments to change the grade levels along with the number of students they serve. This school year, elementary schools in the Pearl-Cohn, Maplewood and Whites Creek clusters, have transitioned fifth grade back into their buildingsīobby Miles, principal of Rocketship Nashville Northeast, told The Tennessean Tuesday morning that his school hoped to add two fifth grade classes for the 2022-23 school year because many current parents have been hopeful the school board will approve the effort. State standards and most curriculums also group grades together, typically as K-3 or K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, making it easier for fifth-grade teachers to plan and collaborate with other elementary school teachers, said David Williams, the district's executive director of curriculum and instruction. Starting in 2018, three elementary schools that feed into Antioch Middle School began adding fifth grade and now as part of the district's multi-year Metro Schools ReimaginEd initiative, schools in specific clusters are making the change.Īnd district leaders acknowledge that most parents prefer their fifth-grade children stay in elementary school.Īcademically, fifth-graders learning in an elementary school environment outperform their peers attending fifth grade in middle schools, said Elisa Norris, executive officer of strategy and performance management and leader of Metro Schools' ReimaginED initiative. An earlier effort to move fifth grade back to elementary school - the most common practice for school districts - in 2017, under then-superintendent Shawn Joseph, failed after district officials determined the $300 million price tag was too high. Should fifth graders stay in elementary schools?įor years, most elementary school students have transitioned to middle schools for fifth grade in Nashville. The board then approved Purpose Prep and Smithson Craighead's request to add fifth grade but did not approve enrollment increases for the two schools Tuesday night. When it was made clear that Rocketship was not requesting an enrollment increase to add two fifth grade classes, board members eventually approved the matter with a 6-2 vote.