COLUMBIA, Tennessee – The Maury County Board of Education narrowly rejected the application by American Classical Education to operate a charter school in the county by a vote of 6-5.
An application review committee made a presentation about the different strengths and deficiencies of the school’s application in three different areas of qualification. The committee found that the school’s academic, operational, and financial plans only partially met the criteria of the rubric and thus recommended that the board deny the American Classical Academy Maury’s initial application.
Board Member Jackson Carter contended that while he thinks the vote tonight was a “step back in the fight for school choice,” he does not think that it’s the end of the road. Carter is a recent graduate of Maury County Schools and voted in favor of ACE’s application.
Board Chairman Michael Fulbright said that he looks forward to ACE bringing back another set of ideas and that “[t]here were just people who voted against it because there were some incomplete areas.” Fulbright hopes that the more complete application will be approved at its next presentation. As a result of its application’s denial, ACE may bring back a revised application in 30 days to once again seek the Board’s approval.
State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) was in attendance for the meeting and noted that while the applicant “has some things that they need to fix…if the applicant fixes those things and brings it back to the board in 30 days, it will probably be approved.” He touted ACE’s track record in saying that its educational model should be available in Tennessee.
American Classical Education as an organization is devoted to providing a classical education for “all students that desire it.” It touts a curriculum that not only results in academic achievement, but also the “sound moral formation required for responsible citizenship.” In addition to the Maury County school, ACE plans on implementing Hillsdale College’s K-12 curriculum in four new schools in Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, and Rutherford counties beginning in Fall 2024. The school boards of all of those counties except Rutherford have voted to deny ACE’s initial applications.
ACE has experienced pushback from teachers in public school systems. Opposed teachers in Rutherford County say that the school would espouse an “extreme viewpoint which should not be considered truth for all.” Much of this criticism springs from fervent disapproval of Governor Lee’s plan to fund more charter schools in partnership with Hillsdale College.
Twelve citizens, six in favor and six opposed, were given the opportunity to advocate for their positions at the meeting. Those in favor of the application argued that parental choice was a virtue, and that charter schools could improve the academic performance of students. One speaker shared a letter from Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt that advocated for the application’s passing.
Opponents of the application were concerned that the charter school would syphon funding from existing public schools, and that the American Classical Academy in particular was not the right choice due to its affiliation with controversial Hillsdale College. Others were concerned that the school would not properly represent the demographic makeup of the community.
Several board members noted that the gaps in the application gave them pause about approving it today, but through further conversation and revision they would be in favor of the proposal.
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Mac Roberts is a reporter at The Tennessee Star. Email tips to [email protected].
A classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse. When is this going to change for the good of schools and students? Surely will not happen during Lee’s and Schwinn’s watch.
Give the authority to eliminate a good education to the folks providing a a bad education. What a great idea.