Statement from the Tennessee State Board of Education, Sept. 18, 2012:
Nashville, September 18, 2012: The State Board of Education is a non-partisan board that represents each of the Congressional districts of the state. On July 27, 2012, pursuant to state law, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to remand a charter school appeal application to the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) board with instructions for approval. On two separate occasions the MNPS board voted to defy the State Board of Education’s directive to approve the application. The State Board of Education believes that it is important for all elected bodies to comply with the requirements of Tennessee law. To that end, the State Board of Education supports the Tennessee Department of Education’s decision to withhold a portion of funding and believes it is a necessary and appropriate measure given the magnitude of the MNPS board’s refusal to follow state law.
