learning. Recent results of iZone schools demonstrate
broader application in traditional public schools
that they show greater learning gains than other
and other schools in the state’s growing charter
district schools, particularly in mathematics.113
sector.
Charter School Growth. An expanding sector
Literacy. For students to perform at their highest
of public charter schools provides opportunities for
level, they must learn in well-supported schools
schools with enhanced flexibility to use innovative
with strong leadership. Students must experience
practices to promote student learning growth and
great teaching across all subjects and grade levels,
achievement. According to the Tennessee Charter
with foundational literacy and mathematics skills in
School Center (TCSC), 30 charter schools enrolled just
early grades providing the foundation for success in
over 6,900 students statewide in 2011. Four years
complex material through later grades.
later, 77 district-approved charter schools served
more than 21,000 students, in addition to nearly
Research indicates that gaps in language skills
8,000 students served by 21 ASD-approved charters.
emerge long before children enter kindergarten.
TCSC estimates charter schools now enroll 3 percent
A 2015 study found that significant gaps in oral
of students statewide, including 16.5 percent of
vocabulary are already present at age two. Males,
students in Memphis. Charter schools generally serve
children born with low birth weight, and children
higher proportions of students from economically
from low socioeconomic status backgrounds are
disadvantaged households and who are English
all likely to have a smaller oral vocabulary. Even
language learners. Although they receive funding
after applying numerous statistical controls, this
through the Basic Education Program (BEP) formula,
early gap in vocabulary is predictive of reading
charter schools do not receive public funding for
achievement, math achievement, and behavioral
facilities and capital expenditures.
function at kindergarten entry.114
As charter schools work to meet the needs of
These early gaps in literacy skills have long-term
their students, as well as accountability measures
consequences: Children who enter kindergarten
and financial and facility needs, high-performing
with weaker reading skills than their peers are more
charters have used innovative approaches to
likely to have weak reading skills in later grades as
promote student learning growth and achievement.
well.115 Children who can read proficiently by third
In 2015, two charter schools were named SCORE
grade are four times more likely to graduate from
Prize winners – New Vision Academy in the middle
high school on time than those who cannot.116 If
school category and The Soulsville Charter School
students in Tennessee are to graduate from high
in the high school category – and a third, KIPP
school ready for college and career, they must
Academy Nashville, was a finalist in the middle
develop strong early grades literacy skills. In this
school category. Soulsville boasts a graduation
state, however, of over 6,000 students rated below
rate of 98.5 percent. Nearly 86 percent of students
basic in third grade English language arts, less than
scored proficient or advanced in Algebra I, and 65
3 percent reach proficiency by fifth grade.117
percent of students scored proficient or advanced
37
in English II. Soulsville, KIPP Nashville, and New
Reading Achievement in Grades 3-8. As shown
Vision Academy exemplify how high-performing
in Figure 6, the percentage of Tennessee students
charter schools leverage flexibility in operations
in grades 3-8 who scored proficient or advanced
and collaborative instructional practices, along with
on the TCAP reading/language arts assessment
strong focuses on family involvement and college
has changed little over the past few years. After
preparation, to positively impact the educational
showing a modest upward trend from 2010-2013,
trajectories of their students, many of whom come
scores declined slightly in both 2014 and 2015. In
from historically underserved populations. The
contrast, scores on the math and science TCAP
performance of students in these schools may
assessments have increased each year since
provide examples of innovations in practice with
2010.118