The legislature, with the support of the governor, has done three things this year with regard to charter schools:

1) Lifted the cap on the number of charter schools, even though Tennessee hadn't yet met 50% of the previous quota.
2) Made it possible for charter schools to be operated by for-profit organizations, which was not the case before this session.
3) Made it possible for charter schools, once approved, to take any students out of the public school system that they want, regardless of whether the student is in a failing school. All the charter school applicant has to have is a "plan" to serve students from struggling schools. They don't actually have to serve those students, which was the case under the previous charter school guidelines.

In other words, an organization could apply for a charter school, and, once approved, could take a few students from a failing school to comply with its "plan" and then fill the remainder of the charter school roll with the best students from the public school system. Or, a private religious school could apply for and get a charter, have its current students re-enroll in the public schools, and then cherry-pick all of its former students for the charter school. Tax dollars would then be used to directly subsidize religious instruction.

I attended the House Education Committee meeting where this was discussed, and Rep. Fitzhugh tried to get the State DOE to comment on the latter scenario, but he couldn't get a straight answer. Make no mistake...turning the charter school bill into an opportunity for business to profit from Tennessee's schoolchildren is the Republican plan, and Rich Haglund is a firm believer in it.

It comes under the Virtual Public Schools Act, SB 0874/HB 1030, Tamara. The Act would permit the creation of a cyber-based public charter school and the management of those virtual charter schools by a for-profit entity. The bill is supposed to be on the calendar for the House and Senate today. I haven't heard anything about the outcome of the votes yet.

From within the bill(s) Min references, SB0874/HB1030 known as "The Virtual Public Schools Act," the section referencing "for-profit" entities is as follows:

SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-13-124, is amended by deleting
subdivision (a)(1) in its entirety and substituting instead the following:
(1) Contract for services; except for the management or operation of a nonvirtual charter school by a for-profit entity;
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring
it.

Next, here is the existing text of TCA 49-13-124(a)(1), which this pending "Virtual Public Schools Act" would revise:

49-13-124. Charter school powers.

(a) The governing body of a public charter school may sue and be sued. The governing body may not levy taxes or issue bonds except in accordance with state law. A public charter school may conduct activities necessary and appropriate to carry out its responsibilities such as:
(1) Contract for services, except for the management or operation of the charter school by a for-profit entity;
(2) Buy, sell or lease property;
(3) Borrow funds as needed; and
(4) Pledge its assets as security; provided, however, that those assets are not leased or loaned by the state or local government.

So yes, it appears that the bill would allow virtual charter schools only to be operated by for-profit entities.

Which answers this question I posed here at KV about a month back (although link to Edison site now gives me a "page not found" message):

The Edison Project in Knoxville?
Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sun, 2011/03/27 - 1:54pm.
Stick said (Fri., 3/18 at 4:43 pm):

Stick: KIPP is a non-profit organization. Right now, the big game in charter school land is real estate. The next one will be virtual learning and software...

Me: I notice the for-profit Edison Learning (formerly The Edison Project charter schools) is recruiting for a Software Support Specialist to work in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Any idea what that's about?

And which also answers why Knox County's own Harry Brooks is the House sponsor for this bill.

Edison Learning is clearly coming to Knoxville, or else is already here.

Here is a working link to that Edison Learning job opening in Knoxville.

However, Edison is already listed (in my new AT&T phone book expiring February 2012) at 800 Gay Street.

How long have they been located here? Anybody?

As BG posted over on Blountviews the plan now is to forget about starting a charter school in Aloca and focusing on a charter school in Blount County.

So, would a seated County Commissioner who also sits on the proposed Charter's board have a conflict of interest when it comes to voting on the county school board budget?