Application to Start a New Charter School

On or before 11:59 p.m. CT on February 1 of the year preceding the year in which the proposed public charter school plans to begin operation, the charter school sponsor seeking to establish a public charter school shall prepare and file an electronic copy of the state charter school application with the authorizer and the department.

An application will be considered complete if it includes all the contents outlined in the “Application to Create a Charter School” updated annually and available on this page.
Applicants may be required to submit up to five hard copies, and one electronic copy of the application materials to the authorizer; AND one electronic copy of the complete application to the Tennessee Department of Education, Office of Charter Schools.
Charter authorizers may charge a charter school application fee of up to $2,500 for each charter school application.
In addition to the state charter application, each local board of education may ask charter school sponsors toaddress additional priorities. If provided, this supplementary guidance has been linked below.

Required Documents

New Charter Schools

New Charter School Creation Application *Note: Prospective sponsors should review the application guidance document first for information regarding the application process. This document also provides guidance on the submission of your materials.
- Application Guidance for 2025-26 Opening*
- Letter of Intent (Deadline: December 4, 2023) – submission information provided in Application Guidance document
- Application to Create a Charter School Opening in 2025-26 (Deadline: February 1, 2024)
  - Charter School Application Budget Template
  - Portfolio Review Template
  - Supplemental Materials:
    - Knox County Schools
    - Rutherford County Schools
Application Scoring Guide
ASD School Transition to Home LEA Application
- Letter of Intent – ASD School Transition (Deadline: December 4, 2023)
- Application to Transition an ASD School

Planning Resources

Tennessee Charter School Program
- Review the Grants page as we post additional information about funding for available for newly authorized Tennessee charter school operators planning and implementation of a new charter school
Vacant and Underutilized Facilities Reports
- Per Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-13-136, an LEA having underutilized or vacant properties shall make the underutilized or vacant properties available for use by charter schools operating in the LEA.
- FY2024 Reports:
  - Achievement School District
  - Hamilton County - No Current Vacancies Reported
  - Knox County Schools – No Current Vacancies Reported
  - Memphis Shelby County Schools
  - Metro Nashville Public Schools
  - Rutherford County Schools– No Current Vacancies Reported