Charter School Applications
New Start Application
The charter school application process is governed by T.C.A. §§ 49-13-107 and 49-13-108, State Board Rule 0520-01-14-.01, and State Board Policy 6.111. Applicants and authorizers should be familiar with the requirements and deadlines provided in these laws, rules, and policy.
The application materials below are for those seeking to apply by February 1, 2026. State Board staff will host an application training on Friday, October 24, 2025. Interested attendees may register for the training here.
Letter of Intent
The first step in creating a new public charter school is to submit a letter of intent to the proposed authorizer and the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC). The letter of intent must be submitted at least 60 calendar days prior to the application, in accordance with T.C.A. § 49-13-107. Please note there are two versions of the form. Applicants must carefully review and select the appropriate form to complete.
Application
The next step is the submission of a complete application to the proposed authorizer. T.C.A. § 49-13-107 establishes the deadline for the application as being “on or before February 1 of the year preceding the year in which the proposed public charter school plans to begin operation.” Please note there are two versions of the documents. Applicants must carefully review and select the appropriate documents to complete.
- Charter School Application – DOC | PDF
- Charter School Application Scoring Rubric – DOC | PDF
- Charter School Application Budget Template – EXCEL
- Charter School Replication Application – DOC | PDF
- Charter School Replication Application Scoring Rubric – DOC | PDF
- Charter School Replication Application Budget Template – EXCEL
Submission Requirements
Applicants are required to submit an electronic copy of the complete application to the proposed authorizer. Authorizers may also require submission of up to five paper copies of the application and may charge an application fee of up to $2,500 for each charter school application. Charter school sponsors should consult with the proposed authorizer to determine if paper copies and/or application fees are required.
Charter Agreement Amendment Petitions
Once the written charter agreement is established, charter school operators may petition the authorizer to amend the material terms of the charter agreement. The process for petitioning to amend the charter agreement, including the minimum types of material changes that require an amendment petiton, is outlined in Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (Charter Commission) Rule 1185-01-01-.04.
Letter of Intent
The first step in filing an petition to amend the charter agreement is to submit a letter of intent to the authorizer and the Charter Commission. The letter of intent can be submitted twice per year:
Fall Deadline: September 1
Spring Deadline: January 15
Amendment Petition
The next step is the completion and submission of an amendment petition to the authorizer. Authorizers must review a completed petition submitted on or before the due date within sixty calendar days after the due date. Amendment petitions are accepted twice per year:
Fall Deadline: October 1 of the year preceding the school year in which the proposed amendment will take effect
Spring Deadline: February 14 of the year preceding the school year in which the proposed amendment will take effect
Emergency Petitions
Charter school operators may submit an emergency amendment petition at any time if good cause exists due to unanticipated extraordinary circumstances. Emergency amendment petitions shall be indicated by checking “Emergency Petition” at the bottom of the first page of the petition. Charter school operators must also briefly describe the circumstances constituting the emergency.
Charter School Renewal
Pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-13-121, the governing body of a public charter school seeking renewal shall submit a renewal application to the authorizer on the standardized application form developed by the State Board. The authorizer shall, at a minimum, consider the renewal application, annual authorizing reports, and the cumulative performance report when making renewal decisions.
Interim Review
An authorizer shall conduct an interim review of its charter school in the fifth year of the charter school’s term under guidelines developed by the State Board. As part of the interim review, charter schools are required to submit a report to the authorizer on the progress of the charter school in achieving its goals and objectives, including student performance and other terms of the approved charter agreement. Interim reviews provide the authorizer with an opportunity to review overall renewal status with the charter school and should be considered as part of the record during renewal.
Cumulative Report
The authorizer must provide a cumulative performance report to the charter school three months prior to the date the charter school is required to submit a renewal application. Included in the report should be a summary of the charter school's academic, organizational and financial performance, including standardized test scores, financial statements, and eight (8) years of audits.
Renewal Application
Charter agreements expire 10 academic years after the first day of instruction (with the exception of some renewed charter agreements authorized by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commision). Charter schools seeking renewal must submit a renewal application to the authorizer no later than April 1 of the year prior to the year in which the charter agreement expires to be considered for renewal (T.C.A. § 49-13-121).
Submission Requirements
Charter schools shall submit a complete renewal application directly to its authorizer. Authorizers must decide whether to renew the charter on or before February 1 of the year in which the charter agreement expires.
With questions about any of the charter school application processes, please email State Board staff at charter.applications@tn.gov.