State Board Releases 2025 Charter School Authorizer Evaluation Outcomes

Nashville, TN – During its February 27 quarterly meeting, the State Board of Education released outcomes for the 2025 charter school authorizer evaluations. The 2025 evaluations assessed the authorizing practices of Hamilton County Schools, Knox County Schools, and Rutherford County Schools.

“Charter authorizer evaluations are designed to provide valuable feedback and hold authorizers accountable to our state’s quality authorizing standards,” said Dr. Sara Morrison, Executive Director of the State Board of Education. “Through this evaluation process, we aim to ensure strong governance practices and continuous improvement in support of high-quality public charter schools across Tennessee.”

Under state law and State Board Rule 0520-14-01-.08, which outlines the charter authorizer evaluation process, the State Board evaluates authorizers at least every other year to ensure their effective operation and assess authorizer quality in Tennessee. The charter authorizer evaluation cycle spans two years.

Each charter school authorizer evaluation begins with the formation of an evaluation team and an examination of the authorizer’s documentation to determine performance based on the State Board’s quality charter authorizing standards. After the evaluation, authorizers receive a final report detailing specific feedback, scores on the rubric’s standards, an overall rating, and follow-up actions. Authorizers can earn an overall rating on a scale from zero to four, with score ranges indicating unsatisfactory/incomplete, approaching satisfactory, satisfactory, commendable, and exemplary designations. 

2025 Evaluation Outcomes:

• Hamilton County Schools – “Satisfactory” with a score of 2.71 out of 4
• Knox County Schools – “Exemplary” with a score of 3.62 out of 4
• Rutherford County Schools – “Commendable” with a score of 3.16 out of 4

Additional information, including the full charter authorizer evaluation reports, can be found on the State Board of Education’s website.