Sports co-op severed in latest MNPS/charter school tension
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Sports are the latest tension point between charter schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools.
The latest: Overton High recently ended an arrangement allowing students from the popular Valor Collegiate charter school to compete on its sports teams.
Why it matters: The move left some Valor students in limbo with a new school year around the corner, though the school says it is close to a solution.
- Many student-athletes see athletics as a path to college.
The big picture: The unraveling sports deal is one example of the complicated terrain MNPS leaders navigate as charter schools continue to grow with support from the state government.
- Critics say the growth of charter schools, which are government-funded but independently operated, is sapping money and resources from district schools.
- But proponents say charters like Valor are giving families needed options for middle school and high school. They say the Overton switch was abrupt.
State of play: Valor entered into a partnership with Overton about five years ago. At the time, the charter school didn't have enough spots to field an entire roster for some sports, namely football and baseball.
- On May 6, the district informed Valor of Overton's decision to sever the cooperative agreement. The move immediately took effect for all but one sport — football will continue for one more season.
- A charter school advocacy group says the decision to sever the relationship was poorly communicated.
What they're saying: "It is unfortunate that the district removed athletic opportunities for public school students at Valor, without doing their due diligence to get feedback from parents and stakeholders who would be affected by this decision," Subira Gordon, CEO of the Nashville Charter Collaborative tells Axios.
Friction point: MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted tells Axios that Overton (1,900 students) and Valor (900 students) are so large that there weren't enough spots on some teams to accommodate students who wanted to compete.
- The decision to end the agreement creates "more opportunities for Overton students to participate in school-based athletics," Braisted says.
The other side: Valor's leaders were caught by surprise when MNPS official Mark North alerted them.
- "We've had a very good relationship with MNPS for many years and we're disappointed the coop was abruptly dissolved," Valor CEO Todd Dickson tells Axios.
- He says the school is working on a new sports partnership. "We feel confident we will have as good or better sports program in the future."
Between the lines: Although the Overton-Valor partnership is coming to an end, there are a few remaining cooperative agreements between charter schools and MNPS schools for sports.
Flashback: In 2022, MNPS asked charter schools to form their own middle school sports league instead of participating in a combined conference with public schools.
- Charter schools are mostly funded with tax dollars based on their student enrollment. "With that funding comes the autonomy to design and manage their own academic and extracurricular programs, including athletics," Braisted says.
- "This shift allows Metro Nashville Public Schools to focus on strengthening and expanding athletic opportunities for students enrolled in our district-run schools," he says.
- Charter schools were forced to scramble and in response the nonprofit Nashville Charter Collaborative took over administrative functions for the new sports league.