Updated April 22, 2019

State Representative Scott Cepicky, Republican from Culleoka, supported legislation last week that ensures  local education agencies remain part of the process in approving charter schools.

House Bill 940 – which is part of the governor’s legislative agenda this year  establishes a nine-member independent charter commission designed to ensure that all Tennessee charter schools can best serve the state’s student population that relies on these institutions. The measure clarifies that a majority of commission members must reside in the counties where at least one public charter school is operating.

Cepicky  said  that local hearings must be held before a charter institution can be opened in a district.

A group of state Democrats call the legislation a ploy to speed up the development of new charter schools across the state.

Cepicky represents House District 64.  He is a member of the House Education Committee, the Insurance Committee, the House Education Administration Subcommittee and the Property and Casualty Subcommittee.