Memphis Business Academy scores first

Memphis Business Academy will be the first charter school in the state to offer full K-through-12 education. The Commercial Appeal tells about it and other charters faring well, or not so well.

Mayor Dean - How 'bout a Science charter school?

Charter Schools have attracted business elite and frustrated parents, alike, and with this week's expansion of state law to allow up to 20 charters in Nashville, things could get interesting. Note: An admittedly ramshackle proposal from a local professor to create a Metro science academy charter has failed three years in a row. Maybe Metro Nashville Mayor Karl Dean (left), whom the City Paper says wants to be involved in expanding charters here, will consider recruiting someone to help create a charter to rival schools in Oak Ridge, Memphis and elsewhere. [Speaking of the Mayor...the 'Nashville: Where Innovation Sings' marketing campaign proposed for the city by those Owen GSM Accelerator Business Institute students will be presented to Hizzoner at 3 p.m. today.]

Memphis science academy gets new leader

Updated May 30: The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, which is sponsored by the Memphis BioWorks Foundation, has selected its new leader, after a national search: Harold Wingood (at left) was previously associate provost at Clark University, Worcester, Mass. Memphis Daily News reports. Here in Nashville, a proposal to create a charter school focused on science and technology failed three consecutive years. A Metro Nashville Public Schools committee ruled the proposal subpar, each year. Update: The CA reports that the success of MASE is helping spur charter-school reform legislation in the General Assembly.