The Charter School Growth Fund-Tennessee, a public-private investment partnership that funds growth of charter schools, is investing $2 million in KIPP Nashville to support expansion, the organization announced today.
KIPP Nashville, a nonprofit charter school network, will use the funds to help grow from two to five schools by 2016, according to a release. At full enrollment, the charter school network would serve more than 2,000 local students in grades K-12.
The Metro Nashville School Board already has approved two new schools, an elementary school and a high school.
“KIPP Nashville passed the Charter School Growth Fund-Tennessee’s rigorous selection process because of its academic results and thoughtful expansion plan,” Darryl Cobb, a partner and vice president at the Charter School Growth Fund, said in a news release. “KIPP Nashville has done an exceptional job serving high-need students, and we are pleased to support its expansion to provide more students in Tennessee with high-quality educational options.”
KIPP Nashville currently has more than 440 students at two public charter schools in Nashville, serving students in grades 5-8. Ninety-five percent of KIPP Nashville students are black or Latino, and 90 percent come from low-income households.
“We are excited and grateful for the Charter School Growth Fund’s investment in our schools,” Randy Dowell, executive director of KIPP Nashville, said in the release. “This investment will help us expand our reach in Nashville so we can help more students climb the mountain to and through college.”
Source: Nashville Biz Blog – by E. J. Boyer
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