Charters still face a tough hurdle in TN: the Memphis school board just denied all 17 charter applications:

Operators of several of the charter schools already have said they plan to appeal the board's decision.

Chris Barbic, superintendent of the Achievement School District, which is using charters to take over some low-performing schools in Memphis, said the tendency "is to get hung up on who is running the school."

"I'm agnostic. I don't care if it is a charter or not," he said. "All I care about is whether is it is a good school or not."

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Rejected Memphis-Shelby County charter schools in limbo

State may overturn unified board's ruling

• By Jane Roberts
• Posted November 23, 2011 at 11 p.m.
• http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/nov/23/rejected-charters-in-limbo/