Have you heard of Ray Budde? Probably not, but you are probably now familiar with his concept for charter schools. Currently, you can find strong opinions for and against charter schools, but what exactly are charter schools?

Tennessee’s Department of Education defines charter schools as public schools operated by independent, nonprofit governing bodies that must include parents. Supporters and adversaries of these often need clarification about the funding for charter schools.

The Public Charter Schools Insider explains the vision of charter schools.

“The original concept of the ‘charter school’ concept originated in the 1970s with an educator named Ray Budde. His idea was for groups of teachers to set up contracts or ‘charters’ with their local school board to discover new approaches and ideas in education. The concept’s roots lie in the progressive idea that empowering educators with additional freedoms can achieve a much higher student success rate.”

Following that original concept, Dr. Jeremy Sager, lead founder of Novus SMART Academy, wants to do the same in Rutherford County with his school to “help level the playing field,” he says. Dr. Sager started as a high school English teacher in the public school system and eventually transitioned to charter schools, where he became a principal and led the school to reward school status.

“Novus SMART Academy will provide all scholars access to rigorous curricula and high-quality academic instruction that fosters a love for learning, embraces innovation and creativity, and encourages personal growth to thrive in their chosen college career paths, positively impacting society,” said Dr. Sager.

“Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools have some of the best high-performance schools in Middle Tennessee and across Tennessee. However, some of the community and families need additional options, and Novus SMART Academy is not a better option. We are coming in as an additional option, offering parents something that will cater to their needs,” he continues.

Novus SMART Academy will be Rutherford County’s first independent charter school, unaffiliated with a charter management organization.

Curious about the meaning of the name? Novus is the Latin word for innovation. SMART is an acronym for science, math, arts, research and technology.

Technology resources can be scarce in some schools, but technology is a significant component of the Novus school model and design.

“Every scholar will have one-to-one access to technology daily in the classroom,” Sager said. “Scholars at Novus will learn what it means to be a digital citizen beginning in kindergarten so that scholars can master the ability to use technology at school and home responsibly, safely and respectfully.”

Metro Nashville Public Schools defines “digital citizenship” as teaching students how to stay safe online and express their opinions, communicate with others, recognize the truth versus what is fake news or clickbait, and maintain a healthy media balance.

A common question about charter schools and their use of technology is, “What data is collected from the students?”

Dr. Sager stated, “We will collect and analyze various forms of data, including academic and qualitative data, to guide our practices in serving our students and their families. We understand that individual data points alone cannot fully capture a student’s success.”

Sager indicates that the data will be accessible at multiple levels to the school’s scholars and families, teachers and school leaders, staff members, the board of directors and community members.

Depending on your school district and its resources, the students may be allowed to take their computers home, but this is not feasible with limited resources. Novus is currently focused on providing all its students with tech devices during school hours; however, on an as-needed basis, it will partner with students and families most economically and practically to provide additional resources they need to be successful at home.

The rise in AI and other technologies has shifted how schools operate, and teachers teach, and Novus plans to take advantage of the new technology.

“AI in the classroom is a valuable tool that can assist teachers by facilitating personalized learning and small group instruction. However, it is essential to recognize that AI cannot replicate the human touch, which is crucial for providing social-emotional support to scholars,” said Dr. Sager.

“Tech in education and the increasing use of AI will never replace or reduce the need for teachers in the classroom. However, it’s likely to increase the demand for more high-quality teachers with tech skills who can responsibly, safely and respectfully support AI in the classroom.”

Tennessee’s public charter school law was passed and signed into law in 2002, and the state’s first charter schools opened in 2003. Rutherford County’s first-ever charter school, Rutherford Collegiate Prep, will open in August 2024. Novus SMART Academy plans to open in August 2025.

For more information on Novus SMART Academy, contact Dr. Jeremy Sager at jsager@novussmartacademy.org or 615-663-9680 or visit novussmartacademy.org.