Empowerment Academy Faces Final Decision | Chattanooga News

A new charter school in Hamilton County, Empowerment Academy, is poised to serve 50 young male students from kindergarten through fifth grade—targeting Black and economically disadvantaged boys struggling with literacy. Located at Warren Chapel AME Church, the school boasts secured funding, staff, and a focused curriculum blending literacy and agriculture. But Hamilton County Schools rejected their application in April, citing shaky finances reliant on unsecured grants and an unclear academic rationale for gender- and size-specific enrollment. The team fiercely defended their model, arguing small classes are essential to address systemic gaps in education for this underserved group. Now, Tennessee’s Public Charter Schools Commission will decide the school’s fate at their October meeting—with public comments due by September 10th. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ae7e90b54841494e