Memphis, Tennessee NAACP Chapters Back Charter Schools, Distance Themselves From Call for Moratorium
After the NAACP released a report and proposed legislation calling for a halt on new charter schools, the organization is facing divisions within its grassroots community. The leaders of the NAACP’s Memphis chapter, which is one of the largest chapters in the country and has been active for 100 years, have expressed a more nuanced position on the issue.
The NAACP of Tennessee has also expressed reservations, stating that the state already has measures in place to address the concerns raised at the national conference that took place in Baltimore last week.
Some news reports suggested that the release of a report by a task force, which conducted a national "listening tour" on charter school matters, indicated a step back from a previous resolution that called for a moratorium on new charter schools. The president of the Memphis chapter, Deidre Malone, stated in an interview with the Memphis Commercial Appeal that the testimony of the two chapters about charter schools in Tennessee influenced the stance of the task force members.
Malone said, "I believe Memphis made a strong impact on the discussion."
The national board of the NAACP originally called for a moratorium on charter schools at a meeting in Cincinnati in October. Shortly after, the Tennessee chapter held a press conference emphasizing the state’s positive stance on charter schools and distancing themselves from the national resolution.
Malone and other chapter leaders have argued that many of the 70 charter schools in Shelby County, where Memphis is located, are a viable option for low-income children of color. Mendell Grinter, the founder and executive director of the Campaign for School Equity, a non-profit organization in Memphis, also highlighted the success of certain charter schools in the state.
Grinter stated, "In terms of the Tennessee and Memphis charter landscape, they have been established for a long time. We have seen positive outcomes from schools that have been started by people in the community or individuals who have returned."
During the task force’s "listening tour" stop in Memphis in January, local leaders also presented testimony on successful charter schools. Leaders of the parent advocacy group Memphis Lift protested both the board meeting in Ohio and the subsequent visit to Memphis.
Some people interpreted the organization’s model legislation, distributed at the Baltimore convention, as a softening of its stance. The legislation called for a narrower moratorium on charter schools run by networks and for-profit companies. However, a sample bill presented to delegates included other provisions that would significantly restrict charter schools.
Malone is a partner in a Memphis-based firm that provides public relations services and media training. The firm’s clientele includes the NAACP, charter school networks, and Tennessee’s Achievement School District.