Memphis, Nashville districts consider charter school applications
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High teachers Caitlyn Kennedy (right) and Will Redmond disinfect laptops on Friday, April 3, 2020. The laptops will be distributed to students, as they continue their education from home, after the need for social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak shut down school. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Marta W. Aldrich
Marta W. Aldrich is the senior statehouse correspondent at Chalkbeat Tennessee. A newswoman for The Associated Press for most of her career, Marta has covered state government, politics, business, education and other Tennessee news. She has served as news editor of United Methodist News Service and features editor of American Profile magazine. Marta is a graduate of Memphis City Schools and the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
The coronavirus has ground most of the economy to a halt and created financial uncertainty for both traditional and charter schools. Last week in Memphis, charter network KIPP announced plans to close two of its schools, partly because of its struggle to secure long-term funding during the pandemic.
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KIPP officials say they will continue remote learning plans through the end of the school year, but the closings will mean hundreds of students will have to find new schools this fall.
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