Teachers and parents at Believe Memphis Academy say a surprise proposal to close or consolidate their charter and bring the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School into the building caught them with little warning. Staffers say the plan, first outlined in a briefing this week, would require many teachers to reapply for jobs and could sever long-running relationships that help support high-needs students. Families have been huddling in meetings and circulating petitions while school leaders decide what to do next.
According to Local Memphis, teachers and parents say they learned about the possible merger less than a week before the outlet reported on it, and that a slide deck shared in a virtual meeting referenced closure before mentioning any partnership with Grizzlies Prep. Several staffers told the station they were informed they would need to apply elsewhere to keep working next year, and parents criticized how and when the proposal was communicated.
Boards, Ballots and the Campus at Stake
Boards for both charter operators are expected to vote on the proposal in the coming weeks, with leaders emphasizing that no final call has been made yet. The Daily Memphian reports that Grizzlies Prep has floated a move into Believe’s Corry Road campus and indicated that some middle-school students could remain in the building under the new operator. The Grizzlies Prep enrollment page lists the charter’s current downtown campus and contact information as the group explores expansion options.
Why the Change Is Being Floated
Board materials and school postings show Believe was placed on the state’s Priority list last year, a label board leaders have been required to address publicly. In December, the Believe board posted an executive-session agenda titled “Priority List Designation Action Plan,” signaling internal work on how to respond to that status. Per the Tennessee Department of Education accountability guidance, Priority schools can face more intensive interventions if performance does not improve.
Student Supports at Risk, Teachers Warn
Staff and parents say their main concern is how a consolidation could reshape daily supports for students who depend on consistent relationships with special education teams and social-emotional staff. Public school profiles show Believe’s test scores and attendance trail district and state averages, a reality teachers say makes stability even more critical. A profile on SchoolDigger highlights low proficiency and attendance metrics that educators say feed families’ worries about additional disruption.
Community Pushes Back
Families, teachers, and local advocates have been organizing in response, hosting meetings and launching an online petition to oppose closure or consolidation. The petition on Change.org has drawn hundreds of signatures and broader local attention, urging the board to prioritize student supports and partnership instead of displacement. Teachers say turnout at school events in recent days reflects deep concern across the school community.
What the Law Allows
Federal and state accountability rules give districts and the state several intervention options for Priority schools, including district-led improvement plans, placement in state-run turnaround efforts, or reassignment to different operators. The Tennessee Comptroller’s overview of ESSA interventions outlines the tracks and timelines that can follow a Priority designation, a backdrop that helps explain the board’s detailed review of its options as it tries to balance legal requirements with community expectations.
What’s Next
Officials say any changes would take effect only after formal board votes and transition planning, not through an immediate shutdown, and trustees continue to stress that the decision is not final. The Daily Memphian reports that board votes are expected in the coming weeks, and Believe board leaders say there is no firm deadline yet for a final ruling.
Believe board chair Alicia Norman told Local Memphis the board received notice of the Priority designation and will meet its fiduciary duty while weighing possible paths forward. In the meantime, teachers say they plan to keep organizing, and parents are pressing the board to protect stability for the students who walk through Believe’s doors every day.
