The Knoxville Charter Academy has lost its appeal to the state.
The decision from the Tennessee State Board of Education came Friday after a hearing in Knox County earlier this week.
Leaders of the proposed charter school were asking for more time to find a building after their request was denied by the Knox County Board of Education.
Board members shot down a plan to use the old Bridgewater Baptist Church in West Knoxville and then denied the additional six months requested.
Charter school leaders said they had identified four new possible locations, but Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre said their efforts were "too little, too late."
The state board of education held a hearing Monday to hear from both the charter school representatives and district leaders.
The board's executive director, Gary Nixon, later recommended the board affirm the Knox County BOE's decision. The board unanimously agreed, according to Mike Edwards, a state school board member and president and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber.
In his recommendation, Nixon wrote of the importance of Knox County being able to rely on charter agreements.
"Understandably, Knox County is wary that extending deadlines for a governing body that has demonstrated a pattern of inability to meet deadlines is problematic," Nixon wrote. "Knox County already included an extension in the contract, allowing KCA to open in 2012 instead of 2011 as was intended when the initial application was approved, and they likely feel less than certain that an extension to October 7 will bring different results. Allowing yet another extension may encourage behavior, not only from KCA but future charter applicants as well, that Knox County justifiably wishes to discourage."
In a statement, KCA Board President Suzan Mertyurek expressed disappointment with the decision.
"It is disappointing that the hard work and research put into Knoxville Charter Academy, and its opening, was not acknowledged," she said. "We had a well capable board of opening a strong STEM school in Knox County, backed by a solid STEM curriculum."
"Finding a good building in the ideal location was challenging; however, the location of the building we submitted, in due time, still had strong offerings for the students in the community. We hope that charter schools in Knox County have a future and are given a better chance to provide a quality alternative choice in education for our children," she said.