NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mayor Karl Dean announced plans Tuesday to develop one of the nation's first charter school incubators to operate statewide.

Related: Morning Report | 5 p.m. Report

A recent change in state law allowed Nashville to open up as many as 20 new charter schools -- privately run schools that use public money and different methods to help failing kids achieve.

But in order to make sure the new charter schools are good schools, it's going to take extensive training.

The plan is for the incubator, called the Center for Charter School Excellence in Tennessee, to support and develop charter schools in Nashville and later expand and provide support to other school districts across the state within three years.

"During the last State General Assembly, I, along with many others, strongly advocated for a state law that is more receptive to public charter schools," Dean said in a press release. "The new law greatly expanded student eligibility for enrollment in charter schools and the number of charter schools allowed in Tennessee. We need to ensure that these schools are of the highest quality."

In early December, the Metro Board of Education denied all six applicants who tried to open charter schools in 2009, saying the proposals needed work.

Nashville's incubator will be modeled after organizations in New Orleans and New York.

Matt Candler, the former CEO of the charter school incubator in New Orleans, will lead the local center as a project manager.

Metro Schools Director Dr. Jesse Register attended Tuesday's announcement and was supportive of the program.

"We recognize the value of having high-quality and highly-effective charter schools that can help meet the diverse needs of students," said Register in a press release. "By their very inception, charter schools require innovative and non-traditional instructional strategies, and this incubator will help attract and build the very best not only for Nashville, but for districts across Tennessee."

Candler said one New Orleans "incubated" charter school became the top performing school in the district after just one year in existence.

In the beginning, the incubator will use private funds but will eventually become a nonprofit.