Annual Report

ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

ERIC G. MACKEY, STATE SUPERINTENDENT

Charter Schools
2021-2022

Prepared for:
Governor of Alabama
Alabama Legislature
Alabama Public at Large
Background

In 2015, the Alabama School and Student Opportunity Act (“the Act”)1 established charter
schools as part of the public education system of the state. Charter schools can provide school
systems and communities with additional tools that may be used to meet the educational needs
of a diverse student population. The Act also established processes and procedures for
authorization and accountability of charter schools. Expectations include meeting clear and
measurable objectives for the educational progress of students and quality organizational and
financial best practices. There are two kinds of charter schools in Alabama—start up schools and
conversion schools. Conversion schools existed as a non-charter public school before becoming
a charter school.

Alabama has two entities eligible to authorize a public charter school—a local school board
and the Alabama Public Charter School Commission (APCSC). The Alabama State Department
of Education (ALSDE) receives and processes applications of local school boards who request to
become an authorizer.

Charter School Authorizers

Alabama Charter School Commission
Birmingham City School System
Dothan City School System
Elmore County School System
Greene County School System
Macon County School System
Montgomery County School System

Commissioner Area Appointing Authority Term Expires

Ty Moody, Chairman Jefferson County Governor May 31, 2022
Sydney Raine, Vice Mobile County Governor May 31, 2023
Chairman
Dick Brewbaker Montgomery County Governor May 31, 2022
Luis Ferrer Madison County Speaker of the House May 31, 2024
Marla Green Montgomery County Speaker of the House May 31, 2023
Ryan Kendall Montgomery County President Pro May 31, 2024
Tempore
Julie Ann McCulley Marshall County Lt. Governor May 31, 2024
Paul Morin Jefferson County Governor May 31, 2023
Anthony Overton Jefferson County President Pro May 31, 2023
Tempore
LaKeisha Wheeler Madison County Speaker of the House May 31, 2023
Rotating Member Area of Charter
Applicant

Alabama State Department of Education Charter School Contact

Mrs. Logan W. Searcy
Email: lsearcy@alsde.edu
Telephone: (334) 694-4908

1
Ala. Code section 16-6F-1, et. seq. (1975).
Start-Up Charter Schools
Start-Up Location Authorizer Number Grades Opening USDOE
Public of Year Grant
Charter Students
Schools
Acceleration Mobile Alabama 395 9-12 2017 Yes
Day and Public 224 6-8 Renewal:
Evening Charter Total: 619 2022
Academy School
and Commission
Acceleration (APCSC)
Preparatory
Academy
University Livingston APCSC 367 PreK-5 2018 Yes
Charter 292 6-12 Renewal:
School and Total: 659 2023
Secondary
Legacy Prep Birmingham APCSC 403 K-5 2019 Yes/expired
Lead Montgomery APCSC 2019 No
Academy
Building A 382 K-3
Building B 322 4-8
Total: 704
I3 Academy Birmingham APCSC 2020 Yes
Phase 1 416 K-5
Phase 2 207 6-7
Breakthrough Marion APCSC 282 K-9 2021 Yes
Charter
School
Magic City Homewood APCSC 333 6-12 2021 Yes
Acceptance
Academy
Life Montgomery Montgomery 306 K-4 2021 Yes
Academy County
Board of
Education
Empower Bessemer APCSC 139 K-2, 6-7 2022 Yes
Community
School
Alabama Bessemer APCSC 95 9-10 2022 Yes
Aerospace
and Aviation
High School
Total 4,163
Conversion Charter Schools
Conversion Location Authorizer Number Grades Opening USDOE Charter
Charter of Year Grant Management
Schools Students Organization
PLA Davis Montgomery Montgomery 509 K-5 2021 Yes Montgomery
Elementary County Education
School
Foundation
Board
PLA Nixon Montgomery Montgomery 433 K-5 2022 Yes Montgomery
Elementary County Education
School
Foundation
Board
PLA Montgomery Montgomery 598 6-8 2022 Yes Montgomery
Bellingrath County Education
Elementary School
Foundation
Board
Total 1540

Charter Schools Approved to Open

Approved Location Authorizer Projected Grades Opening USDOE
To Open Number Year Grant
of
Students
Covenant Mobile APCSC 372 K-5 2023 No
Academy
Freedom Birmingham APCSC/Overturned 135 K-5 2024 Yes
Prep Denial from
Birmingham City
School Board
Barnabas Dothan APCSC 380 K-5 2023 No
School of
Leadership
Ivy Elmore Elmore County 640 K-6 2024 Yes
Classical County Board of Education
Academy
Total 1527

Denied Charter School Applicants

2022 Location Authorizer Application USDOE Grant
Applications Not Status
Approved
Red Tails Macon County Macon County Denied No
Preparatory Board of
Education
Floretta P. Mobile APCSC Denied No
Carson Visual
and Performing
Arts
 Alabama Charter School State Test Results 2021-2022

Charter schools, like public non-charter schools, are given the ACAP yearly to be tested on their
English language arts, math, and science proficiencies. The data below represents raw
proficiency data.

Proficiency Data Standardized State *** What does proficiency mean? ***
Assessments given in Scoring a Level 3 or 4 on the state
ELA, math and standardized assessments (ACAP
science. Students tests).
perform in Level 1, 2, 3
or 4.

Official report card data for the 2021-2022 school year is set to be released in December 2022.

English Language Arts (ACAP) – ALL Students

Legacy Prep i3 Academy Birmingham City Jefferson AL Statewide
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient County Average
% Proficient % Proficient
Grade 32.7 24.7 28.3 44.7 54.3
3
Grade 29.3 27.1 27.4 40.7 52.9
4
Grade 28.1 23.9 36.0 46.8
5
Grade 30.9 24.2 36.8 47.7
6

English Language Arts (ACAP) – ALL Students

LEAD Academy Montgomery County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 31.3 36.2 54.3
3
Grade 20.5 33.4 52.9
4
Grade 25.5 31.5 46.8
5
Grade 15.4 27.3 47.7
6
Grade 32.6 28.5 44.6
7
 English Language Arts (ACAP) – ALL Students
University Charter School Sumter County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 3 61.1 24.7 54.3
Grade 4 48.9 21.1 52.3
Grade 5 41.3 23.5 46.8
Grade 6 53.1 19.2 47.7
Grade 7 45.8 18.2 44.6
Grade 8 63.6 23.7 52.8

English Language Arts (ACAP) – ALL Students

Breakthrough Perry County AL Statewide Average
Charter School % Proficient % Proficient
% Proficient
Grade 3 55.6 28.6 54.3
Grade 4 66.7 19.4 52.9

Grade 6 41.7 15.4 47.7

Grade 7 33.3 8.0 44.6

English Language Arts (ACAP) – ALL Students

Magic City Homewood City Jefferson County AL Statewide
Acceptance % Proficient % Proficient Average
Academy % Proficient
% Proficient
Grade 55.6 73.6 36.8 47.7
6
Grade 69.8 71.9 33.0 44.6
7
Grade 52.9 75.1 43.6 52.8
8

Grade
11 66.7 68.1 17.7 29.6

English Language Arts (ACAP) – ALL Students

Acceleration Academy Mobile County AL Statewide
% Proficient % Proficient Average
% Proficient
Grade 2.1 22.2 29.6
11
 Mathematics (ACAP) – ALL Students
Legacy Prep i3 Academy Birmingham City Jefferson AL
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient County Statewide
% Proficient Average
% Proficient
Grade 14.3 8.2 12.5 26.5 39.2
3
Grade 9.8 10.1 7.8 19.7 31.5
4
Grade 4.4 9.2 16.2 31.4
5
Grade 9.2 11.1 15.2 29.1
6

Mathematics (ACAP) – ALL Students

LEAD Academy Montgomery County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 3 4.7 19.3 39.2
Grade 4 2.3 10.5 31.5
Grade 5 1.8 13.4 31.4
Grade 6 0.0 9.5 29.1
Grade 7 9.3 5.5 18.4

Mathematics (ACAP) – ALL Students

Breakthrough Perry County AL Statewide Average
Charter School % Proficient % Proficient
% Proficient
Grade 3 33.3 7.3 39.2
Grade 4 27.3 1.6 31.5

Grade 6 8.3 12.3 29.1

Grade 7 8.3 0.0 18.4
 Mathematics (ACAP) – ALL Students
University Charter School Sumter County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 3 27.7 2.7 39.2
Grade 4 31.1 3.1 31.5
Grade 5 32.6 3.0 31.4
Grade 6 40.8 0.0 29.1
Grade 7 27.1 3.0 18.4
Grade 8 15.9 0.0 18.2

Mathematics (ACAP) – ALL Students

Magic City Homewood City Jefferson County AL Statewide
Acceptance % Proficient % Proficient Average
Academy % Proficient
% Proficient
Grade 11.1 67.1 15.2 29.1
6
Grade 11.6 44.5 8.4 18.4
7
Grade 14.7 44.3 8.5 18.2
8

Grade
11 31.6 66.4 10.9 23.6

Mathematics (ACT) – ALL Students

Acceleration Academy Mobile County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 0.0 15.2 23.6
11

Science (ACAP) – ALL Students

Legacy Prep i3 Academy Birmingham City Jefferson AL Statewide
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient County Average
% Proficient % Proficient
Grade 17.1 11.9 12.8 25.9 39.2
4
 Science (ACAP) – ALL Students
LEAD Academy Montgomery County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 4 14.0 22.0 39.2

Science (ACAP) – ALL Students

University Charter School Sumter County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 4 48.9 6.0 39.2
Grade 8 45.5 5.3 40.3

Science (ACAP) – ALL Students

Magic City Homewood City Jefferson County AL Statewide
Acceptance % Proficient % Proficient Average
Academy % Proficient
% Proficient
Grade 45.5 71.8 31.8 40.3
8
Grade
11 47.4 66.1 20.0 31.7

Science (ACT) – ALL Students

Acceleration Academy Mobile County AL Statewide Average
% Proficient % Proficient % Proficient
Grade 2.0 23.7 31.7
11

Assessment of Charter Schools

Alabama public charter schools face many of the same challenges as schools across the state
and have some challenges that are specific to the opening of a charter school.

The Alabama State Department of Education has been in multiple discussions with state leaders
and the legislature about ways to improve the state’s public charter schools. ALSDE will
continue to develop recommendations in an effort to achieve excellence in the state’s public
charter schools. We are committed to continuing to work with leaders across the state and
providing support when necessary to see these schools excel through improvements. Recent bills
under consideration by the legislature for changes have included structural amendments to the
charter law such as changes to the manner of appointments and terms for commission
members and improvements to operational and categorical funding.
Charter Schools
Acceleration Day and Evening Academy
Acceleration (ACCEL) Day and Evening Academy serves students in grades 9-12 from Mobile,
Baldwin and Washington Counties. Located in Mobile, ACCEL provides a safe, supportive
learning environment for students who may have fallen behind or dropped out of another
institution. ACCEL has an enrollment of 337 students and is authorized by the Alabama Public
Charter School Commission.

Acceleration Preparatory School

Acceleration (ACCEL) Preparatory Academy serves students in grades 6th-7th from Mobile,
Baldwin and Washington Counties. Located in Mobile, ACCEL provides a safe, supportive
learning environment for students which will include an innovative, personalized learning
environment to meet students where they are and put them on a path to achieve their dreams
and is authorized by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.

University Charter School

University Charter School’s (UCS) serves students in grades PreK-12th in Sumter County. Located
in Livingston, UCS prepares students for personal and professional success through the discovery
of individual learning pathways in a rigorous and integrated Science, Technology, Reading,
Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics focused, project-based and place-based curriculum. UCS
has an enrollment of 531students and is authorized by the Alabama Public Charter School
Commission.

Lead Academy

Lead Academy serves students in grades K-8 in Montgomery. Lead Academy prepares students
for success by providing innovative programs designed to spark curiosity and maximize learning
potential. Lead Academy has an enrollment of 546 students and is authorized by the Alabama
Public Charter School Commission.

Legacy Prep

Legacy Prep serves students in grades PreK-4th in Birmingham. Legacy Prep’s mission is to
educate and empower scholars to embrace their identity, lead lives of choice and opportunity,
and impact communities as the next generation of socially conscious leaders. Legacy Prep has
enrollment of 327 students and is authorized by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.

I3 Academy

i3 Academy serves students in grades K-7th in Birmingham. I3 Academy’s mission is to empower

learners to become agents of change who solve problems they see in their world. They envision
a world in which all learners are equipped to excel in a global society. I3 Academy has an
enrollment of 421 students and is authorized by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.
Breakthrough Charter School

Breakthrough Charter School serves students in grades K-9th in Perry County. It is a rigorous,
service-oriented, and project-based school that supports the social-emotional development of
each child. It is authorized by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.

Magic City Acceptance Academy

Magic City Acceptance Academy serves students in grades 6th through 12th by providing an
exceptional, innovative, and quality-driven education. MCAA’s purpose is to engage students
who have dropped out, are not thriving in traditional schools, and specifically students who are
home-schooled but are not thriving in that environment. Mentors and teachers are incorporated
throughout the diverse MCAA curriculum to empower students in directing their own education.

Life Academy
Life Academy serves students in grades K-4th in Montgomery. Its mission is to prepare students for
a productive and successful future in academia, trades, and/or entrepreneurship through the
execution of an innovative and culturally relevant dual curriculum. Life Academy is authorized
by the Montgomery County School Board.

Empower Community School

Empower Community School serves students in K-2nd and 6th-7th in Bessemer. Empower’ s vision
is to innovate education for students and families by empowering scholars to achieve social,
emotional, and academic excellence.

Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School

Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School serves students in grades 9th and 10th in
Bessemer. Their mission is to prepare a diverse student body for leadership positions in the
aerospace and aviation industries through a rigorous, authentic and industry aligned aerospace
and defense education. It is authorized by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.

PLA Davis Elementary School

PLA (Phalen Leadership Academies) Davis Elementary serves grades K-5th and is the first
conversion charter school. Their belief is that every student is a scholar and with the right
education, scholars can fulfill their tremendous innate potential and become leaders in their
communities and the world. It is authorized by the Montgomery County School Board.

PLA Nixon Elementary School

PLA (Phalen Leadership Academies) Nixon Elementary School serves students in K-5th.In 2022, PLA
Nixon Elementary became a conversion charter school. is authorized by the Montgomery
County School Board. Nixon exists to serve the local community and create a safe and thriving
space for scholars to feel loved, empowered, and encouraged through quality education.
PLA Bellingrath Middle School

PLA (Phalen Leadership Academies) Bellingrath Middle serves students in grades 6th-8th in
Montgomery. In 2022, it came a conversion charter school. Their belief is that with the right
education, scholars can fulfill their tremendous innate potential and become leaders in their
communities and the world. It is authorized by the Montgomery County School Board.
ADDRE SS
50 N RIPLEY STREET
MONTGOMERY, AL 36104

C ONTA C T
P: 334.694.4915
E: JSANDERS@ALSDE.EDU