Birmingham Considering Spanish-English Charter School
Charter Schools are scheduled to open in Alabama by the start of the next school year. In Birmingham, at least one of these non-traditional schools funded with public money may take on a new mission: Spanish immersion through an approach often called “dual-language,” where students don’t just learn Spanish, but other subjects in Spanish. It would be the first charter of its kind in the state.
The Birmingham City Schools district has to start requesting proposals for next school year by November 1. School leaders at a Tuesday meeting discussed converting at least one existing school to a dual language charter school.
“We know, when we look at other countries, a number of them well prepare their students, even at the grammar school level and beyond, to be able to speak a second language,” says Superintendent Kelley Castlin-Gacutan.
The Birmingham school board is a state-approved charter school authorizer. That means the district can approve or deny new, or “start-up,” charter schools. The school system can also convert one of its existing schools into a charter school.
On Tuesday, board members said they still have questions about the impact of charter schools. Some also discussed the need for more community input. The board is planning another meeting on charter schools next week.
Russia launched an experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, the U.S. says
Ukraine raised alarm suggesting Russia may have used an intercontinental ballistic missile to hit the city of Dnipro, but the U.S. National Security Council does not believe it was an ICBM.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s attorney general nominee
Allegations of sex trafficking and drug use had stirred controversy over Matt Gaetz's nomination as attorney general.
This year’s FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it’s ‘a piece of cake’
The FAFSA form is now open to students hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect a much smoother process compared to the last cycle.
He was stuck in a hospital for 8 months. How states can fail people with disabilities
In Georgia and other states, the federal government oversees the treatment of people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, because the states have been unable to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the subsequent Olmstead ruling.
Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that
The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
