Birmingham Board of Education Denies Two Charter School Applications
After hearing hours of passionate appeals, the Birmingham school board on Tuesday night unanimously rejected what would have been the first charter schools to operate in the city. Most who spoke at the meeting supported the church-backed schools’ applications. The vote came during a special called meeting after a microcosm of the national debate over charter schools played out in the preceding work session.
Charters schools are public schools, but depending on the state, they are free from some of the staffing, pay, or facilities restrictions that traditional public schools have to follow. In 2015, the state legislature made Alabama the 43rd state to allow charter schools. But many rank-and-file educators and teachers unions don’t want them.
Richard Franklin, president of the Birmingham chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, says charter school advocates and others are part of a smear campaign against the city’s existing schools.
“We cannot believe the rhetoric about ‘failing schools,’” he said. “I want y’all to listen to me: We have to stop putting so much [blame] on the school system and put something on us as a community.”
Franklin and other charter opponents often criticize pro-charter lobbying and political contributions, which sometimes come from out of state. In Birmingham, however, there is grass-roots support for charters. Many pro-charter speakers were concerned with sub-par academics and discipline in Birmingham schools. Sharon Denson, who teaches in the system, spoke in support of STAR Academy becoming a charter.
“We are not interested in competition,” she said. “We are interested in being a complimentary model for Birmingham City Schools. Charter schools — they’re coming … so why not?”
STAR Academy already runs a kindergarten and pre-K in Eastlake but wants to expand. The other rejected applicant, iBestow school, proposed becoming a charter dual-language immersion program. That was a requirement originally set by the school system as part of their request for proposals. iBestow already serves preschool and K4 students.
STAR Academy and iBestow supporters say the Birmingham school board has been evasive when it comes to providing information that would’ve strengthened the applications and is simply blocking charter schools. Board members said they’re not against charter schools in general, but that these two applications didn’t meet legal requirements. A board-appointed review committee found fault with, among other things, budget projections, curriculum, and “vague” timelines. But both groups of applicants will likely appeal to the state charter school commission, which can overrule local boards.
Dan Carsen, WBHM
Supporters of the iBestow charter school in front of the Birmingham school board, which is one of few local boards in the state that signed up to be charter “authorizers.” Though iBestow supporters and STAR Academy supporters were en masse, neither charter was not authorized.
What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know
The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?
What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know
The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?
3 culinary tricks that might get you to eat more veggies, according to chef Roy Choi
Chef Roy Choi, known for his Korean-Mexican fusion food trucks, focuses on veggie-forward dishes in a new cookbook. He shares techniques to get you excited about your greens, plus 3 flavorful sauces.
3 culinary tricks that might get you to eat more veggies, according to chef Roy Choi
Chef Roy Choi, known for his Korean-Mexican fusion food trucks, focuses on veggie-forward dishes in a new cookbook. He shares techniques to get you excited about your greens, plus 3 flavorful sauces.
Trade tensions hang over Trump’s Asia trip, but he still aims to make a deal
President Trump plans to attend a summit in Malaysia before meeting the new Japanese prime minister in Tokyo and talking to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Korea.
Blue Jays rout Dodgers 11-4 in World Series opener
Addison Barger launched the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, as the Toronto Blue Jays overwhelmed the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener Friday night in Toronto.
