Magic City Acceptance Academy: Difference between revisions

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MCAA petitioned for a re-hearing on the grounds that sufficient reasons for rejecting their application had not been furnished. A fourth vote was held on [[November 4]]. The schools application was approved then with 7 yes votes, 1 no, and 1 abstention from the 9 members present.
MCAA petitioned for a re-hearing on the grounds that sufficient reasons for rejecting their application had not been furnished. A fourth vote was held on [[November 4]]. The schools application was approved then with 7 yes votes, 1 no, and 1 abstention from the 9 members present.
In [[2021]] the system was awarded $122,346  in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds tied to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].


==References==
==References==
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* Crain, Trisha Powell  (November 4, 2020) "Birmingham LGBTQ safe space charter school approved for 2021 opening." {{BN}}
* Crain, Trisha Powell  (November 4, 2020) "Birmingham LGBTQ safe space charter school approved for 2021 opening." {{BN}}
* Miles, Kyra (August 30, 2021) "[https://wbhm.org/feature/2021/lgbtq-students-find-hope-in-new-affirming-school-the-magic-city-acceptance-academy/ LGBTQ Students Find Hope In New Affirming School: The Magic City Acceptance Academy]" WBHM.org
* Miles, Kyra (August 30, 2021) "[https://wbhm.org/feature/2021/lgbtq-students-find-hope-in-new-affirming-school-the-magic-city-acceptance-academy/ LGBTQ Students Find Hope In New Affirming School: The Magic City Acceptance Academy]" WBHM.org
* Crain, Trisha Powell (October 25, 2021) "Alabama schools got $3 billion in federal COVID relief money. Where did it go?" {{BN}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 17:28, 1 November 2021

Magic City Acceptance Academy logo.png

Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA) is a charter high school sponsored by Birmingham AIDS Outreach as part of its mission to provide free services for LGBTQ youth. The school provides a standard high school curriculum while fostering an environment free of bullying, which is a major factor in limiting educational opportunities for LGBTQ students. Straight "allies" are also be welcomed at the school. The curriculum incorporates trauma-informed teaching strategies to facilitate learning.

Michael Wilson was hired as principal for the school, which opened in August 2021 with 270 students. It is located at 75 Bagby Drive in Homewood.

Approval

The Birmingham Board of Education, which generally opposes charter schools, denied the group's application in January 2020. The Alabama Public Charter School Commission, which has frequently overruled local boards, voted 6-2 to deny a charter for the Academy.

The Academy then made plans to open in Homewood. Since Homewood City Schools, unlike Birmingham, played no role in authorizing charter schools, the application was made directly to the state commission.

In their September 10, 2020 meeting the application got 3 affirmative votes and 1 vote against, with four abstentions. Since the application did not receive approval from a majority of the eight members present, it was effectively denied. Chair Henry Nelson requested a re-vote, but the motion failed. The commission did take up the motion again on September 17. Once more it failed to gain a majority, by a vote of 4 in favor, 3 against and 1 abstention, and was therefore denied.

MCAA petitioned for a re-hearing on the grounds that sufficient reasons for rejecting their application had not been furnished. A fourth vote was held on November 4. The schools application was approved then with 7 yes votes, 1 no, and 1 abstention from the 9 members present.

In 2021 the system was awarded $122,346 in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

External links

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