- Alabama Public Charter Commission Charter Check- In
- Posts
- The APCSC Charter Check- In March 2026
The APCSC Charter Check- In March 2026
Message from Executive Director
Dear APCSC Community,
I want to begin by extending a sincere thank you to all of our charter school leaders who joined us for our recent two-day professional development training. Your engagement, thoughtful participation, and willingness to collaborate made the sessions meaningful and productive. The purpose of this training was to focus on key areas that strengthen leadership, governance, and operational excellence within your schools. We hope the conversations, strategies, and resources shared during those sessions continue to support the important work taking place in your classrooms and school buildings every day. As a reminder, all training materials and supporting documents are available on our website should you wish to revisit them or share them with your teams.
I would also like to recognize the incredible work of the APCSC staff who helped make this training possible. From planning and coordination to the countless details behind the scenes, their dedication ensured the event ran smoothly. Our team may be small, but we are certainly mighty, and the work we do truly reflects a collective effort. Please remember that APCSC staff are always here to support you, and we encourage you to reach out whenever you need guidance, resources, or collaboration.
March also brings several important opportunities for reflection and celebration. This month we recognize National Reading Month, a reminder of the power that reading and strong literacy skills hold in shaping a student’s future. In addition, March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the remarkable women who contribute so much to our charter school community. From school leaders and teachers to staff members, partners, and our dedicated commissioners, we are fortunate to work alongside so many women whose leadership, insight, and commitment strengthen our mission every day.
I also recognize that many of you are preparing for spring break in the coming weeks. As that time approaches, we encourage you to remind students and families to stay safe and take advantage of the opportunity to rest and recharge.
Thank you to everyone for the role you play in Alabama’s charter school community. The work we do is deeply interconnected, and every leader, educator, staff member, and partner contributes to the progress we continue to see across our schools. I am grateful to be part of such a dedicated and passionate community.
Logan Searcy
Executive Director
Alabama Public Charter School Commission
Staying in the Wake and Above Board: APCSC Charter School Training
ACCEL Academy Earns Statewide Recognition for School Safety
ACCEL Academy was recently recognized as one of nine schools across Alabama selected to receive the 2025 Safe Schools Award from the Office of the Alabama Attorney General. APCSC Grant Communication Specialist, Ms. Sierra Hall was proud to be part of the celebration and to see this important work acknowledged at the state level. Congratulations to ACCEL Academy on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement.
APCSC is looking for a Part Time Project Generalist to support Charter School Program efforts
For more informatin visit: http://www.alchartercommission.com/announcements/job-opening-technical-assistance-project-generalists-4/
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission (APCSC) is continuing to grow as we expand our network in supporting high-quality public charter schools across the state. Visiting APCSC announcements page at www.alchartercommission.com/announcements. New opportunities will be posted as positions become available, and candidates are invited to check regularly for updates.
Covenant Academy of Mobile AL-MTSS Collaboration and Student Spotlight
Covenant Academy of Mobile recently worked alongside Alabama MTSS to collaborate on strengthening student support strategies and sharing approaches that help scholars succeed both academically and personally. Opportunities like this allow educators to continue sharpening the tools they use every day to support students in the classroom.
Image: Covenant Academy
Covenant Academy is also celebrating one of its own scholars. Kaden Reed recently appeared on WKRG’s Kidcast, where he had the exciting opportunity to deliver the weather forecast on air. Kaden confidently shared the day’s weather report with viewers across the Gulf Coast, representing his school and community with pride. Moments like these remind us how special it is to see our students step into new experiences and shine beyond the classroom.
Empower Academy Spotlighted by Alabama Reading Initaitve Team
Empower Community School was recently spotlighted by the Alabama Reading Initiative, highlighting strong classroom instruction taking place under the leadership of Principal Tucker and founder Meredith Davis. During a visit to classrooms, ARI noted several key elements of effective instruction, including explicit teaching, visible learning, and strong classroom management.
“Teachers were intentional in modeling skills and guiding students through new learning, while anchor charts, exemplars, and student work helped make the learning process clear and accessible. Well established routines and expectations also created classrooms where students remained focused, engaged, and ready to learn,” shared Jen Joines with the Alabama Reading Initiative.
University Charter School Students Earn State Honors Across Academic Competitions
University Charter School students are celebrating an impressive series of achievements after competing at the Alabama State Beta Club Convention and the HOSA Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference. Beta Club members represented UCS across a wide range of categories including academics, performing arts, and visual arts, with several students earning top placements at the state level and qualifying to advance to the National Beta Convention in Nashville this June.
UCS students earned recognition in areas such as jewelry design, Spanish, mathematics, photography, vocal performance, drawing, and digital art. In addition, David Moore earned Silver in Respiratory Therapy at the HOSA State Leadership Conference, competing among more than 4,500 students statewide. His strong performance and commitment to excellence earned him a top placement in a highly competitive field.
Image: UCS
Image: UCS
Image: UCS
From the Stage to the Classroom Floretta P. Carson Students Are Winning Big
Students from Floretta P. Carson Visual and Performing Arts Academy continue to make their mark across both the arts and academics with several recent achievements. Piano students under the direction of Dr. Yuliya Brown performed at the 57th Annual MMTA Sonata Competition at the University of South Alabama, earning multiple top honors. Several students captured first place in their respective categories, while another student earned second place, demonstrating the talent, dedication, and preparation required to compete at this level.
The school also celebrated strong academic success as Jackson Sanderson and Aiden Windham earned top placements at the International Academic Competitions National Science Bee Regional Tournament. Competing against students from across the region, both scholars secured spots to advance to the 2026 National Championship.
Image: FPC
Image: FPC
Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools has announced New Chief Executive Officer
Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools has announced Ra’Chel Ford as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2026. Mrs. Ford was selected following a national search led by the Freedom Prep Board of Directors in partnership with The K12 Search Group, a firm with extensive experience in education leadership. She brings more than a decade of experience in public education, most recently serving as Interim CEO of KIPP Atlanta Schools, where she supported strong academic outcomes and strengthened school operations across the network.
Image: Freedom Prep
i3 Academy Names New Child Nutrution Program Director
i3 Academy has welcomed Dr. Kajuandra Harris as its new Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Director. In this role, she will work alongside campus and network leadership, as well as SLA representatives, to support and strengthen the school’s nutrition program. Dr. Harris brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to ensuring students receive nutritious, high quality meals that support their health, learning, and overall success. Her leadership will play an important role in continuing to enhance food services across the i3 network.
Image: i3 Academy
Nominate a Educator for Teacher of the Month Sponsored by Alabama Public Television
Did you know your school can nominate a teacher for Alabama Public Television’s Teacher of the Month award every month? Each winning educator receives a $1,000 award and classroom. This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the dedication, impact, and innovation happening inside our charter school classrooms. For more information visit, https://aptv.org/education/teacher-of-the-month/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_15919341
New AMSTI Field Trip Resource Hub Now Available for Educators
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission is excited to share a brand-new resource from AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative) designed to make field trip planning easier, faster, and more enriching for teachers across the state. AMSTI has officially launched its Field Trip Resource Hub, a centralized digital tool that helps educators browse and plan hands-on learning experiences for students. Whether you're searching for STEM-focused trips, museum visits, environmental learning sites, or interactive labs, the Field Trip Resource Hub provides a simple and organized way to explore what’s available.
Educators can access the hub here:
AMSTI Field Trip Resource Hub: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RFWFYGScq8QN3DAcA9v4JfmXFsHWOan0HMNMSfvjAIY/edit
We encourage all charter school teachers to take advantage of this helpful tool as you plan meaningful, memorable learning opportunities for your students throughout the year.
Photo Credit: Alabama Public Television
Do you have a child in kindergarten through third grade who loves to tell stories? Sign them up for Alabama Public Television's Young Writers Contest! State winners in each grade level (K-3) will receive trophies and a gift card. Every child who participates will receive a certificate of recognition for their work. Apply below!
Deadline March 31, 2026
Last Date To Submit Your Story to APT
April 30, 2026
Judging Completed and Alabama Winners Announced
Alabama Public Television’s kids writing contests have inspired thousands of young authors in Alabama during the last twenty years, and several have become national contest winners.
Upcoming ACT 2026 Test Dates
Image; ACT.org
For more information visit, https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/test-dates.html
Charter School Leaders See below for Updates and Memos From Alabama State Department of Education
Supplemental Appropriations (Act 2025-268)
|
Memorandum: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Special Education Services Application for Special Initiatives Grants
|
Memorandum: Unused Facilities Data
|
Memorandum: 2026 K-12 Summer Program Registration, Planning, Reporting, and Data Collection
|
Memorandum-Alabama Minimum Specifications for School Buses for 2027
|