The Alabama Public Charter School Commission on Monday approved its first merger application, along with renewing charter school contracts for two other institutions. This decision marks a significant step for the state's charter school landscape, affecting students in the Bessemer and Mobile areas.
The merger application involved Invictus Academy, which was previously slated to open in 2027, and Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School. This marks the first time a merger has been approved under a newly created policy that the commission itself sanctioned in July. The application received approval with minimal discussion among commissioners, though no specific details regarding the merger's structure or operational changes were provided during the meeting, according to the commission.
Ruben Morris, founder of Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, addressed the commission during the meeting, stating that the merger aims to ensure "viable options" for schooling in the Bessemer community. Morris emphasized the importance of collaboration over competition, noting his work with Dr. Meredith Davis, superintendent of Empower Community School. He articulated the goal of presenting "great options available around career and technical education, and career connected learning" in a way that "best suits kids," ensuring there is "no unnecessary competition for enrollment" within the community.
In addition to the merger approval, the commission also moved to renew charter school contracts for two existing schools. ACCELL Evening and Day Academy, located in Mobile, received a five-year renewal of its charter contract without any discussion from the commissioners.
The contract for Empower Community School, which serves the Bessemer area, was also approved for renewal. However, the school's renewal prompted discussion regarding student achievement. Commissioner Cynthia McCarty voiced concerns about Empower Community School’s math scores, describing them as "a little bit disappointing." McCarty highlighted the availability of resources designed to support student learning, referencing the state's Numeracy Act, math coaches, and professional development opportunities for teachers. She specifically requested that Empower Community School provide the commission with "a solid plan" to leverage these resources, including professional development and curriculum support, to help improve math achievement scores.
Empower Superintendent Meredith Davis acknowledged the need for improvement in math scores. Davis informed the commission that the school has been actively working to address these concerns and has made "some progress over the last couple of years." She outlined the school's current efforts, which include collaboration with the Office of Math Instruction and utilization of the Numeracy Act. Davis further stated that Empower Community School has a dedicated math coach in place, uses the state curriculum, and invests in "outside coaching for our teachers in the area of math and professional development to try to close those gaps."
The approvals underscore the commission's ongoing role in overseeing and shaping the educational opportunities provided by public charter schools across Alabama, with a focus on both expanding options and ensuring academic performance.