Birmingham charter school receives approval for amended enrollment plan

Downtown Birmingham viewed from Red Mountain. Birmingham is one of the largest banking centers in the United States and has a long history as a steel and iron producer. (John Coletti/The Image Bank)

The Alabama Public Charter School Commission Wednesday approved an amendment to the initial plan for a school campus to open in Birmingham.

The Freedom Preparatory Academy Birmingham campus was supposed to open in the fall to serve kindergarten and first grade students. After a delay with the facility, the school requested the Commission approve changes to allow them to host kindergarteners in portable classrooms.

“We are confident in our ability to meet this requirement within that specific timeline for a student recruitment plan, which we’ve submitted,” said Crystal Shaw-Nasir, executive director for the school.

Freedom Preparatory Academy will open with 80% enrollment for kindergarteners. They are currently at 25% and will have an “enrollment blitz,” Shaw-Nasir said.

Roblin Webb, founder and CEO of the Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools, said they will return to their original growth pattern to serve kindergarten through second grade.

“This is just an exception because of facilities challenges in space this first year,” she said.

According to the Public Charter School Commission website, the school aims “ to prove what is possible and inspire broader change and to carry the torch of the civil rights movement and help realize the dream. They plan to provide a high-quality option for families in traditionally disaffected communities.”

Lane Knight, counsel for the commission, said that the school had been approved, pending legal guidance from the Attorney General’s office.

Logan Searcy, executive director, said that there was going to be another check to ensure that safety requirements were met in that a storm shelter did not need to be in place for the portable.

“If a problem comes up because they’re in portables and the building is not ready,” she said. “We will be informed and we can make those changes if they end up being necessary.”

Spokesperson for the Alabama State Department of Education Michael Sibley confirmed that Searcy spoke with Brandon Payne, deputy state superintendent of administrative and financial services, and that he would reach out to the Division of Construction Management for clarification and said they have oversight of safety compliance for buildings.

“The ALSDE office does not oversee code compliance,” wrote Sibley.

The amendments to the charter– for the facilities, revised enrollment plan and extension for pre-opening conditions for enrollment– were approved by the Commission, pending that appropriate safety measures are in place for students.

Freedom Preparatory Academy also has campuses in Memphis . A Montgomery campus is set to open the following school year in 2025-26, according to CBS42.

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