New Schools for Alabama

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today, we’re celebrating the school office teams in Alabama’s public charter schools. Thank you for serving with excellence, patience, and heart. Our schools are stronger because of you.

New school leaders need more than a plan. They need a trusted circle. In this reel, Porsha Allen of Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School shares what the New Schools for Alabama Accelerator Program has meant to her during a recent school visit.

On April 11th, we celebrated the graduation of our Parent Voice Fellowship Cohort 4, and the room was filled with purpose, pride, and powerful stories. From the very first session to graduation day, this journey has been about more than learning. It has been about transformation.

NSFA Board Member Spotlight: Dorsey Hopson, Partner at City Fund. “I am passionate about providing traditionally marginalized families with school choices and options. This aligns with NSFA’s vision.”

Teaching was never just a job for Tammy Chicarello. It was a calling. Read the story of this i3 Academy first-grade teacher whose warmth, high expectations, and love for learning are shaping students for the future. newschoolsforalabama.org/post/charter-c…

Today, we celebrate our 2025-2026 Parent Voice Fellowship graduates. To our graduates, thank you for your time, your honesty, and your leadership. Your voice matters, and Alabama’s students are better because you used it. Congratulations!

Parent Voice spotlight: Zaebriere Boykin (Freedom Prep Birmingham). She joined to learn more about charter schools and now advocates for equitable support so students and families get the resources and early interventions they need to thrive.

Another one we hear often... Myth: Charter schools are not accountable. Fact: Public charter schools are held accountable for academics, finances, and operations. Accountability matters because students matter.

Can schools hire their way out of the achievement gap?  In this powerful blog post, Dr. Mike Brown argues that lasting student success comes through coaching, teacher development, and strong instructional leadership — not just recruitment. Read more: newschoolsforalabama.org/post/we-can-t-…

Under the leadership of Dr. Reneta C. Johnson, Legacy Prep is empowering scholars to embrace their identity, pursue lives of choice and opportunity, and impact their communities as socially conscious leaders. f.mtr.cool/onnumbdpcu

Board Member Spotlight: Tina Naremore Jones, Ph.D., Vice-President, Emeritus at The University of West Alabama. “High-quality public charter schools matter for the economic vitality and the overall quality of life for Alabama families and communities.”

Take a minute to watch this video. 🎥 Charter schools can feel confusing when you only hear the headlines, but families deserve clear information and a real understanding.  Watch here👉 youtube.com/watch?v=bCTAKL…

Parent Voice spotlight: Terrance Bettis (Floretta P. Carson VAPA). He joined to better support his daughter’s school, learned about the charter system's structure, and is advocating for a PTO and an SGA to strengthen parent and student voice.

At New Schools for Alabama, we support the growth of excellent public charter schools through four strategic pillars: new school development, technical assistance, community engagement, and policy advancement. Our work helps expand high-quality school options across Alabama.

Strong schools need strong financial leadership. Meet Melanie Haynes, NSFA’s Senior Director of Accounting, whose wisdom and commitment help Alabama’s charter schools grow and thrive.  Read her story on the blog.

Local businesses can help advance education equity in powerful ways. From sponsoring school events to providing internships, mentorship, and resources, community partnership helps create more opportunities for students to thrive.

Across our state, Alabama public charter schools are creating learning environments where students are supported, challenged, and prepared for what’s next.  Explore Alabama school options and find the right fit for your child.

Dr. Brandi Tucker, Lower Campus Principal at Empower Community School, shares her reflections from our recent Accelerator Program visit to Discovery Schools in New Orleans.  🎥 Watch her reflections below.

We believe families deserve real options. Options that are strong, accountable, and built for students, like Covenant Academy of Mobile. Covenant Academy of Mobile is a great example of what's possible for students across Alabama.

NSFA’s Accelerator Program took our school leaders to New York to learn from Achievement First schools. Leaders observed instruction, joined PD, and dug into the systems behind strong outcomes.