New Schools for Alabama

New Schools for Alabama We build excellent public charter schools in Alabama for kids who need them the most. New Schools for Alabama was established to rectify this injustice.

Our mission is to support the growth of excellent public charter schools in Alabama to ensure that every child has access to a quality public education. At New Schools for Alabama, we believe every child has a fundamental right to attend a quality school offering a safe, supportive, and academically-challenging environment. Unfortunately, abundant evidence shows that most low-income and minority c

hildren in Alabama today do not have access to such a school. We will do so in an inclusive, collaborative manner, by recruiting high-caliber leaders to establish new schools in underserved communities and by fostering a policy environment that supports the growth of excellent charter schools in high-need areas throughout the state. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit, public charity organization created to serve kids in Alabama.

Today, we recognize the people whose work keeps our schools moving.That includes the teachers leading classrooms, bus dr...
09/07/2026

Today, we recognize the people whose work keeps our schools moving.

That includes the teachers leading classrooms, bus drivers getting students to school safely, cafeteria and custodial teams maintaining school environments, front office and support staff keeping countless details on track, and school leaders carrying the responsibility for bringing it all together.

Much of this work happens quietly and consistently, but every role contributes to creating schools where students can learn, grow, and thrive.

To everyone who gives their time, talent, care, and expertise to serving students and families across Alabama, thank you for the work you do.

Happy Labor Day from New Schools for Alabama.

09/04/2026

Some of the best ideas in education shouldn't stay in one building.

When school leaders get the chance to visit other schools, ask questions, compare notes, and learn from their peers, they come back with more than inspiration. They come back with practical ideas they can examine, adapt, and put to work in their own communities.

That kind of shared learning matters in a growing Alabama public charter sector. No two schools are exactly alike, and strong leadership isn't about copying someone else's model. It's about seeing what works, understanding why it works, and deciding what can strengthen your own students, staff, and systems.

Building a stronger sector means creating real opportunities for leaders to learn with and from one another, because better ideas and stronger systems matter most when they improve what students experience every day.

Great job, Freedom Prep Academy - Birmingham
09/02/2026

Great job, Freedom Prep Academy - Birmingham

Quick question: Do families pay tuition to attend a public charter school?No. Public charter schools are tuition-free, p...
09/02/2026

Quick question: Do families pay tuition to attend a public charter school?

No. Public charter schools are tuition-free, publicly funded, and open to all students.

That might sound simple, but it's still one of the most common points of confusion when families talk about charter schools. When families are weighing their school options, clear information matters.

Public charter schools are part of the public school system. There's no tuition, and they give families another public school option to consider based on what works best for their children.

The clearer we are about what public charter schools actually are, the easier it is for families and communities to make informed decisions.

Follow New Schools for Alabama for clear, straightforward information about Alabama's public charter schools.

Congratulations to University Charter School 🎉⭐A University Charter School Elementary scholar has been selected as a 20...
09/01/2026

Congratulations to University Charter School 🎉⭐

A University Charter School Elementary scholar has been selected as a 2026 National Math Star, one of just seven Alabama public elementary school students chosen for this national recognition.

We’re proud to celebrate this outstanding achievement and the bright future ahead for this young scholar!

Source: Alabama Daily News

More school options aren't the goal by themselves. Strong, high-quality school options are.As Alabama's public charter s...
08/31/2026

More school options aren't the goal by themselves. Strong, high-quality school options are.

As Alabama's public charter sector grows, we're watching this play out in real time. Opening a school is a major milestone, but it's only the beginning. The real test is whether that school has the leadership, systems, and staying power to serve students well year after year.

Strong schools need leaders who are genuinely ready for the job, financial and operational systems that hold up under pressure, governance that takes accountability seriously, families who feel like real partners, and a north star that never drifts from student outcomes. None of that is a one-time checklist. It has to hold up in years three, five, and ten.

For NSFA, growth isn't simply about adding more schools or more seats. It's about helping build high-quality public school options that are prepared to last, because Alabama families don't just deserve more choices, they deserve choices worth making.

What changes when a parent feels more confident using their voice?For Earnestine Wagner, a Cohort 4 Parent Voice fellow ...
08/28/2026

What changes when a parent feels more confident using their voice?

For Earnestine Wagner, a Cohort 4 Parent Voice fellow from Breakthrough Charter School it meant learning better ways to connect with her child’s educators, ask questions, and stay actively engaged in her child’s learning.

Earnestine joined Parent Voice because she wanted her voice and opinions to be recognized at her child’s school.

Through the fellowship, she gained something bigger than information. She gained tools to help her participate more confidently in conversations affecting her child.

She is also passionate about schools using consistent, supportive approaches to student behavior that help children learn, grow, and succeed.

This is what Parent Voice is designed to do.

At New Schools for Alabama, we help parents build the knowledge, relationships, and confidence they need to become informed partners and advocates in their schools and communities.

Strong schools need families who know their voices belong at the table.

School finance may happen behind the scenes, but its impact reaches all the way to the classroom.For Christy Mead, Senio...
08/25/2026

School finance may happen behind the scenes, but its impact reaches all the way to the classroom.

For Christy Mead, Senior Accountant at New Schools for Alabama, that has been the thread running through 28 years of work in school finance.

“My passion is giving students the resources to succeed.”

Before joining NSFA, Christy spent 18 years as a Chief School Financial Officer. Today, she helps schools organize and properly report their financial records, prepare for monitoring and audits, and build systems that help ensure resources are used for their intended purpose.

It may not be the part of education most families see, but strong schools need strong financial systems.

And this is one of the ways NSFA works behind the scenes to help schools build the organizational strength they need to serve students well.

Read more about Christy's unexpected journey into school finance, the lessons she has learned along the way, and the life she enjoys beyond the ledger on the NSFA Blog.

Some of the most important work in a school happens before students ever walk through the door.Back-to-school profession...
08/24/2026

Some of the most important work in a school happens before students ever walk through the door.

Back-to-school professional development gives teachers dedicated time to prepare, plan, ask hard questions, work through problems together, and make sure the systems supporting instruction are ready for the students they're about to serve.

Strong schools depend on strong teaching, but great instruction never happens in isolation. Teachers need time to collaborate; leaders need to create the conditions for good work, clear expectations, useful professional learning, and systems that keep everyone focused on what matters most: student outcomes.

As Alabama's public charter sector continues to grow, our conversations about school quality need to include this behind-the-scenes work too. What students experience in the classroom is shaped by the preparation that happens long before the first lesson begins.

📷 Photo courtesy of Legacy Prep

The newly released 2026 assessment results give us real reasons to be encouraged in ELA, and they also remind us that st...
08/21/2026

The newly released 2026 assessment results give us real reasons to be encouraged in ELA, and they also remind us that student performance is never a finished story.

Across Alabama's public charter sector, several schools posted ELA proficiency rates above their local district averages, including schools serving communities where students have historically faced significant barriers to academic success.

That matters, and it's worth paying attention to. At the same time, the broader results show areas where schools still need to improve, particularly in math. Strong ELA performance shouldn't keep us from asking what needs to happen next across every subject.

Good data should help us do both: recognize where students are making progress, and stay clear-eyed about where more work is needed.

As Alabama's public charter sector grows, the standard that matters most isn't whether schools simply exist. It's whether they keep getting better at serving students.

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2017 Morris Avenue, Ste 300
Birmingham, AL
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