The mission of the Innovation for Schools Department is to assist in creating, implementing, coordinating, and communicating strategic initiatives that support the mission and vision of the school district and to direct the development of innovative programs and Initiatives throughout the district. 

The Department manages the planning, implementation and oversight of the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act. Other responsibilities include ongoing review and updates related to the charter school process, magnet schools and other strategy and innovation efforts. 

• As an Authorizer, BCS has the ability to extend its portfolio of academic offerings to students and families.

• BCS  Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released according to the following timeline:

  • The proposal for Fall 2026 will be released on November 1, 2024. 

With the passage of the Alabama School Choice and Opportunity Act, public charter schools may be established in Alabama in accordance with the Act. Under this law, a charter school is a public school that operates according to the terms of a charter, or contract, approved by a local board of education and the State Board of Education or the Alabama Charter Schools Commission. Locally approved charter schools operate under the control and management of the local board of education.

The local board is required to ensure that a locally approved charter school is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local rules, regulations, court orders, and statutes as well as meet the performance objectives identified in the contract. This RFP from the Birmingham City Schools Board of Education (BCSBOE), an approved charter schools authorizer, seeks proposals for a high-quality public charter school that would operate in this school district.

All public charter schools approved in Birmingham through this process will be subject to the legal requirements set forth in the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act (Act #2023-420).

Consistent with Birmingham City Schools (BCS) authorizing priorities, BCS is pleased to invite proposals for high-quality, innovative, start-up public charter schools seeking to open in the 2026-2027 school year.

BCS is particularly interested in proposals that offer Dual Language Spanish Immersion and address the following educational priorities: Closing the achievement gap between special education and general education students, specifically in literacy and numeracy. Increasing academic opportunities for all students, including but not limited to special needs, at-risk, and English Language Learners, in the areas of science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STREAM) All applications must be submitted via the application portal.

The application portal will open to receive applications beginning November 1, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. CST and will close at 4:30 p.m. CST on December 2, 2024. A mandatory hard copy must be delivered to the address below, with original signatures, by 4:30 p.m. CST on December 2, 2024. Hand-delivered applications must be delivered to:

Birmingham Board of Education

Attn: Mr. Edward McMullen Room 202

2015 Park Place

Birmingham, AL 35203

All applications will be considered filed on December 2, 2024, as long as all steps are completed as outlined above.

Please note: All BCS schools and District offices will be closed on November 25-29, 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to check this site regularly for updated/new documents. 

Please Email Mr. Cedric Tatum if you have any questions regarding the application process. 

Updated August 2024

Sept 3, 2024-November 1, 2024: Authorizer releases a Request for Proposal (RFP) for potential charter school applicants.

December 2, 2024: Charter school applicant’s deadline to submit an application to the local school board authorizer.

December 2, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025: Review window for local school board authorizers to review submitted charter school

applications.

December 12, 2024: Public Forum

January 6, 2025: Applicant’s Capacity Interview

January 21, 2025: Decision from Authorizer Due

February, 2025:

• 1st:

  Begin 60-day Charter Contract window if RFP is approved

  • Begin 30-day appeal window for applicant if RFP is denied

• 4th:

  Develop Pre-Opening Process for Approved Charters (see State sample)

March 7, 2025: The local school board authorizer reports to the ALSDE the action it has taken; to include:

• A copy of the report to the charter school applicant at the same time that the report is submitted to the ALSDE.

• A copy of the authorizer’s resolution with said action.