1.16.2024

Dear parents:

The Alabama Accountability Act of 2015 was created to provide school choice to students attending certain designated schools.  The Act also includes a provision for financial assistance through an income tax credit to a parent who transfers a student from a Priority School to another public or non-public school of the parent’s choice.

Your child’s school, Foley Middle School, has been designated a Priority School pursuant to the Act. This designation does not reflect progress that is in fact occurring at your school. In fact, strategies are currently being implemented to ensure that your child receives the best education possible. For example, Foley Middle School has seen the following achievements:  Foley Middle School improved student growth by 7%; reduced the number of chronic absent students by 3%; and improved by 3 points on their overall score from the last State Report Card.

As a result of Foley Middle School’s designation and based on 2023 legislative changes to the Act, which broadened what State Report Card letter grade would trigger a school choice option we are required to notify you of your options for the 2024-25 school year as follows:

Option 1 – Your child may remain or enroll in his or her assigned school and may continue to take advantage of the programs provided by the Baldwin County Board of Education and Foley Middle School.

Option 2 – Your child may transfer to a comparable school that is not included on the annual list of Priority Schools in the same local system that has available space and is willing to accept the student.  Under Option 2, parents should contact the desired comparable school within the Baldwin County Public School System and obtain the receiving school principal’s signature.

Option 3 – If your local school system has not made Option 2 available, your child may transfer to a comparable school that is not included on the annual list of Priority Schools in another local school system that has available space and is willing to accept the student.

Option 4 – Your child may transfer to a qualifying non-public school in Alabama that is willing to accept the student.

Parents who elect to utilize the transfer process (Options 2, 3, or 4) must complete an appropriate Student Transfer Form. You may contact Assistant Superintendent Mr. Marty McRae’s office for a copy of the form, or the form will be live and accessible on January 19, 2024 by visiting the following link: https://www.bcbe.org/page/509.

Please be aware that under Alabama law, in the event you seek a transfer to a comparable school within the Baldwin County Public School System, (Option 2), the transfer is only applicable at this time for the 2024-25 academic year as it is subject to Foley Middle School being identified as a “Priority School” under the Act for the 2024-25 academic school year.  In addition, please be aware that under Option 2, while transportation may be provided by the District from the Foley feeder pattern to the transfer school, the District may not be able to pick up and drop off at your residence. Rather, the District may provide transportation from designated pickup and drop off spots in the Foley feeder pattern. In addition, in choosing a comparable school in the District, please be aware that should you need District transportation, the distance from the Foley feeder pattern area to a transfer school may result in significant travel time for students on morning and afternoon routes as well as a change to your student’s current pickup and/or drop off times. Please also be aware that should your child be accepted at a comparable school within the District, and choose and be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, your child would participate in those activities at their comparable transfer school. 

The completed Student Transfer Form must be submitted to Mr. McRae’s office by March 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year.  You may mail in or drop off the form to the following address:

Baldwin County Board of Education
Loxley Central Office Satellite
Attention:  Mr. Marty McRae
1091 B Avenue
Loxley, Alabama 36551

Finally, please be aware that this letter is an important income tax document.  Please retain a copy of it and the Student Transfer Form for preparation of your upcoming state income tax return.  You will need to submit the Student Transfer Form with your state tax return to the Alabama Department of Revenue if you request a tax credit pursuant to Alabama Act No. 2015-434 and Alabama Act 2023-418.

If you have any questions regarding this notification, please feel free to contact Mr. McRae, Assistant Superintendent Joe Sharp, or me at 251.937.0306.

Sincerely,

Eddie Tyler,
Superintendent
#BaldwinProud #CommunityStrong