The main school system in Alabama’s largest city has received full accreditation for the first time ever.
News outlets report Birmingham City Schools gained the approval from AdvancED. Superintendent Lisa Herring said during a news conference Tuesday this is the first time that Birmingham City Schools has ever been accredited as a system.
AdvancED Regional Director Andre Harrison tells AL.com the process is different than accrediting each school, because there's a focus on leadership and student performance of the entire district. The accrediting agency had put Birmingham City Schools on probation in 2013, citing micromanagement and dysfunction among the school board.
Harrison says the school system was required to comply with specified actions including building its cash reserves, increasing student achievement and ensuring the board's governance structure is effective. He says the accreditation will last five years.
