What’s new in Montgomery Public Schools for the school year 2023-2024?

As summer comes to an end, it’s time for students, parents, and teachers of Montgomery Public Schools to welcome a new school year.

Melvin Brown, who is now in his second year as MPS Superintendent, wrote an open letter to the community expressing his belief that this year will be transformational for the district.

Brown’s ultimate goal is to ensure that students are engaged in 21st-century learning initiatives, and he is confident that the district is making strides toward that objective this year.

Above all, the district remains focused on equity, access, and opportunity for every student, and they are continuously working to improve educational outcomes.

Although most policies, traditions, and school buildings will remain the same as they were last year, there are a few changes that have taken place in recent months.

Here’s what Montgomery Public Schools has in store for the 2023-2024 academic year:

Student IDs

This is the first year that every MPS student will be required to carry a student ID card during the school day and during school functions.

Back in May, the board of education overwhelmingly approved to introduce an ID program to increase campus security. The cards will also be used to check out library books and pay for meals in the cafeteria line for each kid.

No cell phone access during the school day

While students had historically been prohibited from using their phones in class, MPS is tightening the regulations this year. Students in grades 6-12 will no longer be allowed to bring their cell phones to school.

Yondr pouches, and magnetic neoprene bags, are being provided by MPS for students to lock their phones inside when they arrive at school in the mornings. Before leaving school grounds at the end of the day, pupils will hold their pouches up to “unlocking bases” and be able to withdraw their phones.

Please contact your school administration if your student requires an exemption to this policy.

New names, new mascots, new meaning

Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee High Schools are no longer in operation. When the school board agreed to rename the institutions last year, it removed the Confederate names from the MPS roster.

Instead, the schools were given the names of civil rights leaders and well-known scientists. They are known as Johnson, Abernathy, and Graetz (JAG) High School and Percy Julian High School, respectively.

New mascots and school colours are also part of the overall rebranding. JAG’s mascot is a jaguar, and its logo is purple and gold, according to MPS. Julian’s mascot is a phoenix, and the team’s colours are orange and navy.

Fewer students enrolled

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPS had over 27,000 students enrolled. That population had reduced to 26,583 by the start of the 2021 school year, and two years later, there are now 25,500 students enrolled in MPS.

It’s unclear how fewer student enrollment would affect the district this year, but it could mean less state cash.

Renovations and construction

Booker T. Washington Magnet High School has officially moved to its new site on Bell Road, which includes a beautiful new black box theatre and gymnasium erected on the grounds of the former Holy Cross Episcopal School.

A new Ninth Grade Academy is also being built at George Washington Carver High School.

Phasing out Sidney Lanier High School

Sidney Lanier High School will begin the process of closure this year as part of the MPS capital plan. MPS will phase out the school over several years to ease the transition for the district and its kids.

This year, ninth-graders who were scheduled to attend Lanier High School will instead attend George Washington Carver High School. Lanier will retain grades 10-12.

It’s also worth noting that Lanier High School is the final MPS institution named for a Confederate general. MPS will no longer have any schools with Confederate names once it is phased out.

Attendance policy

Students should not skip more than ten days of school.

Starting this year, students who are missing for 15 consecutive days will be withdrawn after district staff conduct a home visit and a certified letter is delivered to the parent with no response.

If a student 16 years of age or older misses 10 consecutive days of school or has a total of 15 unexplained absences in a single semester, they will be considered pulled from school under state law. This could affect a student’s ability to earn a driver’s license in Alabama.

More of the arts

Superintendent Brown stated that there is more money in the budget for art and music offerings this year since Montgomery citizens approved for a property tax hike to help finance MPS in 2020.

“Throughout the district, we will have more art and music offerings because we recognize the importance of self-expression and the ways that the arts improve overall academic performance,” he stated in his open letter. “We don’t see why we can’t be a model school system for the state and region.” Every day’s labour will bring us closer to this goal.”

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