BIRMINGHAM — School staff told the board that summer school programming achieved high completion rates and that outreach to families reduced drop‑out from summer sessions; the board approved a contract to expand credit‑recovery capacity for the coming year.

Presentation materials showed an overall summer completion rate near 92%, with 86.5% of summer grades issued at C or higher and 13.5% at D or F. Staff said attendance‑related drops accounted for the majority of unenrollments and that counselors and staff made more than 315 phone calls to families to prevent drops; those outreach efforts preserved enrollment for many students, staff said.

Special populations completed at high rates: staff reported an 86% completion rate for English learners and a 95% completion rate for special‑education students in summer program offerings. The board heard that 106 students fully unenrolled during summer and that drop rates were concentrated in certain subgroups.

To expand recovery options in 2025–26, the board voted to approve an estimated $258,000 contract for the accelerated credit‑recovery program that will increase capacity (the contract amount was presented on the agenda and the motion carried). Staff said the higher contract amount reflects capacity to support up to 100 students in recovery programs.

Board members asked about duplication of enrollments across courses, course counts per student and contingency plans if fall enrollment shifts. Staff said the school’s charter cap is 3,200 (with operational margin up to about 3,300) and that independent‑study capacity is currently limited by district guidance to about 100 students, though the school may seek charter renewal changes to expand capacity.

A related item on the consent agenda certified that the school’s course‑based independent‑study program meets time and rigor requirements for 2025–26; the board approved that affirmation by majority vote.