Committee advances American Leadership Academy’s renewal to keep four‑day instructional week

The Law & Licensing Committee on first consideration approved American Leadership Academy’s request to renew a waiver allowing the charter to operate a four‑day instructional week, saying the school provided the stakeholder meetings and data required under the board’s revised waiver rules.

American Leadership Academy Principal Morley told the committee the school began the four‑day week eight years ago and designed Fridays for intervention and enrichment: “Friday would be intended for intervention,” he said, explaining that teachers are available to help students K–12 from 08:00 to 10:00 and that K–6 students are invited for targeted reading and math support. Morley said the model also includes alternating teacher development Fridays and paid‑stipend intervention Fridays so teachers are paid when they work with students.

The committee pressed Morley on evidence of impact and participation. Morley provided operational metrics for recent school years: in 2024–25 he said the school recorded 4,009 student visits for Friday intervention totaling an estimated 12,534 intervention hours, with 803 assessments taken and 972 assignments completed; another year’s totals included 3,005 students attending and smaller totals for assessments and assignments. Morley said the school had not seen meaningful budget savings from the schedule and that attendance district‑wide had remained “pretty flat,” but he described improved family engagement and logistical benefits for extracurricular activities.

Committee members raised concerns about student participation and equity. Vice Chair Bollinger and others noted transportation is a common barrier to Friday attendance; Morley acknowledged the school does not provide Friday transportation and said family follow‑through and teachers’ invitations strongly influence which students attend. Members also asked whether special‑education services were provided; Morley said the school continues to provide required services and summer extended programs for qualifying students.

Deputy Superintendent Nui told the committee this renewal was the first under the board’s updated waiver rules and that American Leadership Academy had held the two additional stakeholder meetings now required under the rule. The committee voted to approve the school’s renewal and to forward the matter to the full board. After the vote, members asked staff to explore standardized survey options so the state could collect comparable data from LEAs granted four‑day waivers; the committee directed staff to report back with options by April 2026.

The motion to approve the renewal passed unanimously. Principal Morley said the school would be willing to work with the board on any state‑administered survey to better document outcomes and tradeoffs of four‑day schedules.