At a pivotal time in the state's charter school growth, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth has changed the trajectory of the Alabama Charter School Commission and the schools under its purview with the recent appointment of Terry Lathan.
"It is a great honor to be appointed to the AL Charter School Commission by Lt. Governor Ainsworth. While I miss my classroom, there are important decisions made outside of our schools that I look forward to focusing on with my fellow commissioners," Lathan told 1819 News in a written statement.
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Lathan, a former public elementary school teacher, has a wealth of educational experience, having served on the Alabama Numeracy Task Force, the Alabama Women's Commission and the State Math Textbook Committee. She has also served on the Alabama Board of Registrars Advisory Board.
"I lean into three questions when making decisions: Are the actions taken beneficial or elevating for students, are taxpayer dollars being applied appropriately for our students, and would the majority of taxpayers/voters approve of these decisions?" she said.
Lathan's appointment comes amid scrutiny from Ainsworth and key leadership in the state legislature about the Commission's commitment to Alabama's students following its decision to renew the charter for Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA).
No one on the commission questioned the school about its proficiency scores, attendance problems, detailed reports of its woke agenda, or a host of other problems plaguing it before approving its charter. The school's English scores have decreased over time, from 61% to 56%, while its math scores have barely moved, up from 15% to 18%.
While the school's attendance goal is 460-495 students, earlier this year, Alabama Daily News reported that Magic City Acceptance Academy's enrollment was down 52 students, to 290, a 15% loss from last year.
The numbers have declined even further since that report, with the school now reporting approximately 284 students. The decline isn't slowing down school administrators, who requested in May that the commission approve a long-planned expansion, one that was largely planned, designed and orchestrated behind the Commission's back.
The school has hosted drag queens on campus, accepted library materials not suitable for a school environment and promoted an LGBTQ+ agenda that has included several non-binary and gender-confused faculty and teachers.
Last week, 1819 News reported on one of the school's "mental health professionals," who, before his employment, posted images of himself with narcotics, saying that he was "high" and using profane language. The school did not return repeated calls for comment, and it is unclear if the individual is still on campus.
"It is important for our actions to mirror the values and principles of Alabamians. They are the ultimate shareholders of our schools, and the students are our customers," Lathan said.
Lathan is the director of Republicans on a Mission (ROAM), where she recruited 350 Republican activists to help pass the historic CHOOSE Act, a new parental school choice bill.
Lathan will replace Ainsworth appointee Julie-Ann McCulley, who resigned her seat.
"We are grateful for the service of Julie-Ann McCulley and her dedication to advancing education in Alabama," Ainsworth said in a statement about the change.
"I have full confidence in Terry Lathan and the leadership she brings to this role. As a former chair of the Alabama Republican Party from 2015 to 2021, she has a proven record of building strong organizations and advocating for conservative principles across our state. Terry understands Alabama's values, and I am confident she will serve our students and families well."
There are 13 members of the commission. The appointment is effective immediately.
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