ACCEL is Alabama’s first public charter school, currently serving grades 6-12. It is a tuition-free, public school providing a next generation (NexGen) learning space. This innovative, personalized learning environment meets students where they are and puts them on a path to achieve their dreams after high school. ACCEL’s staff is committed to help students gain the skills and mindset they need to build the future they aspire for themselves. Every student will graduate ready to succeed in college and to be employed in well-paying careers.
In 2016, the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF) formed the subsidiary MAEF Public Charter Schools, Inc. (MAEF PCS) to (1) foster innovation in school designs in the Mobile area, (2) inspire students who are most in need and prepare them to graduate college are career ready, and (3) serve as a center of learning and innovation for educational best practices across the state and region. As a first step to realizing the goals of MAEF PCS, a charter school proposal was submitted to and awarded by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission to form Alabama’s first charter school in August 2016. The school is the Acceleration (ACCEL) Day and Evening Academy.
Since 1992, under the leadership of its founder Carolyn Akers, MAEF has supported public education by investing over $25 million in efforts to support public schools in the Mobile region. MAEF provides business operations, executive leadership, fund development, and communications support to MAEF PCS and ACCEL Day and Evening Academy.