Abstract:

Incidents of bullying and harassment due to identity, identity expression, or otherness are well-documented in the literature. Students who identify as LGBTQ, LGBTQ-allied, or disenfranchised experience such intimidation in public schools in the United States at a much higher rate than do students who identify as heteronormative or neurotypical. In this qualitative case study, we describe the process of one group of highly committed individuals to develop, propose, and eventually establish one of the first and largest LGBTQ-affirming charter schools in the United States. Data were collected through observations, document review, individual interviews with key leaders and stakeholders, as well as focus groups to gather teacher, staff member, student, and parent perspectives. These data describe the process of opening the Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA) near Birmingham, Alabama and subsequent experiences of individuals working, attending, or sending their children to the MCAA. It is of note that the MCAA was established and opened in an area of the United States that is characterized by conservative, Christian values and political leanings, an environment that is markedly unfriendly to the LGBTQ community – an “unlikely space.” Despite ongoing opposition to the idea of opening a “gay school,” dedicated leaders from the sponsoring organization, the Birmingham AIDS Outreach, forged ahead to open what is now a successful LGBT-affirming school in the deep south of the United States.
We started our multi-phased study by examining the successes and challenges of gaining approval for the charter school and opening the doors to this highly unique public-school setting in the fall of 2021. We next turned to exploring teacher and staff experiences working in the MCAA, as well as the perspectives and experiences of MCAA students and parents.

Now approaching its third year of operation, the MCAA is the school home for nearly 400 students in grades 6-12. Students are clearly experiencing success, both socially and academically, in this student-centered, caring, and brave school setting. In this presentation we will share and discuss our case study findings relative to the unique school culture and environment of the MCAA. Further, we will shine a light on teacher, staff member, student voices as they shared their experiences and perspectives about working at and attending MCAA. Finally, we will look at what MCAA parents had to say about the need for a school like the MCAA and their motivations for placing their child(ren) in this unique and caring school environment. Among our conclusions as researchers and educators is that the MCAA is a highly ethical endeavor designed to establish a school setting that is loving, compassionate, addresses barriers to learning for a unique population of children, and functions daily in the best interest of students. We believe sponsors, school leaders, and other committed stakeholders can serve as a model for educators everywhere for what it takes to establish a truly ethical school.

Keywords:

LGBT, ethical school, charter schools, barriers to learning.