FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Dr. Patton Furman, Principal

PFurman@mcaabhm.org

205-961-3204

 

Magic City Acceptance Academy Earns Cognia Accreditation

 

 

Birmingham, AL – August 1, 2024 – Magic City Acceptance Academy announced today that it has earned Cognia® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.

 

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school is accredited, and that Magic City Acceptance Academy is recognized across the nation as a school that meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.

 

“I am so proud of our staff for achieving accreditation this year. This nationally recognized recognition affirms our ongoing efforts to foster academic excellence, support student well-being, and continuously enhance our practices. It also demonstrates our commitment to providing high academic standards, in addition to avidly supporting students' emotional health,” shared Dr. Patton Furman, Principal of Magic City Acceptance Academy. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”

 

To earn Cognia accreditation, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.

 

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Magic City Acceptance Academy is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards, is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”

 

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about the Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org

 

Student enrollment is available now for grades 6-12 by visiting www.magiccityacceptanceacademy.org.

 

About Cognia

Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global nonprofit working in 90 countries, our 40,000 institutions serve and support nearly 17 million students and 800 thousand educators every day. Cognia serves as trusted partner in advancing learning for all. Find out more at cognia.org.

 

About Magic City Acceptance Academy

The Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA) located in Homewood, AL facilitates a community in which all learners are empowered to embrace education, achieve individual success, and take ownership of their future in a brave, LGBTQ-affirming learning environment. MCAA motivates and prepares students in grades six through twelve by providing an exceptional, innovative, and quality-driven education. MCAA’s purpose is to engage students who have dropped out, are not thriving in traditional schools, or are enrolled in home-school programs. Mentors and teachers will be incorporated throughout the diverse MCAA curriculum to empower students in directing their own education. MCAA will provide a brave learning environment and LGBTQ affirming culture for all.