April 6, 2023

Dear Davis-Emerson Middle 8th Grade Students and Families,

You are receiving this message because it is for students who will attend Holt High during the 2023-2024 school year. This information does not apply to Davis-Emerson Middle School. 

On June 9, 2015, the Alabama Accountability Act of 2015 (AAA) was signed into law, which sets forth new flexibility requirements for school systems and schools. The Act also includes a provision for financial assistance through an income tax credit. This credit is provided to a parent or guardian who transfers a student from an AAA School to another public or non-public school of the parent or guardian’s choice.

Holt High School has been designated an AAA School, pursuant to the Act. If a high school scores in the bottom six percent of Alabama schools on the ACT Plus Writing test, administered to 11^thgrade students on one day, it is classified as an AAA School. It is one test, on one day, given to one grade level, that qualifies a school as an AAA School. This designation does not reflect the progress happening at Holt High School.

Strategies are currently being implemented to ensure that Holt High students receive the best education possible. The following strategies are currently in place at Holt High:

• Holt High has fully implemented the Cantrell & Waller ACT Prep curriculum to ensure that students have the best preparation possible for the ACT. Cantrell & Waller has been helping students achieve their testing goals for more than 20 years. 
• Holt High is working to become a national ACT testing site. This will make it easier for Holt High students to take the test multiple times and improve their performance on the test.
• Holt High is now offering academic and career technical dual enrollment classes, directly on the Holt High campus. Holt High is seeing an increase in the number of students taking dual enrollment classes. Students are also eligible for fee and textbook scholarships for dual enrollment classes. 
• In addition to steps to improve student ACT scores, Holt High is also implementing many other strategies and activities that benefit students and enhance the overall school culture.

Under the AAA, we are required to notify you of the options below. These options do not apply to students who will be attending Davis-Emerson in the 2023-2024 school year, only those who will attend Holt High. 

• Option 1: Your student may attend Holt High and continue to take advantage of the programs provided by the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education. If you choose this option, there is no action you are required to take. 
• Option 2: Under the law, your student may transfer to a comparable school within the same school system, if the school you wish to transfer to is: not included on the annual list of AAA Schools, and has available space, and is willing to accept the student. Option 2 is not available in the Tuscaloosa County School System.
• Option 3: If Option 2 is not available, your student may transfer to a comparable school in another local school system, that is not on the annual list of AAA Schools, has available space, and is willing to accept the student.
• Option 4: Your student may transfer to a qualifying non-public school in Alabama that is willing to accept the student.

Parents or guardians who elect to utilize the transfer process (Options 3 or 4) must complete the appropriate Student Transfer Form. The form is available by contacting Dr. Daniel Dickens, Holt High School Principal, at (205) 342-2768, or Mrs. Jackie Hudgins, TCSS Director of Accountability, at (205) 342-2739. Again, these options do not apply to students who will be attending Davis-Emerson in the 2023-2024 school year. 

The Student Transfer Form for the 2023-2024 School Year must be submitted to Dr. Dickens or Mrs. Hudgins no later than May 5, 2023.

Finally, please be aware that this letter is an important tax document. Please retain a copy of it and the Student Transfer Form for preparation of your upcoming state income tax return. You will need to submit the Student Transfer Form with your state tax return to the Alabama Department of Revenue, if you request a tax credit pursuant to Alabama Act No. 2015-434.

If you have any questions regarding this notification, please contact Dr. Daniel Dickens or Mrs. Jackie Hudgins at the contact information listed above.

Sincerely,

Dr. Keri C. Johnson

Superintendent