Alabaster City Schools has earned a spot among the Top 20 districts in the nation for exceptional growth in language development—an achievement reflecting the school system's commitment to supporting all multilingual learners and ensuring their long-term success.
This national distinction highlights the dedication of teachers, language specialists, administrators, students, and families, working together to create learning environments where students thrive—particularly in the areas of speaking and writing.
"This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our EL teachers and shows that our commitment to a culture of innovative learning is not just lip service," Federal Programs Supervisor Dr. Brent Byars said. "It's part of our culture that supports every learner, including our EL students, to help them thrive."
By prioritizing high-quality tools, resources, and meaningful data, ACS has accelerated language acquisition for multilingual learners. This focus earned the district recognition as one of the nation’s top performers in developing productive language skills.
“Having taught ESL in Alabaster schools for over 20 years, this recognition affirms how far we’ve come in the way we approach language learning," ESL teacher Mrs. Mandy Heatherly said. "Being named a Top 20 District shows that our schools are not only keeping pace with this evolution but are leading it."
She emphasized that, unlike many programs designed with native English speakers in mind, “Flashlight Learning is intentionally built for multilingual learners, with tasks that are not ‘watered down’ and that truly center on their needs.”
Alabaster City Schools' growth was carefully measured using multiple speaking and writing indicators by a team of educators who score and give feedback throughout the year to provide a clear and comprehensive picture of language development.
This achievement highlights the district’s strategic focus, quality instruction, and belief that all multilingual learners can be successful. It places Alabaster City Schools among the nation’s leaders in multilingual education—a distinction that reflects both past progress and a clear vision for the future.
See more on Flashlight Learning's Top 20 Districts.