Delivering the Dream
Real change in this nation’s education system must include designing more schools to empower children, hiring more teachers who inspire them, and holding everyone accountable for success.
UNCF believes that charter schools offer proven approaches and tremendous opportunities for students to achieve academic and personal success.
This is why UNCF is committed and dedicated to fostering partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and charter schools that will help many more children get the education they need and deserve to pursue their dreams — and fulfill them.
On April 29, UNCF celebrated a significant milestone: the official groundbreaking ceremony between UNCF-member Stillman College and I Dream Big Academy Charter School in Tuscaloosa, AL. This historic event marks meaningful progress in expanding high-quality education options and helping students achieve their dreams of going to and through college. Through our K-12 Advocacy work, UNCF proudly advances innovative partnerships between HBCUs and the K-12 community that are designed to directly support student success. These collaborations reflect a growing movement to reimagine how HBCUs can extend their influence by shaping educational pathways from early learning through higher education.
“At UNCF, we believe in the power of education to not only change students’ lives, but to also impact their families and future generations to come. This is why we choose to intentionally invest in historic partnerships such as these. I Dream Big Academy Charter School and Stillman College are here to show not only Alabama, but the entire country what’s possible when we invest in higher education,” said Dr. Meredith B.L. Anderson, director, K-12 Research, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF at the groundbreaking ceremony.
UNCF imagines a future where HBCUs play a prominent role for students in their communities, helping foster the next generation of talent that will fuel business, society and government. That is why we have committed to help build excellent and enduring partnerships between local school districts, charter school leaders and networks, and other partners to help transform K-12 education.
We seek to find and support institutions that are interested and committed to building strong K-12 partnerships and help and refine and accelerate those that are already doing excellent work.
Stillman College and I Dream Big Academy Charter School are excellent examples of the powerful and meaningful HBCU partnerships that are established to strengthen and support communities.
Students will have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education on a historic campus surrounded by world class academic scholars, students and staff.
The April 29 groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the launch of the first HBCU-Charter School partnership in the state of Alabama. The event on Stillman College’s campus marked a transformative milestone in education and opportunity for families in Tuscaloosa and beyond.
Set to open in Fall 2025, I Dream Big Academy Charter School will welcome students in grades 6th through 8th, adding a grade level each year and is already generating high community interest. While enrollment applications are currently being accepted, some grade levels are at capacity and are operating on a waitlist.
As Tuscaloosa’s first and only tuition-free charter school, I Dream Big Academy offers families a free educational option unlike any other in the region. In addition, it is Alabama’s only Big Picture Learning school, providing a personalized, real-world learning model focused on student passions and career exploration.
Through its groundbreaking collaboration with Stillman College and UNCF, I Dream Big Academy will become a lab school, offering a pipeline for teacher development and early access to college and career opportunities for its K-12 students.
This innovative model places students at the intersection of higher education, professional mentorship, and hands-on learning from day one. The new building will share a parking lot with Stillman College’s Harte Center, which is home to Stillman’s School of Education.
I Dream Big Academy Charter School is a landmark achievement as more UNCF-initiated partnerships with HBCUs and charter school leaders are coming.
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