Birmingham BOE Meetings, Registration, Buses, PowerSchool & Parent Help
The Birmingham Board of Education governs Birmingham City Schools in Alabama. This 2026–27 guide helps families find Board meetings and members, register new or returning students, verify school zones, use PowerSchool, find and track buses, understand Pre-K and specialty-school routes, request records and find student-support services.
It also flags information most likely to go stale: Board dates that do not follow the usual pattern, old 2025–26 meal announcements, older school-level enrollment pages, bus information changed by the new Stopfinder app, and programs with their own application or selection process.
Birmingham Board of Education at a glance
District Office
2015 Park Place North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
Main Phone
Superintendent
Dr. Mark Sullivan.
Board
Nine elected members representing nine districts.
Schools
43 schools in the current district academic profile.
Students
More than 20,000 students.
Normal Board Time
Second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.—subject to the dated schedule.
Parent Tools
PowerSchool, BCS app and Stopfinder.
Do not confuse school systems: Birmingham City Schools is separate from Jefferson County Schools, Bessemer City Schools and Shelby County Schools.
Board question or everyday school-service question?
| Your need | Start here | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Board policy / budget / governance | Board of Education | Direct elected-Board responsibility. |
| Next Board meeting | Meeting Schedule / agenda | Actual dates can deviate from the normal pattern. |
| New student | Registration | New family PowerSchool account required. |
| Returning student | Existing Parent Portal | Returning registration is completed online annually. |
| School assignment | Zoning & Feeder Patterns | Closest school is not necessarily the zoned school. |
| Bus route | Transportation / Stopfinder | Routing is tied to student and address. |
| Grades / attendance | PowerSchool | Student-specific protected information. |
| Possible disability | School / Special Education | Referral and evaluation may be appropriate. |
| 504 accommodation | Section 504 | Separate accommodation/civil-rights process. |
| Transcript / verification | Alumni & Student Records | Dedicated records workflow. |
Use Birmingham’s Parent Checklist before an older school page
The district’s current Parent Checklist was updated May 29, 2026 and specifically surfaces three high-priority current-year items: 2026–27 Registration, the new Stopfinder app and 2026–27 District Calendars.
2026–27 Registration
Use the current district registration route instead of an older campus PDF.
Stopfinder
New 2026 family transportation tool.
2026–27 Calendars
Preferred source for current-year dates.
Why this matters: individual Birmingham school pages can still contain 2025–26 registration, calendar or meal references alongside newer 2026–27 content.
First day of school: August 10, 2026
Birmingham City Schools’ current homepage tells families that school starts August 10, 2026. Current 2026–27 school-supply communications also identify Monday, August 10 as the return date.
Aug. 10, 2026
Current district first-day message.
Approved Calendar
The district announced its approved 2026–27 calendar in April 2026.
Recheck Changes
Use Events/current calendar for later operational changes.
Do not reuse August 7. Older Birmingham pages identify August 7 as the 2025–26 first day. The current 2026–27 first-day message is August 10, 2026.
Exact breaks and closures: use the current approved calendar rather than guessing holidays from last year’s pattern. Weather, e-learning and intersession dates are especially year-specific.
Birmingham Board meetings: normal schedule vs actual date
The district says school Board meetings are normally held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Administration Building at 2015 Park Place North.
Do not calculate the next meeting from that sentence alone. Birmingham’s 2026 approved-agenda archive includes dates such as January 27, March 17, April 28, May 26 and June 16 in addition to second-Tuesday meetings.
Check Meeting Schedules
Use the Board’s current schedule instead of a recurring-calendar assumption.
Open the agenda
Verify the exact date, location and items scheduled for discussion/action.
Recheck on meeting day
Work sessions, special meetings and location changes can be separately announced.
Use approved records afterward
Approved Board Agenda Items help distinguish final Board action from proposed agenda content.
The Board says most meetings last about 1½ hours. Work sessions may occur before a business meeting or on another date/time and are open to the public, while certain legally permitted matters may be handled in closed session.
How to speak at a Birmingham Board meeting
Sign Up Beforehand
A sign-up sheet is made available before the meeting starts.
Community Voice
Members of the public address the Board during this portion of the agenda.
Two Minutes
Current Board guidance gives each speaker two minutes.
Private student issue? Avoid publicly disclosing disability, medical, disciplinary or personally identifiable education information when an appropriate confidential school/district route is available.
Birmingham Board of Education members
| District | Member | Current officer note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherman Collins, Jr. | Board President |
| 2 | Neonta Williams | Board Member |
| 3 | Mary Boehm | Board Member |
| 4 | Derrick L. Billups | Board Member |
| 5 | James A. Sullivan | Board Vice President |
| 6 | Leticia W. Harvill | Board Member |
| 7 | Walter Wilson | Board Member |
| 8 | Antwon Womack | Board Member |
| 9 | Yamika Foy | Board Member |
Officer titles can change. Current 2026 district reporting identifies Sherman Collins as President and James Sullivan as Vice President, but recheck before formal correspondence months after this update.
Dr. Mark Sullivan, Superintendent
Dr. Mark Sullivan is the current Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools and has served as superintendent since 2020.
Board vs superintendent: the Board establishes policy, governance direction and budget approvals; the superintendent and district administration handle implementation and system operations.
Every Birmingham City Schools student registers each year
Annual requirement: Birmingham City Schools says all students must complete online registration every school year.
Returning Student
A current BCS student uses the existing Parent Portal and Returning Student Registration form.
New Student
A student who has never attended BCS or did not complete the previous school year in BCS uses New Student Enrollment and creates a new family account.
Changing grade levels does not make the student new. Birmingham specifically says a continuing student moving from elementary to middle or middle to high school should register as a returning student.
Returning-student process
Sign in to Parent Portal
BCS says existing families already have a Parent Portal account.
Select Returning Student Registration
Use the current-year registration form.
Review family information
Make sure contact information used for school communication is accurate.
Complete required forms
Do not assume prior-year registration automatically carries forward.
New-student process
Districtwide promotion for 2026–27 registration began April 1, 2026. Individual school pages may still contain a previous-year registration process, so use the central Registration page.
What families can do in PowerSchool
📝 Registration
Complete district enrollment forms.
📊 Grades
Review available academic information.
✅ Attendance
Review student attendance.
📚 Classes
View upcoming/current classes.
☎️ Contact Data
Update allowed family contact information.
👨👩👧👦 Multiple Children
Register and manage multiple students from one family account.
📄 Applications
Complete district applications and forms.
🆘 Help
Dedicated weekday Parent Portal support is available.
Verify the school zone before registering
Birmingham links an official Zoning & Feeder Patterns resource and address-based school-zone tools.
Use the home address
Do not select the nearest school simply from a map.
Check feeder patterns
The usual elementary assignment can affect middle/high-school progression.
Separate zoning from School Choice
Specialty schools may use applications or selection requirements instead of ordinary zoned placement.
Confirm before a housing decision
A property listing is not the school district’s final assignment authority.
Moving for a particular school? Confirm the address with Birmingham City Schools before signing a lease or purchasing a property.
2026–27 Birmingham Pre-K eligibility
| Item | 2026–27 rule |
|---|---|
| Pre-registration | January 15–February 20, 2026 |
| Age | Child must be four on or before September 1, 2026. |
| Residence | Must reside within Birmingham City School District. |
| Selection | Random drawing. |
| Parent attendance at drawing | Not required. |
| Acceptance notice | District says status email was to be sent by April 18. |
Documents listed by Birmingham
The district says First Class Pre-K has no registration fee, uses a maximum class size of 18 and a staff-to-child ratio of 1:9.
Specialty-school admission is not the same as ordinary zoning
Birmingham’s current Students & Parents navigation specifically identifies School Choice 2026–27 and Specialty Schools.
Zoned School
Normal address-based assignment route.
Specialty School
Can have application, assessment or selection criteria.
District Registration
Specialty acceptance does not automatically eliminate normal district enrollment requirements.
Old-deadline trap: some individual campus pages still expose 2025–26 specialty or registration language. For a 2026–27 application, begin from the current district School Choice/Specialty route.
Bus routes, Find My Bus Stop and Stopfinder
BCS Transportation manages regular routing, special-education transportation and approved extracurricular transportation.
Find My Bus Stop
Use district transportation tools to locate assigned routing.
Stopfinder
Authorized parents can access real-time school-bus information.
Customized Alerts
Parents can control how and when bus-location and schedule updates arrive.
Stopfinder setup
Student must have district transportation information
Stopfinder works with the student’s BCS routing data.
Receive a district invitation
The district says parents/guardians must receive an invitation and complete registration.
Configure alerts
Choose useful notifications for location and schedule changes.
Use Transportation messaging if needed
Stopfinder supports two-way communication with the district’s Transportation Department.
Stopfinder launched June 2, 2026. Older Birmingham transportation articles may therefore omit the current real-time tracking option.
Verify the 2026–27 meal policy before saying all meals are free
The last clearly indexed districtwide CEP announcement available in the district’s current search footprint explicitly applies to 2025–26. It said enrolled BCS scholars could receive breakfast and lunch without paying or completing a meal application that year.
Do not silently change “2025–26” to “2026–27.” Use a new district Child Nutrition/CEP announcement before publishing a districtwide free-meal claim for the current academic year.
Current Menus
Use live school Lunch Menu resources for current offerings.
Dietary Needs
The district maintains a special-dietary-needs resource.
Policy Questions
Check Child Nutrition for the current year’s CEP/payment status.
Summer meals are separate. A 2026 summer-lunch announcement does not establish the regular 2026–27 school-day meal policy.
Referral, evaluation, eligibility and IEP support
Birmingham’s Special Education Department provides specially designed instruction at no charge to parents for students who qualify under IDEA.
Referral
The department processes referrals for evaluation.
Evaluation
Individual evaluation is used to determine IDEA eligibility.
IEP
Eligible students receive services prescribed through an Individualized Education Program.
The Special Education area also provides Child Find, a Special Education Toolkit, parent resources and an English-to-Spanish glossary of special-education terms.
A 504 plan and an IEP are different support routes
Birmingham maintains a separate Section 504 resource with Child Find guidance, a manual, complaint form, referral forms, referral-process flow chart, Spanish forms and homebound-referral resources.
A diagnosis alone does not tell a family which school process applies. Depending on the student’s needs, the route might involve IDEA special education, Section 504, health services or another school intervention.
Housing instability should not automatically delay school enrollment
Birmingham describes students experiencing homelessness as children and youth who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
Shelter / Motel
May qualify depending on the housing situation.
Vehicle / Campground
Can fall within McKinney-Vento housing situations.
Doubled Up
Sharing housing because the family lost or cannot afford housing may qualify.
Inadequate Housing
Other temporary/inadequate living arrangements may qualify.
Immediate enrollment: Birmingham says eligible students experiencing homelessness have a right to enroll immediately while the school works with the family to obtain necessary records.
Use Alumni & Student Records for formal records requests
Birmingham identifies Alumni & Student Records as the designated office for several record-related services.
| You need | Correct route | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript / alumni record | Alumni Records | A general Board-member email. |
| Education verification | Alumni & Student Records | PowerSchool parent access. |
| Release from BCS | Student Release Form | An informal email alone. |
| Out-of-district tuition | Registration / Records | Specialty-school acceptance assumptions. |
Use Birmingham’s protected reporting routes
Confidential Tip Line
Use for applicable confidential safety concerns.
Safe School Helpline
District family resources include a dedicated safe-school route.
Complaint Resolution
Use the formal district process when a concern requires escalation.
Title IX
Use dedicated Title IX resources for covered sex-discrimination or harassment concerns.
Protect student privacy. Avoid publishing private medical, disability, discipline or education-record details when a protected school or district reporting channel exists.
Birmingham programs beyond the standard zoned-school path
Virtual Academy
BCS offers a home-based virtual-learning pathway.
Early College
High-school students can pursue college and high-school credit.
Academies of Birmingham
Career-themed learning communities connect academics with work-based learning.
Career & Technical Education
Sequenced occupation-based programs support career preparation.
Dual Language
District Dual Language Immersion opportunities are available.
IB
International Baccalaureate programming appears within district academic options.
Gifted Education
Special Education resources include gifted services and Gifted Child Find information.
Intersession / Summer Learning
BCS uses supplemental learning periods for recovery and enrichment.
How to verify Birmingham Board financial action
The Board approves district operating budgets, while the district publishes approved Board agenda items, Finance resources and salary materials.
Agenda
Shows what is proposed for Board consideration.
Approved Agenda Items
Useful for determining what was approved at a particular Board meeting.
Finance Documents
Use district financial records for budget-level research.
Do not call every financial document “the final budget.” A proposal, recommendation, workshop document, agenda item and approved budget are different stages.
The current Board document area includes FY2026 certified, classified and supplemental salary materials. Always check the fiscal-year label before quoting a salary schedule.
Birmingham City Schools jobs and Human Resources
Employment Opportunities
Use the live HR employment route for current vacancies.
Substitutes
Human Resources maintains a separate substitutes resource.
Salary & Benefits
Current salary, insurance, retirement and benefits resources are available through HR.
Do not freeze a vacancy count in this article. Employment listings can change immediately after publication.
Make sure you are using the correct school system
Alabama Board of Education
Use for statewide Alabama education governance rather than Birmingham City Schools services.
Jefferson County Board of Education
Use when the student’s assigned school belongs to Jefferson County Schools.
Bessemer Board of Education
Use for students within Bessemer City Schools rather than BCS.
Shelby County Board of Education
Use for Shelby County Schools registration, calendar and Board information.
Common Birmingham school problems and the fastest fix
Used Jefferson County instead of Birmingham City
Fix: verify the district before registering, checking buses or requesting records.
Calculated the next Board meeting
Fix: use the current schedule/agenda because 2026 includes dates outside the normal second Tuesday.
Want to speak to the Board
Fix: sign up before the meeting; current Community Voice time is two minutes.
Returning student not registered yet
Fix: complete annual Returning Student Registration in Parent Portal.
Rising middle/high-school student marked “new”
Fix: continuing BCS students are returning students even when changing school levels.
No Parent Portal access
Fix: call 205-231-2690 or 205-231-2691 during published support hours.
Not sure which school serves the address
Fix: use BCS zoning and feeder-pattern tools before registration.
Old page says first day was Aug. 7
Fix: that was the previous school year; current 2026–27 messaging says Aug. 10, 2026.
Need a bus location
Fix: use Stopfinder if authorized or Transportation at 205-231-9305.
No Stopfinder access
Fix: confirm the student is routed and request district invitation/access assistance.
Old specialty-school deadline appears
Fix: start from School Choice 2026–27 instead of a 2025–26 campus page.
Assumed all 2026–27 meals are free
Fix: verify a current-year CEP announcement before carrying the 2025–26 policy forward.
Child may need special education
Fix: start with the school/Special Education referral and evaluation process.
Need disability accommodations but unsure about IEP
Fix: review the Section 504 referral process as well.
Family has unstable housing and no normal records
Fix: ask about McKinney-Vento immediate-enrollment rights.
Need a transcript or education verification
Fix: use Alumni & Student Records, not a general Board contact.
Birmingham Board of Education FAQs
What is the Birmingham Board of Education address and phone number?
Birmingham City Schools is located at 2015 Park Place North, Birmingham, AL 35203. The main district phone number is 205-231-4600.
When does the Birmingham Board of Education meet?
The normal schedule is the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Building auditorium, but 2026 includes meetings outside that pattern. Always verify the current dated schedule or agenda.
How do I speak at a Birmingham Board meeting?
Sign up before the meeting and address the Board during Community Voice. The current Board Meeting Format allows each speaker two minutes.
Who is the Birmingham City Schools superintendent?
Dr. Mark Sullivan is the current Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools.
Who are the Birmingham Board president and vice president?
Current 2026 district reporting identifies District 1 member Sherman Collins, Jr. as Board President and District 5 member James A. Sullivan as Board Vice President.
Do returning Birmingham students have to register every year?
Yes. Birmingham City Schools says every student must complete online registration each school year. Returning students use their existing Parent Portal account.
Is a BCS student moving from elementary to middle school considered new?
No. Birmingham specifically states that continuing students moving from elementary to middle or middle to high school are returning students.
How can I track my child’s Birmingham City Schools bus?
Authorized parents and guardians can use Stopfinder after receiving an invitation and completing the district registration process. Stopfinder provides real-time bus information, customized alerts and Transportation communication.
When did Birmingham City Schools start in 2026?
Current district messaging identifies Monday, August 10, 2026 as the first day of the 2026–27 school year.
Can a student experiencing homelessness enroll without normal documents?
An eligible student covered by McKinney-Vento can enroll immediately while Birmingham City Schools works with the family to obtain necessary records.
Final Birmingham verification checklist
Date-sensitive?
Recheck the current calendar or dated Board agenda before making travel, childcare or work plans.
Enrollment-sensitive?
Confirm new vs returning status and verify the home address through district zoning.
Student-specific?
Use Birmingham’s official PowerSchool, Registration, Transportation, records and student-support channels.
Research basis: refreshed August 17, 2026 using current Birmingham City Schools Board of Education, Meet the Board, Board Meeting Format, 2026 Approved Board Agenda Items, Parent Checklist, Registration, PowerSchool, Zoning & Feeder Patterns, Early Learning, Specialty Schools, Transportation, Stopfinder, Child Nutrition, Special Education, Section 504, Homeless Education, Students & Parents Hub, Academics & Accountability, Human Resources and current district news.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an independent informational guide and is not Birmingham City Schools or the Birmingham Board of Education. Official district notices, policies, Board records, enrollment decisions, transportation records and student-specific instructions take priority.