Saved Schools

School to Purpose Academies

School To Purpose Academies (aka Black Mothers Forum MicroSchools), nominated by Center on Reinventing Public Education and Transcend, is an elementary/middle/high school in Phoenix, Arizona, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

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Location Phoenix, Arizona

Governance Independent (Private) School

Grades Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, High

Students 36

Locale Urban

Founder, CEO Rev. Janelle Wood

Demographics

Percentage of students*

100%

English Learners

100%

Free/Reduced Lunch

22%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 92%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian —

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino —

White —

2+ Races —

Why School to Purpose Academies was nominated

The founders used Prenda microschools as a foundation to intentionally design a model to affirm culture, identity, and academic needs of of Black students and correct for institutional racism they have encountered in schools. The innagural site in Phoneix is part of a network of microschools operating under the umbrella of one online charter school. The model uses inherent flexibility of microschooling to provide more individualized support for student learning and wellbeing. , The Black Mothers Forum of Phoenix (BMFP) convened in 2016 to address the safety and welfare concerns of their children, especially their Black sons. BMF provides an affordable, parent-driven model that creates safe, supportive, nurturing, and liberatory environments. BMF infuses culturally responsive content and pedagogy into the Prenda approach where students learn at their own pace, build projects, and work together on collaborative activities. BMF also provides nutritious meals for all students through community partnerships, before- and after-school care, and additional accommodations to meet the needs of students and families, as well as a comprehensive academic program. BMF microschools are intentionally small groups of 5-10 students, each of which is led by two learning guides from the community. BMF hosts microschools in spaces leased from local churches. Prenda/EdKey train the learning guides and now BMF fundraises to provide funding for guides who can specialize in connecting and redirecting youth who have been traumatized by the traditional school experience.

Student experience design

The student feels safe, cared for, relaxed, supported and has the freedom to fail and learn from mistakes. Students feel accepted and free to have a bad day/moment and still be made to feel worthy and validated as a human being.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Culturally Responsive Practices
5+ years

Individual Learning Paths
5+ years

Multi-age Classrooms
5+ years

Project-based Learning
5+ years

Performance Based Assessment
5+ years

All Practices

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Co-leadership

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Higher Education Partnerships

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Individual Learner Profiles

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Peer To Peer Support

SEL Integration School-wide

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

key reasons for innovating

Address systemic inequities

Improve academic achievement

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.