Alabama School Performance Recognition And Consumer Benefits Programs

The provided source material contains information about various recognition programs and consumer benefits in Alabama, though none specifically address "report card freebies" in Huntsville for 2019. This article examines the available information about school performance recognition programs, university loyalty initiatives, and consumer benefit opportunities based on the verified source materials.

Alabama School Performance Recognition Program

The Alabama State Department of Education operates a Legislative School Performance Recognition Program that acknowledges schools demonstrating either high performance or exemplary progress. This program was highlighted in the recognition of Kilby Laboratory School on the University of North Alabama campus in Florence, Alabama.

Kilby Laboratory School received recognition as part of this program during a ceremony in Montgomery in May 2023. According to Dr. Eric Kirkman, Kilby School Director, this recognition "is a testament to the hard work and the love of teaching and learning of our Kilby faculty and students." The school, with 150 years of history, continues to provide educational experiences that benefit both its students and University of North Alabama preservice teachers.

The Legislative School Performance Recognition Program identifies schools in two categories:

1. High-performance schools ranked in the Top 25 percent of public schools according to the school report card
2. Schools demonstrating exemplary progress by improving their overall annual ranking by at least one letter grade on the school report card

This state-level recognition program appears to be the primary formal acknowledgment of academic achievement in Alabama's public school system based on the available source materials.

University of Alabama Student Fan Loyalty Program

The University of Alabama implemented a Tide Loyalty Points program designed to encourage commitment from student fans. This program was announced in April, following complaints from head football coach Nick Saban about student attendance at games.

Saban had expressed concern about "vast swaths of empty seats in sections reserved for those enrolled in the university" during a 56-14 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in September 2018. His comments echoed similar concerns raised in 2013.

The university developed the loyalty program with specific incentives in mind:

• SEC Championship tickets
• College Football Playoff (CFP) tickets

As explained by university representatives, these premium seating opportunities serve as incentives for student attendance: "We know things like SEC Championship tickets, when we are fortunate enough to play in that, CFP tickets, when we are fortunate enough to play in there, those are good incentives to say, 'Hey, if you stay the whole game you're going to have a better chance of getting those seats.' Not guaranteed, but a better chance."

The program appears to be structured as a points-based system where continued attendance throughout games increases students' chances of receiving desirable tickets for major championship events. This represents a form of incentive program for student engagement with athletics, though it is not directly related to academic performance or report cards.

American Express Shop Small Program

American Express operates a Shop Small program with specific eligibility criteria for businesses wishing to participate. This program appears to offer benefits to both consumers and participating merchants.

Eligibility Requirements for Businesses

Businesses must meet several criteria to qualify for the Shop Small program:

• Geographic location: Must be located in the 50 United States or U.S. territories
• Volume thresholds:
  • Up to $5 million in full-year American Express Charge Volume (CV) at the top of chain (TOC)
  • Up to 25 Locations in File (LIFs) at TOC
• Franchise guidelines:
  • Franchise brands with up to 250 total stores and/or up to 25 corporate-owned stores are included
  • Franchise brands exceeding these criteria are excluded
• Status requirement: Must be in good standing
• Online presence: Online merchants are eligible and can appear in the Online Directory section of the Shop Small Map

Excluded Industries and Business Models

Certain industries and business models are explicitly excluded from the Shop Small program:

• Government agencies and public administration
• Gas stations and businesses located on the same premises as a gas station
• Travel agencies
• Charities and nonprofits
• Peer-to-peer payments and crowdfunding
• Trade associations
• Shopping property management companies
• Direct sellers
• Political organizations

Additionally, businesses that accept American Express cards solely through a third-party payment aggregator or affiliate who do not provide a sponsored merchant file are excluded as "aggregators."

The Shop Small program appears to function as a directory and promotional platform for eligible small businesses, though the specific benefits to consumers are not detailed in the provided source materials.

Alabama Power Regulatory Context

While not directly related to the search query about report card freebies, the source materials include information about Alabama Power and its regulation by the Public Service Commission (PSC). This context may be relevant to understanding the broader landscape of Alabama's regulatory environment.

Alabama Power has faced scrutiny regarding high residential electric bills, which reportedly are the highest among the 100 largest electric utilities in the country. This is particularly impactful in Alabama, which is noted as one of the poorest states in the nation, with electricity customers among the most financially burdened in the U.S.

The regulation of Alabama Power has undergone changes, particularly in 2013 when state regulators switched from the industry standard return on equity metric to a custom formula called "weighted retail return on common equity." This change reportedly rewarded Alabama Power for having higher ratios of equity to debt.

The PSC's regulatory approach has been described as "formula-based oversight" rather than through formal rate hearings. This approach includes monthly filings, annual reviews, and automatic refunds or adjustments when earnings fall outside a specified range. Critics have raised concerns about limited public participation in the regulatory process, with the second review of the rate structure reportedly conducted through closed-door meetings with Alabama Power and the state attorney general's office, with no public input.

Conclusion

The provided source materials do not contain information specifically about "report card freebies" in Huntsville, Alabama for 2019. However, they do outline several recognition and incentive programs in Alabama:

1. The Legislative School Performance Recognition Program acknowledges schools with high performance or exemplary progress
2. The University of Alabama's Tide Loyalty Points program incentivizes student fan engagement with athletics
3. American Express's Shop Small program provides a directory for eligible small businesses
4. Alabama's regulatory environment, particularly regarding utilities like Alabama Power, operates through a formula-based oversight system

While these programs represent forms of recognition and incentives, none specifically address academic report cards or provide freebies to students based on their academic performance in Huntsville or elsewhere in Alabama for the time period mentioned in the search query.

Sources

1. Alabama Power Regulation and Electric Bills
2. Kilby Laboratory School Recognition
3. Alabama Student Fan Loyalty Program
4. American Express Shop Small Program