The State Board of Education Thursday passed a resolution adopting a change to certification tests to help address the state’s teacher shortage. Teachers currently must pass an assessment or Praxis subject test for certification in all areas of secondary mathematics for grades 6-12. Praxis has developed a new test to allow educators to qualify to teach Algebra I and/or geometry as standalone subjects. Board Vice President Jeff Newman said narrowing certification to these specific, core math subjects will provide relief to schools systems that face challenges finding certified math teachers, particularly in small towns and rural areas. In the same resolution, the board adopted the new Praxis subject test that includes content necessary to teach reading in elementary grades.

Charter School Commission Nominees Approved
The board also approved members to serve on the Alabama Charter School Commission. The 10-member commission is an independent state agency with the ability to authorize public charter schools when a local school board either turns down a charter application or does not serve as a charter authorizer. Charter schools authorized by the commission are treated as a separate local education agency and not part of an existing school system. The State Board must vote on commission nominees put forth by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House and Senate president pro tem. Five seats expired on May 31 and the board approved the following to serve as commissioners:

• Nominated by Governor Kay Ivey: Paul Morin (Birmingham) to replace Mac Buttram and Sydney Raine (Mobile) to replace Charles Jackson
• Nominated by Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon: Marla Green (Montgomery) to replace Melissa McInnis and Kimberly Terry (Trinity) to replace Tommy Ledbetter
• Nominated by Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh: Henry Nelson (Birmingham) was reappointed and Jamie Ison (Mobile) to replace Chad Fincher (resigned March 2019).

Work Session: Teacher Shortage Task Force Update
The board work session included an update from the Teacher Shortage Task Force about its ongoing work. Task Force Chairman and Roanoke City Schools Superintendent Chuck Marcum said the group’s mission is to develop short-term and long-term recommendations to increase the quantity and quality of Alabama’s teacher applicants. Several national groups have presented to the task force, including the Education Commission of the States, Southern Regional Education Board and iTeach, an alternative certification provider. Marcum said some 50 percent of Texas teachers get alternative certifications rather than taking a traditional route to certification. Finding certified teachers is a growing problem. In Alabama, 30 percent of all classrooms are taught by teachers out of field, and more than 1,700 secondary teachers either have an emergency certificate or teach outside their field. And since 2010, the state has experienced a 40 percent decrease in the number of students entering teacher colleges.

According to the task force, both salary and benefits are a key consideration for young people entering today’s workforce. Teachers in the past have accepted a lower salary than other professions because of a generous benefits package; however, despite periodic raises, inflation has reduced the value of salaries, and the state’s 2012 retirement benefit cut hurt recruitment and retention. The task force is looking for creative solutions, such as a Mississippi program that gives full scholarships to teaching students with the understanding they must work in underserved areas for four years. The Alabama effort is a limited loan forgiveness program with the same intent, but a student must incur a federal loan up front, and the reimbursement is capped.

Board members discussed alternative and provisional certificates, identifying creative career pathways for teachers to stay engaged in the classroom and exploring options such as master teachers and course developers. The task force provided two early recommendations to the legislature this year. The first, expanding the duration of an emergency teacher certificate, was enacted and already is being used in school systems. The second, revising the reduced retirement benefit known as Tier 2, failed on the final day of the legislative session. Board members cautioned the task force to be clear whether the shortage pertains only to teachers or other educators and critical personnel. One task force member gave the example of the difficulty to hire a diesel mechanic because salary and benefits don’t match what is offered elsewhere. The task force will finalize its recommendations to present in October.

Other Work Session Highlights
The board also reviewed ALSDE’s operating budget and previewed items to be discussed for the FY21 Education Trust Fund budget request. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey provided feedback on the FY20 budget and outlined priority areas such as classroom instructional supplies, now funded at $600 per teacher unit. He said a long-term goal is to ask the legislature to fund $1,000 per unit. Cynthia McCarty (District 6) said her local superintendents prioritize transportation, English language learners, special education and lowering divisors. Mackey said only $7 million of the requested $10 million was appropriated for literacy/reading, which largely will address the requirements of the new Alabama Literacy Act. Mackey said the true cost is estimated to approach $40 million once the program rolls out in two years, and additional state funding will be needed. Board members said lawmakers must understand the impact of unfunded mandates on local school programs, especially the burden local schools bear to fund special education. The board will continue discussions and must submit its budget request to the governor by Nov. 1.

In other business, board members discussed the state’s strategic plan for education. Stephanie Bell (District 3) requested the board have more input and ownership in the plan’s development. Wayne Reynolds (District 8) said the disconnect between the State Board of Education and state legislature is a growing concern. Reynolds said the plan must be focused and stressed the need for aggressive action in improving education. He added that he wants it to be clear the state board members serve as the leaders of public education. “We face extermination,” he said, referring to the upcoming March 2020 referendum during which voters will decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment to replace the current elected board with an appointed commission.

Next State Board Meeting
The next State Board of Education meeting will take place September 12 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery, with a work session to follow.