The full State Board of Education met in person for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic more than one year ago. In the work session, ALSDE officials said the rollout is complete for the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP), the new state assessment covering math, English and science. The department is now reviewing the data to develop standards and cut scores before releasing the results to school systems in August. In future years, the ALSDE aims to deliver results before the end of each school year.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey reported that ACAP participation rates far exceeded the 70% goal the state set for testing amid the pandemic. He said many states thought 70% participation was out of reach and some even abandoned state tests this year. Alabama’s spring assessment participation rates included:

• ACAP - 93%
• ACAP alternative - 87%
• ACCESS for English Language Learners - 96%
• ACT - 86%

Board members discussed adding the PSAT to allow students an opportunity to compete for National Merit scholarships as well as adding a second opportunity for students to take the ACT. Data shows students improve their scores after taking the ACT multiple times, increasing the chances of being accepted to college and earning scholarships. Mackey said the state currently pays for the pre-ACT for 10th grade and the ACT for 11th grade. Adding an additional test would require funding from the legislature, Mackey said.

In other news, the board discussed ramifications of potential legislation to postpone the 3rd grade retention provision of the Alabama Literacy Act. Mackey said he and legislators are concerned that should the bill pass on the final legislative day (Monday, May 17), many educators would mistakenly believe the whole Act is delayed when in fact, the implementation will move forward whether the legislation passes or fails.

MPS Intervention Release

A status review of the state intervention in Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) generated a lengthy discussion during the work session. Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd said the ALSDE will propose a conditional release of MPS from state intervention Dec. 1, 2021, provided the system maintains compliance in the following areas:

• Adequate academic progress
• Fiscal sustainability indicated by having a minimum of 1.5-month’s operating balance in reserve
• Adequate operational standing in areas such as transportation, child nutrition and other auxiliary departments

The system has addressed the seven deficits initially identified for intervention and demonstrated consistent growth in performance indicators, including academic progress, graduation rates and financial accountability, leading to improvements in the system’s accreditation review. MPS Superintendent Dr. Ann Roy Moore, CSFO Arthur Watts and several board members attended the work session, including Board President Clare Weil, who discussed some of the tough decisions the board has made. “The children weren’t failing; we were failing the children,” she said.

Assistant State Superintendent Terry Roller said MPS finances saw significant improvement after the system filled critical positions such as a chief financial school officer (CSFO), transportation director and child nutrition program (CNP) director. A reduction in force, including central office cuts, helped address a sizable deficit and greatly improve the system’s fund balance. Watts said the system is projected to end this fiscal year (Sept 30) with double the required one-month’s operating balance. MPS presentation Powerpoint.

ESSER III Funds

Assistant State Superintendent for Evaluation and Innovation Shanthia Washington updated the board on ESSER III, the third federal COVID relief package for public schools. Alabama’s allocation totals more than $2 billion, with local school systems to receive $1.8 billion and the ALSDE to reserve $202 million. Each school system’s allotment will be shared with superintendents at a May 25 meeting, and the funds will be available until September 2024.

In all, funding from the three federal relief packages total $2.8 billion for Alabama’s local school systems and some $314 million for the ALSDE. Some local school leaders have said the three rounds of federal funding has been confusing, as each round has its own guidelines, deadlines and allowable uses. For more information, the USDOE Fact Sheet provides a chart comparing the three funding packages, and the ALSDE’s ESSER III presentation includes additional details about requirements and allowable uses of ESSER III funds.

Representatives from several colleges of education attended the work session as the board learned about proposed changes to the Administrative Code for educator preparation programs. Board members asked for an update about student enrollment and faculty sizes for the colleges of education. Responses indicate enrollment is increasing for the next generation of teachers, which is welcome news amid the current landscape of teacher shortages across the state and nation.

At its earlier meeting, the board:

• Approved resolutions recognizing students representatives of Future Teachers of America (FTA) chapters and recipients of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations Award.
• Voted to appoint three charter school commissioners from a list of two governor nominees for each open position. The board held multiple rounds of votes before arriving at a majority for each position, selecting Ty Moody of Hoover, Paul Morin of Birmingham and Sydney Raine of Mobile. Stephanie Bell (District 3) and Dr. Wayne Reynolds (District 8) abstained.
• Approved textbook recommendations by the State Textbook Committee for Career Technical Education clusters, including agriculture, food and natural resources, law, public safety, corrections and security, and STEM.

Next State Board Meeting

The next State Board of Education meeting is Thursday, June 10 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.