The Alabama State Board of Education met Thursday to discuss the following:

1. Alternative Teacher Programs

Last spring, Alabama legislators passed legislation allowing companies to offer alternative certification programs and directed the State Board of Education to adopt rules authorizing an alternative certificate to individuals who already had earned at least a bachelor’s degree. 

• For-profit “alternative route” teacher-preparation programs are gaining popularity across the nation and last spring, took a big step into the state of Alabama. 
• Alternative route supporters claim it is the key to ending teacher shortages.  State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said he prefers the traditional pathway and argued teachers are better prepared and stay in the field longer when properly trained.

Why it matters: Required to implement the new rule, board members struggled with two proposed rules. Mackey said if they approve one version of the proposal, no alternate teacher preparation program would meet the qualification.  If they approve the proposal that removes the stringent faculty requirements, one program would qualify.

• Mackey said if the board writes the rules so tight that no one gets in, he is concerned lawmakers will enact a new law to work around the state board.  
• Board Vice President Dr. Wayne Reynolds (District 8) shared similar thoughts about rigid regulations, expressing it would be contradictory to what lawmakers want. 

Between the lines: Mackey and state board members are tasked with a challenging assignment: to create and implement a new rule leading to an approval process allowing for-profit teacher prep programs while deeply preferring the traditional pathway.

• The SBOE agreed to announce the intent to adopt the less stringent rule at its January meeting.
• Public comments will be open at the February meeting.  
• The board will vote in March on the final adoption of the rules. 

2. Teacher Preparation Program Report Cards

Higher education report cards for the 26 Alabama educator preparation programs in Alabama were released to the state board. The report cards have two key areas:

• Praxis passage rates of the teacher candidates, including the number of attempts, and 
• Survey data of how first-year teachers and their supervisors assess overall preparedness.  

State teacher prep programs use this data to assess program effectiveness and identify potential concerns. For example: 

• A low passing rate on a specific Praxis assessment could indicate little to no alignment between what is taught and what is assessed.  
• Student surveys could show that 85% are well prepared but their supervisors scored only 35%, indicating a potential deficit in the prep program to the classroom. 

Athens State University Dean of Education Dr. Lee Vartanian said his institution uses the data to meet Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) requirements;  which include 1) having a plan for improvement, and 2) using data to improve.  

Why it matters: The SBOE is required to approve educator preparation programs and the Higher Education Report Card is a tool used to show program effectiveness.

• Board member Tracie West (District 2) said, “If teacher candidates feel prepared but their principal thinks otherwise, I want to make sure our colleges of education have everything they need from us.”
• The SBOE has demonstrated time and again its urgency to closely examine teacher preparation programs to help teacher candidates transition effectively into the classroom.  

3. First Grade Readiness

A First-Grade Readiness rule is one step closer.  Board members agreed to move forward with a resolution indicating the intent to adopt a rule on First-Grade Readiness. 

• The administrative code proposal would mandate that local school boards adopt policies and procedures requiring students to demonstrate first-grade readiness skills before being promoted or entering first grade.
• Readiness would be determined by passing kindergarten or passing a first-grade readiness assessment.

Why it matters: A first-grade readiness bill has been introduced each of the last two years only to fall short.  The SBOE is taking a proactive approach to ensure students are adequately prepared to enter first grade.

• Students who have kindergarten or similar preschool experience typically are ready for first grade; however, there is a small number of students in the state who would be better served entering kindergarten, even though old enough for first grade. 
• The resolution is expected to be on the agenda in January.  It will then be up for public discussion for 45 days with an expected vote on adoption in March.  

4. What’s New

Mackey provided a Numeracy Act update and said implementation is on track. Schools that will get math coaches have been identified, and those coaches will start during the 2023-24 school year. 

5. Board Meeting Action

• Approved resolution honoring Alabama educator, Dr. Bran Cutter, principal, Dalraida Elementary School, Montgomery County school system, recipient of the 2022 Milken Educator Award
• Approved resolution for Adoption the Career and Technical Education State Course of Study, (Career Clusters: Education and Training; Hospitality and Tourism; Career Cluster Program: Cosmetology and Barbering)
• Approved resolution to receive recommendations of the State Textbook Committee for Adoption of Textbooks for Career and Technical Education Clusters: Architecture and Construction, Information Technology, and Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
• Approved resolution to reauthorize Birmingham Southern’s Educator Preparation Program
• Approved the 2022-23 State Superintendent’s Evaluation
• Approved Alabama’s State Board of Education K-12 Meeting and Work Session dates for 2023 
• Approved resolution recognizing December 5-11, 2022, as “Computer Science Education Week”

6. Next SBOE Meeting

The board’s next meeting is Jan. 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.