The State Board of Education discussed the newly released 2022-2023 State and School System A-F Report Cards Thursday, on which the state scored an 83% "B" grade. 

Released Dec. 14, the state's 2022-2023 A-F Report Card grade of 83.44% (B) is a half-point decrease from last year's score of 84%. There was an uptick in academic achievement, a small increase in academic growth, a decline in the state's graduation rate, and no change in chronic absenteeism. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey highlighted the increase in "A" schools from 203 to 262 and an overall decrease in the number of D-F "priority schools" from 219 to 206. You can view the state, school system, and individual school report cards here and view the full state list here. 

For additional background and information on the report cards: These Alabama schools earned an ‘A’ ranking on 2023 report cards. See the list.

December Actions

The board adopted Alabama Administrative Code rule changes pertaining to public charter authorizers, priority schools, and the state's required financial literacy and civics exams and voted on the continued approval of seven educator preparation programs based on alignment with the science of reading and the Alabama Literacy Act. The board also adopted new science and career and technical education state courses of study and announced its intent to draft a resolution on student cell phone use. 

The board intends to adopt the Alabama Literacy Act's science of reading requirements for educator preparation programs, slated for final approval in March 2024.

Public Charter School Authorizers: Taking up unfinished business from November's meeting, the board approved an update to Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 290-3-6 clarifying oversight of conversion charter schools remains with local school boards, which are the only legal authorizers of conversion charter schools, in alignment with Act 2023-420. The Alabama Public Charter School Commission is not responsible for the appeals process for conversion charter schools, as those schools fall under the authority of local school boards and not the ALSDE. This provision of the Administrative Code also clarifies public charter schools receive the same funding formula as non-charter schools. 

Priority Schools: Technical changes to Alabama Administrative Code Rule 209-4-1-.04 reflect amendments to the Alabama Accountability Act in the 2023 regular legislative session (Act 2023-418). This replaces the previous language of "failing schools" and "nonfailing schools" with "priority schools" and "qualifying schools." It designates "priority schools" as those receiving a D or an F grade on the state report card. Students attending a priority school are eligible to transfer to a qualifying public or private school. The ALSDE will notify school districts of their status on Jan. 2, 2024, and those districts will have until Jan. 16 to notify families of the school's status and their options.

State's Required Financial Literacy and Civics Exams: As discussed in November's work session, these Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-3-1-.02 changes reflect the state's requirement for high school students to take both the financial literacy and civics exams and earn at least one college or career readiness indicator before graduation.

Continued Approval of Educator Preparation Programs: The seven educator preparation programs up for continued approval 18 months ago have now fully reviewed, revised and strengthened their programs around the science of reading and Alabama Literacy Act requirements. The board has not yet adopted these requirements, which are slated for final approval in March 2024, yet these seven programs worked in coordination with each other and with the ALSDE to ensure full alignment and integration of the science of reading. Mackey commended these programs and their efforts, saying "The goal is for teachers to leave higher education institutions fully prepared in the science of reading and competent in teaching. On Day One, they will have an understanding of the tenets of the science of reading and not any disproven theory of reading instruction."

Work Session Items

Alabama Literacy Act Science of Reading (SOR) Requirements: The board announced its intent to adopt new Alabama Administrative Code Rule, 290-3-3-.61 pertaining to the science of reading literacy coursework required by the Alabama Literacy Act for all educator preparation programs. The board heard a presentation on the state's efforts to fully revise these programs to show evidence of science of reading-aligned instruction for teacher candidates, including the incorporation of evidence-based practices in field placements and internships. These requirements include the teacher candidates' successful completion of the Foundation of Reading assessment prior to initial certification. "Many higher education institutions are already aligning their programs with the science of reading…this will be a very easy transition for them to adopt these standards because they're already using it," said Dr. Amy Jones, ALSDE ARI Regional Literacy Leadership Specialist. 

"I wanted this to be finalized and done as close to the beginning of the 2024 legislative session as possible," Mackey added. The board will announce its intent to approve these requirements at the Jan. 2024 meeting, and allowing for 45 days public comment, will be ready for final approval in March 2024. 

Mathematics Summer Learning Progress: The board received an update on the state's first cohort of the mathematics summer learning program as required by the Alabama Numeracy Act (Act 2022-249). This first cohort included 250 math coaches, 108 full and limited support schools, and 18 regional coordinators, which will be increased to 25 coordinators for the second cohort to be named in January 2024. Last summer, 140 LEAs reported program data: 549 sites hosted a summer math program, 742 schools sent students to a program, and a statewide total of 10,331 students attended a program. The ALSDE Office of Mathematics Instruction (OMI) wrote the curriculum for the summer math programs and is in the process of writing a second curriculum.

Statewide growth measured by student pre- and post-tests in summer math programs:

• Kindergarten 9.38%
• 1st Grade 6.75%
• 2nd Grade 4.76%
• 3rd Grade 4.54%
• 4th Grade 3.32%
• 5th Grade 11.11%

Work Session Discussion:

Cell Phone Usage: Mackey introduced this new topic for board discussion following the November Excel in Ed Conference in Atlanta, GA where there were three separate sessions on the issue. He cited conversations with superintendents who shared concerns about student cell phone usage.

Editor's Note: Ala. Code 16-1-27 already states each local board of education may adopt a local policy that pertains to cell phones and other electronic communication devices. Furthermore, state authorization is not necessary for boards to adopt such policies, and many boards have already done so.

SBOE Vice President Tracie West (District 2) referenced data provided at the Excel in Ed conference showing an average increase in student learning in school environments with limited and/or restricted cell phone usage. "This Board has an opportunity ahead of this [legislative] session to put forth what we would like to see from our school districts," West said. "The Legislature has asked us to take a lead on policy that positively affects our classroom." 

Other Approvals from the Board Meeting:

• Resolution honoring Alabama Educator Korri Cunningham, Phillips Academy (Birmingham City Schools) recipient of the 2023 Milken Educator Award.
• Resolution recognizing Computer Science Education Week Dec. 4-10, 2023. Alabama ranks #4 in nation for computer science, and #1 for girls in computer science.
• Resolution recognizing Alabama's two National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) distinguished schools - Vernon Elementary School (Lamar County Schools) and Saraland Elementary School (Saraland City Schools).

Next SBOE Meeting

The board’s next meeting will take place Thursday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following. The board's annual retreat will take place on Jan. 31 at Alabama State University.  

• Gordon Persons Building Auditorium, Montgomery, Ala.
• Livestream viewing: https://www.youtube.com/user/aldeptofed/live
• Archived meeting and work session recordings: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/state-board-of-education/meeting-videos/

Ada Katherine van Wyhe
AASB Director of Governmental Relations